December 2017 Sports Events In Africa

December is the twelfth and final month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and is also the last of seven months to have a length of 31 days.

December 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 which began in March. The winter days following December were not included as part of any month. 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.Macrobius, ''Saturnalia'', tr. Percival Vaughan Davies (New York: Columbia University Press, 1969), book I, chapters 12–13, pp. 89–95.

In Ancient Rome, as one of the four Agonalia, this day in honour of Sol Indiges was held on December 11, as was Septimontium. 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. These dates do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar.

The Anglo-Saxons referred to December–January as Ġēolamonaþ (modern English: " Yule month"). The French Republican Calendar contained December within the months of Frimaire and Nivôse.

Astronomy

December 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). December in the Northern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent to June in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. In the Northern hemisphere, the beginning of the astronomical winter is traditionally 21 December or the date of the solstice.

Meteor showers occurring in December are the Andromedids (September 25 – December 6, peaking around November 9), the Canis-Minorids (December 4 – December 15, peaking around December 10–11), the Coma Berenicids (December 12 to December 23, peaking around December 16), the Delta Cancrids (December 14 to February 14, the main shower from January 1 to January 24, peaking on January 17), the Geminids (December 13–14), the Monocerotids (December 7 to December 20, peaking on December 9. This shower can also start in November), the Phoenicids (November 29 to December 9, with a peak occurring around 5/6 December), the Quadrantids (typically a January shower but can also start in December), the Sigma Hydrids (December 4–15), and the Ursids (December 17-to December 25/26, peaking around December 22).

Astrology

*The zodiac signs for the month of December are Sagittarius (until December 21) and Capricorn (December 22 onwards).The Earth passes the junction of the signs at 10:02 UT/GMT December 21, 2020, and will pass it again at 15:59 UT/GMT December 21, 2021.. Signs in UT/GMT for 1950–2030.

December symbols

December's birth flower is the narcissus.
December's birthstones are the turquoise, zircon, and tanzanite.

Observances

''This list does not necessarily imply either official status or general observance.''

Non-Gregorian observances: 2021 dates

(All Baháʼí, Islamic, and Jewish observances begin at the sundown prior to the date listed, and end at sundown of the date in question unless otherwise noted.)
*List of observances set by the Baháʼí calendar
*List of observances set by the Chinese calendar
* List of observances set by the Hebrew calendar
* List of observances set by the Islamic calendar
* List of observances set by the Solar Hijri calendar

Month-long observances

*In Catholic tradition, December is the Month of the Advent of Christ.
*National Egg Nog Month (United States)
*National Impaired Driving Prevention Month (United States)
*National Fruit Cake Month (United States)
*National Pear Month (United States)
* No Gender December ( International)

Movable observances: 2021 dates

*See also Movable Western Christian observances
*See also Movable Eastern Christian observances
Tuesday immediately following fourth Thursday of November: November 30
* Giving Tuesday ( United States) (can sometimes fall in December)
First Friday: December 3
* Farmer's Day ( Ghana)
* Gospel Day ( Marshall Islands)
First Sunday: December 5
* Good Neighborliness Day ( Turkmenistan)
*Sindhi Cultural Day (Sindhi diaspora)
Second Monday: December 13
*Green Monday
* National Tree Planting Day (Malawi)
December 15, unless the date falls on a Sunday, then December 16: December 15
*Koninkrijksdag ( Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Winter Solstice: December 21
*Blue Christmas (holiday)
* Brumalia ( Ancient Rome)
* Dongzhi Festival ( Asia)
*Global Orgasm
*Korochun ( Slavic)
* Midsummer in the Southern Hemisphere. (Contemporary Paganism)
* Sanghamitta Day ( Theravada Buddhism)
*Shalako ( Zuni)
* Yaldā ( Iran)
* Yule in the Northern Hemisphere (Contemporary Paganism)
*Ziemassvētki (Latvia)
December 22, unless that date is a Sunday, in which case it's moved to the 23rd: December 22
*Forefathers' Day (Plymouth, Massachusetts)
December 26, unless that day is a Sunday, in which case the 27th: December 27
*Boxing Day ( Commonwealth of Nations)
**Day of Good Will ( South Africa and Namibia)
** Family Day ( Vanuatu)
**Thanksgiving (Solomon Islands)
**Start of Boxing Week

Fixed observances

*November 25 – December 10: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence
* December 1
** Battle of the Sinop Day ( Russia)
** Bifocals at the Monitor Day (unofficial