In the Northern hemisphere, the beginning of the astronomical winter is traditionally 21 December or the date of the solstice. December in the Northern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent to June in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. Month December depicted in Hans Bol's and Adriaen Collart's Emblematica Evangelica.ĭecember contains the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the day with the fewest daylight hours, and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, the day with the most daylight hours (excluding polar regions in both cases). The French Republican Calendar contained December within the months of Frimaire and Nivôse. The Anglo-Saxons referred to December–January as Ġēolamonaþ (modern English: ' Yule month'). These dates do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar. Dies natalis (birthday) was held at the temple of Tellus on December 13, Consualia was held on December 15, Saturnalia was held December 17–23, Opiconsivia was held on December 19, Divalia was held on December 21, Larentalia was held on December 23, and the dies natalis of Sol Invictus was held on December 25. In Ancient Rome, as one of the four Agonalia, this day in honour of Sol Indiges was held on December 11, as was Septimontium. Later, the months of January and February were created out of the monthless period and added to the beginning of the calendar, but December retained its name. The winter days following December were not included as part of any month. December, from the Très Riches Heures du duc de Berryĭecember got its name from the Latin word decem (meaning ten) because it was originally the tenth month of the year in the calendar of Romulus c.

The 10th of december