In Latin, decem means "ten". December was also the tenth month in the Roman calendar until a monthless winter period was divided between January and February.
December's flower is the narcissus or holly. December's birthstones are turquoise, laois lazuli, zircon, topaz (blue), or tanzanite.
December is the month with the shortest daylight hours of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest daylight hours of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
December starts on the same day of the week as September.
Events in December
World AIDS Day (December 1)
Nobel Prizes awarded (December 10) on the anniversary of Albert Nobel's death.
Human Rights Day (December 10)
Solstice (called the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere occurs on dates varying from December20 to December 22.
The Emperor's Birthday, a national holiday in Japan (December 23)
Christmas Eve (December 24)
Christmas Day (December 25)
Boxing Day (December 26)
New Year's Eve (December 31)
December's flower is holly (Right)
