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'''December'''
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'''December''' is the [[twelfth]] and last [[month]] of the [[year]] in the [[Gregorian calendar]] and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 [[day]]s.
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[[December_20|December 20]]
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December begins (astrologically) with the [[sun]] in the sign of [[Sagittarius (astrology)|Sagittarius]] and ends in the sign of [[Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn]]. Astronomically speaking, the sun begins in the constellation of [[Ophiuchus]], which is the only zodiacal constellation that is not counted as an astrological sign, and ends in the constellation of [[Sagittarius (constellation)|Sagittarius]].
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In Latin, ''decem'' means "[[10 (number)|ten]]". December was also the tenth month in the [[Roman calendar]] until a monthless winter period was divided between [[January]] and [[February]].
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== Monthlong observances ==
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*[[World AIDS Month]]
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*[[Human rights|Human Rights]] Month
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==Events in December==
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* [[Hanukkah]]
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* [[World AIDS Day]] ([[December 1]])
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* [[Sinterklaas]] in [[The Netherlands]] ([[December 5]])
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* [[Naksi]] in [[Kazakhstan]] ([[December 5]])
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* [[Independence Day of Finland|Independence Day]] in [[Finland]] ([[December 6]])
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* [[Pearl Harbor Day]] in the [[United States]] ([[December 7]])
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* Día de la Madre en Panamá, Mother's day in Panama. ([[December 8]])
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* [[Human Rights Day]] ([[December 10]])
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* Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe, or Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, in Mexico ([[December 12]])
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* [[Saint Lucy]] ([[December 13]])
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* [[Zamenhof Day]] ([[December 15]])
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* The [[solstice]] called the [[winter]] solstice in the northern hemisphere and the [[summer]] solstice in the southern hemisphere occurs on dates varying from [[20 December]] to [[December 22]] (in UTC).
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* In the pagan wheel of the year the summer solstice is the time of [[Litha]] and the winter [[solstice]] is that of [[Yule]].
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* Fictional holiday, [[Festivus]] ([[December 23]])
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* [[Christmas Eve]] ([[December 24]])
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* [[Christmas]] ([[December 25]])
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* [[Boxing Day]] ([[December 26]])
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* [[Kwanzaa]] ([[December 26]] to [[January 1]])
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* [[Philippines]] - [[José Rizal|Rizal Day]] ([[December 30]])
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* [[New Year's Eve]] ([[December 31]])
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==Trivia==
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*December always begins with the same day of the week as [[September]].
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*December's [[flower]] is the [[narcissus (flower)|narcissus]] or [[holly]].
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*December's [[birthstones]] are [[turquoise]], [[lapis lazuli]], [[zircon]], [[topaz]] (blue), or [[tanzanite]].
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*December in the [[Northern Hemisphere]] is the seasonal equivalent to [[June]] in the [[Southern Hemisphere]] and vice versa.
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==Other names==
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*In [[Albanian language|Albanian]], December is called ''Dhjetor''
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*In [[Finnish language|Finnish]], December is called ''joulukuu'', meaning "month of Christmas", since about the 18th century. Earlier it was called ''talvikuu'', meaning "month of winter".
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*In [[Georgian language|Georgian]], December is called ''დეკემბერი''.
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*In [[Irish language|Irish]], December is called ''Mí na Nollaig'', meaning "month of Christmas".
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*In [[Japanese calendar|the old Japanese calendar]], the month is called ''Shiwasu'' meaning "priests run"; it is named so because priests are busy making end of the year prayers and blessings.
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*In [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], December is known as ''ngeyomNga'', meaning "month of the mimosa thorn tree".