December is the twelfth and final month of the year in the Julian and

Gregorian calendar The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It was introduced in October 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian calendar. The principal change was to space leap years dif ...

s and is also the last of seven months to have a length of 31 days. Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry décembre

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 In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC ...

, as one of the four

Agonalia An Agonalia or Agonia was an obscure archaic religious observance celebrated in ancient Rome several times a year, in honor of various divinities. Its institution, like that of other religious rites and ceremonies, was attributed to Numa Pomp ...

, this day in honour of

Sol Indiges Sol is the personification of the Sun and a god in ancient Roman religion. It was long thought that Rome actually had two different, consecutive sun gods: The first, Sol Indiges ( la, the deified sun), was thought to have been unimportant, disap ...

was held on December 11, as was

Septimontium The Septimontium was a proto-urban festival celebrated in ancient Rome by ''montani'', residents of the seven ''(sept-)'' communities associated with the hills or peaks of Rome ''(montes)'': Oppius, Palatium, Velia, Fagutal, Cermalus, Caelius ...

. Dies natalis (birthday) was held at the temple of

Tellus Tellus is a Latin word meaning "Earth" and may refer to: * An alternative name for the planet Earth * Tellus of Athens, a citizen of ancient Athens who was thought to be the happiest of men * Tellus Mater or Terra Mater, the ancient Roman earth mo ...

on December 13, Consualia was held on December 15, Saturnalia was held December 17–23,

Opiconsivia The Opiconsivia (or Opeconsiva or Opalia) was an ancient Roman religious festival held August 25 in honor of Ops ("Plenty"), also known as Opis, a goddess of agricultural resources and wealth. The festival marked the end of harvest, with a mirro ...

was held on December 19,

Divalia The Divalia was a Roman festival held on December 21, in honour of the goddess Angerona In Roman religion, Angerona or Angeronia was an old Roman goddess, whose name and functions are variously explained. She is sometimes identified with the god ...

was held on December 21,

Larentalia The Roman festival of Larentalia was held on 23 December but was ordered to be observed twice a year by Augustus; by some supposed to be in honour of the Lares, a kind of domestic ''genii'', or divinities, worshipped in houses, and esteemed the gua ...

was held on December 23, and the dies natalis of

Sol Invictus Sol Invictus (, "Unconquered Sun"), sometimes simply known as Helios, was long considered to be the official sun god of the later Roman Empire. In recent years, however, the scholarly community has become divided on Sol between traditionalists ...

was held on December 25. These dates do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar. The

Anglo-Saxons The Anglo-Saxons were a Cultural identity, cultural group who inhabited England in the Early Middle Ages. They traced their origins to settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century. However, the ethnogenesis of the Anglo- ...

referred to December–January as

Ġēolamonaþ Ġēolamōnaþ or Ȝēolamōnaþ (modern English: ''Yule month'') was the Anglo-Saxon name for the month of both December and January. The Anglo-Saxon scholar Bede explains in his treatise '' De temporum ratione'' (The Reckoning of Time) that th ...

(modern English: "

Yule Yule, actually Yuletide ("Yule time") is a festival observed by the historical Germanic peoples, later undergoing Christianised reformulation resulting in the now better-known Christmastide. The earliest references to Yule are by way of indi ...

month"). The French Republican Calendar contained December within the months of

Frimaire Frimaire () was the third month in the French Republican Calendar. The month was named after the French word ''frimas'', which means ''frost''. Frimaire was the third month of the autumn quarter (''mois d'automne''). It started between 21 Novemb ...

and

Nivôse Nivôse (; also ''Nivose'') was the fourth month in the French Republican Calendar. The month was named after the Latin word ''nivosus'', which means ''snowy''. Nivôse was the first month of the winter quarter (''mois d'hiver''). It started b ...

Astronomy

Hans Bol - Adriaen Collaert - Emblemata evangelica - Erfgoedfonds Koning Boudewijnstichting - Fonds du Patrimoine Fondation Roi Baudouin - 12

December contains the

winter solstice The winter solstice, also called the hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun. This happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the winter ...

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 June is the sixth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and is the second of four months to have a length of 30 days, and the third of five months to have a length of less than 31 days. June contains the summer solstice in ...

in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. In the Northern hemisphere, the beginning of the astronomical

winter Winter is the coldest season of the year in polar and temperate climates. It occurs after autumn and before spring. The tilt of Earth's axis causes seasons; winter occurs when a hemisphere is oriented away from the Sun. Different cultur ...

is traditionally 21 December or the date of the solstice. Meteor showers occurring in December are the

Andromedids The Andromedids meteor shower is associated with Biela's Comet, the showers occurring as Earth passes through old streams left by the comet's tail. The comet was observed to have broken up by 1846; further drift of the pieces by 1852 suggested t ...

(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 The Geminids are a prolific meteor shower caused by the object 3200 Phaethon, which is thought to be a Palladian asteroid with a " rock comet" orbit. This would make the Geminids, together with the Quadrantids, the only major meteor showers ...

(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 The Quadrantids (QUA) are a meteor shower that peaks in early January and whose radiant (meteor shower), radiant lies in the constellation Boötes. The zenithal hourly rate (ZHR) of this shower can be as high as that of two other reliably rich met ...

(typically a January shower but can also start in December), the Sigma Hydrids (December 4–15), and the

Ursids The Ursid (URS) meteor activity begins annually around December 17 and runs for over a week, until the 25th or 26th. This meteor shower is named for its radiant point, which is located near the star Beta Ursae Minoris (Kochab) in the constellati ...

(December 17-to December 25/26, peaking around December 22).

Astrology

*The

zodiac The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The pat ...

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. Turquoise polie 1 (USA)

December's birthstones are the

turquoise Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminium, with the chemical formula . It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gemstone and ornamental stone for thousands of year ...

zircon Zircon () is a mineral belonging to the group of nesosilicates and is a source of the metal zirconium. Its chemical name is zirconium(IV) silicate, and its corresponding chemical formula is Zr SiO4. An empirical formula showing some of t ...

, and

tanzanite Tanzanite is the blue and violet variety of the mineral zoisite (a calcium aluminium hydroxyl sorosilicate), caused by small amounts of vanadium. Tanzanite belongs to the epidote mineral group. Tanzanite is only found in Simanjiro District of Ma ...

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 This table is determined by when the March Equinox falls. It fell on March 20 from 2018 to 2021 and will fall on March 21 in 2022–2023. All Baha'i observances begin at the sundown prior to the date listed, and end at sundown of the date in questi ...

* List of observances set by the Chinese calendar *

List of observances set by the Hebrew calendar All observances begin at sunset the day prior to the Gregorian date listed unless otherwise noted, and end on nightfall of the date in question, which is defined as the appearance of three stars in the sky. On leap years (which occur every 2– ...

List of observances set by the Islamic calendar All Islamic observances begin at the sundown prior to the date listed, and end at sundown of the date in question unless otherwise noted. Holidays for 1441 (2019-2020) {, class="wikitable" !width=20%, Date on Islamic Calendar !width=20%, Gre ...

List of observances set by the Solar Hijri calendar Dates in this table are determined by when the March Equinox falls. It will fall on March 20 from 2018-2023. {, class="wikitable" , - style="background:#efefef;" ! Holiday date !!Holiday name !! Description !!March equinox on March 19 !!March Eq ...

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 International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations". International may also refer to: Music Albums * ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011 * ''International'' (New Order album), 2002 * ''International'' (The T ...

)

Movable observances: 2021 dates

*See also

Movable Western Christian observances {{Use mdy dates, date=July 2017 This is a list of movable observances within Western Christianity. It includes secular observances which are calculated by religious observances. ''This list does not necessarily imply either official status nor gen ...

*See also

Movable Eastern Christian observances This is a chronological list of moveable Eastern Christian observances. Most of these are calculated by the date of Pascha. It includes secular observances which are calculated by religious observances. ''This list does not necessarily imply eithe ...

Tuesday immediately following fourth Thursday of November: November 30 *

Giving Tuesday GivingTuesday, often stylized as #GivingTuesday for the purposes of hashtag activism, is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It is touted as a "global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transf ...

(

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

) (can sometimes fall in December) First Friday: December 3 * Farmer's Day (

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...

) *

Gospel Day The following are public holidays in Kiribati. Dates refer to 2002. References Kiribati Holidays Law of Kiribati Kiribati Kiribati (), officially the Republic of Kiribati ( gil, ibaberikiKiribati),Marshall Islands The Marshall Islands ( mh, Ṃajeḷ), officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands ( mh, Aolepān Aorōkin Ṃajeḷ),'' () is an independent island country and microstate near the Equator in the Pacific Ocean, slightly west of the Intern ...

) First Sunday: December 5 * Good Neighborliness Day (

Turkmenistan Turkmenistan ( or ; tk, Türkmenistan / Түркменистан, ) is a country located in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the sout ...

) *

Sindhi Cultural Day Sindhi Cultural Day ( sd, سنڌي ثقافتي ڏھاڙو) is a popular Sindhi cultural festival. It is celebrated with traditional enthusiasm to highlight the centuries-old rich culture of Sindh. The day is celebrated each year in the firs ...

( Sindhi diaspora) Second Monday: December 13 * Green Monday *

National Tree Planting Day (Malawi) Arbor Day (or Arbour in some countries) is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees. Today, many countries observe such a holiday. Though usually observed in the spring, the date varies, dependi ...

December 15, unless the date falls on a Sunday, then December 16: December 15 * Koninkrijksdag (

Kingdom of the Netherlands , national_anthem = ) , image_map = Kingdom of the Netherlands (orthographic projection).svg , map_width = 250px , image_map2 = File:KonDerNed-10-10-10.png , map_caption2 = Map of the four constituent countries shown to scale , capital = ...

)

Winter Solstice The winter solstice, also called the hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun. This happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the winter ...

: December 21 *

Blue Christmas (holiday) Blue Christmas (also called the Longest Night) in the Western Christian tradition, is a day in the Advent season marking the longest night of the year. On this day, some churches in Western Christian denominations hold a church service that honou ...

Brumalia The Brumalia ( la, Brumalia ) were a winter solstice festival celebrated in the eastern part of the Roman Empire. In Rome there had been the minor holiday of Bruma on November 24, which turned into large scale end of the year festivities in Const ...

(

) *

Dongzhi Festival The Dongzhi Festival or Winter Solstice Festival () is one of the most important Chinese festivals celebrated by the Mainland Chinese, Hong Kong Chinese, Taiwan, Japanese, Vietnamese, Koreans and other East Asian-related people during the Don ...

(

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...

) * Global Orgasm * Korochun ( Slavic) *

Midsummer Midsummer is a celebration of the season of summer usually held at a date around the summer solstice. It has pagan pre-Christian roots in Europe. The undivided Christian Church designated June 24 as the feast day of the early Christian martyr ...

in the Southern Hemisphere. (

Contemporary Paganism Modern paganism, also known as contemporary paganism and neopaganism, is a term for a religion or family of religions influenced by the various historical pre-Christian beliefs of pre-modern peoples in Europe and adjacent areas of North Afric ...

) * Sanghamitta Day (

Theravada Buddhism ''Theravāda'' () ( si, ථේරවාදය, my, ထေရဝါဒ, th, เถรวาท, km, ថេរវាទ, lo, ເຖຣະວາດ, pi, , ) is the most commonly accepted name of Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school' ...

) * Shalako ( Zuni) * Yaldā (

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

) *

in the Northern Hemisphere (

) * Ziemassvētki ( Latvia) December 22, unless that date is a Sunday, in which case it's moved to the 23rd: December 22 *

Forefathers' Day Forefathers' Day is a holiday celebrated in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on December 22. It is a commemoration of the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on December 21, 1620. It was introduced in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 176 ...

( Plymouth, Massachusetts) December 26, unless that day is a Sunday, in which case the 27th: December 27 * Boxing Day (

Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, simply referred to as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire. The chief institutions of the organisation are the ...

) ** Day of Good Will (

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

and

Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...

) **

Family Day Family Day is a public holiday in the countries of Angola, Israel, South Africa, Uruguay, Vanuatu, and Vietnam; in the Australian Capital Territory; in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan and soon New Brunswic ...

(

Vanuatu Vanuatu ( or ; ), officially the Republic of Vanuatu (french: link=no, République de Vanuatu; bi, Ripablik blong Vanuatu), is an island country located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is east of no ...

) ** Thanksgiving (Solomon Islands) **Start of Boxing Week

Fixed observances

*November 25 – December 10: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence *

December 1 Events Pre-1600 * 800 – A council is convened in the Vatican, at which Charlemagne is to judge the accusations against Pope Leo III. *1420 – Henry V of England enters Paris alongside his father-in-law King Charles VI of France. * ...

** Battle of the Sinop Day (

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...

) ** Bifocals at the Monitor Day ( unofficial) **

Damrong Rajanubhab Day Public holidays in Thailand are regulated by the government, and most are observed by both the public and private sectors. There are usually nineteen public holidays in a year, but more may be declared by the cabinet. Other observances, both offi ...

(

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

) ** Day of Restoration of Independence (

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

) ** Eat A Red Apple Day (

) ** Feast for Death of Aleister Crowley (

Thelema Thelema () is a Western esoteric and occult social or spiritual philosophy and new religious movement founded in the early 1900s by Aleister Crowley (1875–1947), an English writer, mystic, occultist, and ceremonial magician. The word ' ...

) **

First President Day Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...

(

Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...

) ** Freedom and Democracy Day ( Chad) **

Great Union Day Great Union Day ( ro, Ziua Marii Uniri, also called Unification Day or National Day) is a Holidays in Romania, national holiday in Romania, celebrated on 1 December, marking the unification of Transylvania, Bessarabia, and Bukovina with the Kingdo ...

(

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east, and ...

) **

Military Abolition Day The Public Force of Costa Rica ( es, Fuerza Pública de Costa Rica) is the Costa Rican national law enforcement force, which performs policing and border patrol functions. History On 1 December 1948, President José Figueres Ferrer of Costa Ri ...

( Costa Rica) ** National Day (Myanmar) **

Republic Day (Central African Republic) This is a list of public holidays in the Central African Republic Public holidays References Society of the Central African Republic Central African Republic culture Central African Republic The Central African Republic (CAR; ; ...

** Restoration of Independence Day (Portugal) **

Rosa Parks Day Rosa Parks Day is a holiday in honor of the civil rights leader Rosa Parks, celebrated in the U.S. states of California and Missouri on her birthday, February 4, in Michigan on the first Monday after her birthday, and in Ohio and Oregon on the day ...

(

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

and

Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. T ...

) **

Self-governance Day Public holidays in Iceland are established by the act of the Icelandic parliament''.'' The public holidays are the religious holidays of the Church of Iceland and the First Day of Summer, May Day, the Icelandic National Day. In addition, Christma ...

(

Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...

) **

Teachers' Day Teachers' Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers, and may include celebrations to honor them for their special contributions in a particular field area, or the community tone in education. This is the primary reason why countries ce ...

(

Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Co ...

) **

World AIDS Day World AIDS Day, designated on 1 December every year since 1988, is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the disease. The acquired imm ...

*** Day Without Art *

December 2 Events Pre-1600 *1244 – Pope Innocent IV arrives at Lyon for the First Council of Lyon. * 1409 – The University of Leipzig opens. 1601–1900 *1697 – St Paul's Cathedral, rebuilt to the design of Sir Christopher Wren followin ...

** Armed Forces Day (Cuba) ** International Day for the Abolition of Slavery ** National Day (Laos) **

National Day (United Arab Emirates) UAE National Day ( ar, اليوم الوطني; ''Al Yawm Al Watani")'' is celebrated on 2 December each year in the United Arab Emirates. The seventh emirate, Ras al Khaimah, was added to the federation on 10 February 1972 making it the last em ...

** National Fritters Day (

) *

December 3 Events Pre-1600 * 915 – Pope John X crowns Berengar I of Italy as Holy Roman Emperor (probable date). 1601–1900 * 1775 – American Revolutionary War: becomes the first vessel to fly the Grand Union Flag (the precursor to the ...

** Doctors' Day (

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

) **

United Nations' International Day of Persons with Disabilities International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) is an international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992. It has been observed with varying degrees of success around the planet. The observance of the Day aims to promot ...

December 4 Events Pre-1600 * 771 – Austrasian king Carloman I dies, leaving his brother Charlemagne as sole king of the Frankish Kingdom. * 963 – The lay papal protonotary is elected pope and takes the name Leo VIII, being consecrated on 6 ...

** National Cookie Day (

) **

Navy Day (India) Navy Day in India is celebrated on 4 December every year to recognize the achievements and role of the Indian Navy to the country. 4 December was chosen as on that day in 1971, during Operation Trident, the Indian Navy sank four Pakistani vess ...

** Saint Barbara's Day-related observances: *** Barbórka (

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...

) *** Eid il-Burbara (

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

Jordan Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to Lebanon–Syria border, the north and east and Israel to Blue ...

, Palestine, Syria,

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...

) **

Thai Environment Day Public holidays in Thailand are regulated by the government, and most are observed by both the public and private sectors. There are usually nineteen public holidays in a year, but more may be declared by the cabinet. Other observances, both offic ...

(

) ** Tupou I Day (

Tonga Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in ...

) *

December 5 Events Pre-1600 * 63 BC – Cicero gives the fourth and final of the Catiline Orations. * 633 – Fourth Council of Toledo opens, presided over by Isidore of Seville. * 1033 – The Jordan Rift Valley earthquake destroys multipl ...

** Bathtub Party Day ( unofficial) **

Children's Day Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honor of children, whose date of observance varies by country. In 1925, International Children's Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare. Sin ...

( Suriname) ** Day of the Ninja ( unofficial) ** Day of Military Honour – Battle of Moscow (

) **

Discovery Day Discovery Day is the name of several holidays commemorating the discovery of land, gold, and other significant national discoveries. The Bahamas The Bahamas Discovery Day was a public holiday on October 12, that celebrated the arrival of Christoph ...

( Haiti and

Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares with ...

) ** International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development ** Klozum ( Schiermonnikoog,

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

) ** Saint Nicholas Eve (

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...

Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...

, the

Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

and the UK) *** Krampusnacht (

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

) ** King's Birthday (Thailand) ** Repeal Day (

) ** World Soil Day *

December 6 Events Pre-1600 * 1060 – Béla I is crowned king of Hungary. *1240 – Mongol invasion of Rus': Kyiv, defended by Voivode Dmytro, falls to the Mongols under Batu Khan. *1492 – After exploring the island of Cuba for gold (wh ...

** Anniversary of the Founding of Quito (

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...

) **

Armed Forces Day Many nations around the world observe some kind of Armed Forces Day to honor their military forces. This day is not to be confused with Veterans Day or Memorial Day. Africa Egypt In Egypt, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on 6 October, ...

(

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

) ** Constitution Day (Spain) **

Day of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan There are several public holidays in Azerbaijan. Public holidays were regulated in the constitution of the Azerbaijan SSR for the first time on 19 May 1921. They are now regulated by the Constitution of Azerbaijan. Holidays Main holidays Other ...

** Independence Day of Finland ** National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

) ** St Nicholas Day (

Western Christianity Western Christianity is one of two sub-divisions of Christianity ( Eastern Christianity being the other). Western Christianity is composed of the Latin Church and Western Protestantism, together with their offshoots such as the Old Catholic ...

) *

December 7 Events Pre-1600 *43 BC – Marcus Tullius Cicero is assassinated in Formia on orders of Marcus Antonius. * 574 – Byzantine Emperor Justin II, suffering recurring seizures of insanity, adopts his general Tiberius and proclaims him ...

** Armed Forces Flag Day (

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

) **

Eve of the Immaculate Conception The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, also called Immaculate Conception Day, celebrates the sinless lifespan and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 8 December, nine months before the feast of the Nativity of Mary, celebr ...

(

) and related observances: *** Day of the Little Candles, begins after sunset ( Colombia) *** Quema del Diablo, begins after sunset. ( Guatemala) ** Flag Land Base Day (

Scientology Scientology is a set of beliefs and practices invented by American author L. Ron Hubbard, and an associated movement. It has been variously defined as a cult, a Scientology as a business, business, or a new religious movement. The most recent ...

) ** International Civil Aviation Day ** National Heroes Day (

East Timor East Timor (), also known as Timor-Leste (), officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the exclave of Oecusse on the island's north-west ...

) **

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day, is observed annually in the United States on December 7, to remember and honor the 2,403 Americans who were killed in the Japanese surpri ...

(

) **

Spitak Remembrance Day The following is a list of public holidays in Armenia. Legal holidays and remembrance days Non-working legal holidays and remembrance days Per Armenian law, 12 days are declared as non-working days. Non-working days include: Other legal ...

(

Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ' ...

) *

December 8 Events Pre-1600 * 395 – Later Yan is defeated by its former vassal Northern Wei at the Battle of Canhe Slope. * 757 – The poet Du Fu returns to Chang'an as a member of Emperor Xuanzong's court, after having escaped the city durin ...

Battle Day The Battle of the Falkland Islands was a First World War naval action between the British Royal Navy and Imperial German Navy on 8 December 1914 in the South Atlantic. The British, after their defeat at the Battle of Coronel on 1 November, sen ...

(Falkland Islands) **

Bodhi Day Bodhi Day is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that Gautama Buddha (Shakyamuni) is said to have attained enlightenment, also known as ''bodhi'' in Sanskrit and Pali. According to tradition, Siddhartha had recently forsaken years of ...

(Japan) **

CARICOM–Cuba Day Cuba's foreign policy has been fluid throughout history depending on world events and other variables, including relations with the United States. Without massive Soviet subsidies and its primary trading partner, Cuba became increasingly isolate ...

(Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba) **Constitution Day (Romania) **Constitution Day (Uzbekistan) **Jean Sibelius, Day of Finnish Music (Finland) **Feast of the Immaculate Conception (public holiday in Feast of the Immaculate Conception#Cultural impact, several countries, a holy day of obligation in others), and its related observances: ***Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Anglican Communion), lesser commemoration ***Christmas on Campus (University of Dayton) ***Mother's Day (Panama) ***Festa da Conceição da Praia, celebrating Yemanjá, Queen of the Ocean (Salvador, Bahia) ***Festival of Lights (Lyon) **List of LGBT awareness days, Pansexual/Panromantic Pride Day **Public holidays in North Macedonia, Saint Clement of Ohrid Day (North Macedonia) **List of food days#December, National Brownie Day (

) **National Youth Day (Albania) *December 9 **Name days in Sweden, Anna's Day (Sweden and Finland) **Feast of the Immaculate Conception#Eastern Orthodoxy, Feast of the Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos by St. Anne (Eastern Orthodox) **Independence Day (Tanzania) **International Anti-Corruption Day **National Heroes Day (Antigua and Barbuda) **List of food days#December, National Pastry Day (

) **Armed Forces Day#Sri Lanka, Navy Day (Sri Lanka) **Ásatrú holidays#The Troth, Remembrance for Egill Skallagrímsson (The Troth) **Yuri's Day in the Autumn (Russian Orthodox Church) *December 10 **Alfred Nobel Day (Sweden) **Constitution Day (Thailand) **Human Rights Day (

) *December 11 **Human Rights and Peace Day (Kiribati) **Indiana Day (Indiana, United States) **List of food days#December, National Have a Bagel Day (United States) **List of food days#December, National Noodle Ring Day (United States) **National Tango Day (Argentina) **Pampanga Day (Pampanga province, Philippines) **Republic Day (Burkina Faso) *December 12 **Constitution Day (Russia) **Armed Forces Day#Croatia, Croatian Air Force Day (Croatia) **Day of Neutrality (Turkmenistan) **Public holidays in Mexico, Feast of the Apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico) **Baháʼí calendar, Feast of Masá'il Baháʼí calendar (only if Baháʼí Naw-Rúz falls on March 21, which it does for 2015) **Kanji of the year, Kanji Day (Japan) **Jamhuri Day (Kenya) *December 13 **Acadian Remembrance Day (Acadians) **National Day (Saint Lucia) **Thomas Roy#List of days, Pick a Pathologist Pal Day **Republic Day (Malta) **Armed Forces Day#Brazil, Sailor's Day (Brazil) **Saint Lucy's Day (mainly Scandinavia, some regions of Italy) *December 14 **Alabama Day (Alabama) **Forty-seven Ronin, Forty-seven Ronin Remembrance Day (Sengaku-ji, Tokyo) **Martyred Intellectuals Day (Bangladesh) **Monkey Day (

) *December 15 **United States Bill of Rights, Bill of Rights Day (United States) ***2nd Amendment Day (South Carolina) **Thomas Roy#List of days, Cat Herders Day **Homecoming Day (Alderney) **International Tea Day **List of food days#December, National Cupcake Day (United States) **Remembrance Day of Journalists Killed in the Line of Duty (Russia) **Zamenhof Day (Esperantist, International Esperanto Community) *December 16 **Thomas Roy#List of days, Barbie and Barney Backlash Day **National Day (Kingdom of Bahrain) **Victory day of Bangladesh **Day of reconciliation (South Africa), Day of Reconciliation in South Africa *December 17 **Accession Day (Bahrain) **International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers **National Day (Bhutan) **List of food days#December, National Maple Syrup Day (United States) **Pan American Aviation Day (United States) **Wright Brothers Day (United States) *December 18 **List of food days#Brazil, National Muffin Day (Brazil) *December 19 **Liberation Day, Goa Liberation Day (Goa,

) **Public holidays in Anguilla, National Heroes and Heroines Day (Anguilla) *December 20 **Abolition of Slavery Day, also known as ''Cafres, Fête des Cafres'' (Réunion, French Guiana) **Bo Aung Kyaw Day (Myanmar) **International Human Solidarity Day (

) **Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (Macau) **List of food days#December, National Sangria Day (United States) *December 21 **Armed Forces Day (Philippines) **First day of winter (some cultures) **

( Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States) **Thomas Roy#List of days, Humbug Day **List of food days#December, National Hamburger Day (United States) **Public holidays in São Tomé and Príncipe, São Tomé Day (São Tomé and Príncipe) **The first day of Pancha Ganapati, celebrated until December 25 (Saiva Siddhanta Church) *December 22 **Armed Forces Day (Vietnam) **Mother's Day (Indonesia) **List of food days#December, National Date Nut Bread Day (United States) **National Mathematics Day (India) **

(Cuba) **Unity Day (Zimbabwe) *December 23 **The Emperor's Birthday, a national holiday in Japan **Festivus **HumanLight (Humanism) *December 24 **Christmas Eve ***Aðfangadagskvöld, the day when the 13th and the last Yule Lads, Yule Lad arrives to towns. (Iceland) ***Feast of the Seven Fishes (Italy) ***Juleaften (Denmark)/Julaften (Norway)/Julafton, Julafton (Sweden) ***Nittel Nacht (certain Orthodox Jewish denominations) ***Nochebuena (Spain and Spanish-speaking countries) ***The Declaration of Christmas Peace (Old Great Square (Turku), Old Great Square of Turku, Finland's official Christmas City) ***Quviasukvik (Eskimo of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, NunatuKavut, Alaska, Greenland and Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Chukotka), a new year celebration held until January 7th. **Days of Military Honour, Day of Military Honour – Siege of Ismail (Russia) **Independence Day (Libya) **Mōdraniht (Anglo-Saxon paganism) **List of food days#December, National Eggnog Day (United States) *December 25 **

(Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Republic of Congo) **Christmas (Christianity) ***Constitution Day (Taiwan) ***Good Governance Day (India) ***Malkh-Festival (Nakh peoples of Chechnya and Ingushetia) ***Newtonmas (Atheist community) ***Quaid-e-Azam's Day (Pakistan) ***Takanakuy (Chumbivilcas Province, Peru) **List of food days#December, National Pumpkin Pie Day (United States) *December 26 **Independence Day in Slovenia – Independence and Unity Day **Kwanzaa (December 26 to January 1) (African-American, African-American community, United States) **Saint Stephen's Day **Wren Day (Ireland and the Isle of Man) *December 27 **Independence and Unity Day (Slovenia) **Mauro Hamza , Mauro Hamza Day (Houston, Houston, Texas) **Mummer's Day (Padstow, Cornwall) **St. Stephen's Day (public holiday in Alsace, Austria, Catalonia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland) ***Father's Day (Bulgaria) **The first day of Junkanoo street parade, the second day is on the New Year's Day (The Bahamas) **List of food days#December, National Fruitcake Day (United States) **Zartosht No-Diso (Zoroastrianism) *December 28 **Proclamation Day (South Australia), Proclamation Day in South Australia *December 29 **Thomas Roy#List of days, Tick Tock Day *December 30 **Remembrance days in Slovakia, Day of the Declaration of Slovakia as an Independent Ecclesiastic Province (Slovakia) **Thomas Roy#List of days, Falling Needles Family Fest **Scientology holidays, Freedom Day (Church of Scientology) **List of food days#December, National Bicarbonate of Soda Day (United States) **Rizal Day (Philippines) *December 31 **International Solidarity Day (Azerbaijan) **List of food days#December, National Champagne Day (United States) **New Year's Eve ***Novy God, Novy God Eve **Bisperás ng Bagong Taón'' (Philippines) **Ōmisoka (Japan) **Start of Hogmanay (Scotland) December 31 – January 1, in some cases until January 2.