December'sDefinitionandSignificance
DecemberOverview
DecemberisthetwelfthandlastmonthoftheyearintheGregoriancalendar.Itisknownforbeingthebusiestmonthduetothenumerousfestivitiesandholidayscelebratedworldwide.DecemberisalsonotoriousforitscoldweatherintheNorthernHemisphereanditshotclimateintheSouthernHemisphere.
TheMeaningoftheDecemberMonthName
ThenameofDecemberhasaLatinoriginwhichmeans\"tenth,\"althoughitisthetwelfthmonthoftheyear.ThisisbecausebeforeJanuaryandFebruarywereaddedtothecalendar,Decemberwasthetenthmonth.Thename\"December\"alsohasaconnectionwithwinterbecausethewintersolsticeoccursinthismonth.
December'sEventsandTraditions
Decemberisthemonthofgivingandbeingcharitable.ApartfromChristmasandHanukkah,thereareotherDecemberfestivitiesandnationalholidays.OneofthemostcelebratedholidaysinDecemberisChristmas,whichisobservedonthe25thofDecember.ItisaChristianholidaythatcommemoratesthebirthofJesusChrist.HanukkahisanotherholidaythatiscommonlycelebratedinDecemberbyJewishfamilies.Hanukkahisaneight-daycelebrationthatstartseitherinlateNovemberorearlyDecember.Tocommemoratethisholiday,Jewishpeoplelightamenoraheverynightforeightnights.
ThewintersolsticeisanastronomicaleventthathappensannuallyoneitherDecember21stor22ndintheNorthernHemisphere.Itisthedaywheretherearethefewesthoursofdaylightandthelongestnight.Incontrast,thesummersolsticeoccursintheSouthernHemisphereduringDecember,whereithasthelongestdayandshortestnight.
Theyear-endcelebrationsbeginonDecember31st,whichisalsoknownasNewYear'sEve.Peoplegathertogether,hostparties,andcountdowntomidnighttowelcomethenewyearwithfireworks.
Conclusion
Decemberisafascinatingmonthwitharichhistoryanddiverseculturalpracticescelebratedworldwide.Withthedifferentnationalholidays,religiousevents,andcosmicoccurrences,peopleofallbackgroundscanparticipateincelebratingthismonthintheirownuniqueways.
