Dynamic fun facts about the month of December and more!
December is a month of celebrations, fun and joy!
December has arrived and with it comes a fun month to celebrate all things holiday. That said, did you know that there are fun facts about the month of December that you might not have known?
In this article, we’ll share some dynamic fun facts and trivia about December. We’ll dive into the origin and history, famous birthdays, designated holidays and events for the month and end with a collection of joyful inspiring quotes.
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The Origin & History of December
The origin and history of December.
December has a long history of being special.
The origin of the name is a bit murky. One popular theory is that December got its name from the Old English word Decem, which means tenth, although this theory doesn’t explain why it would start counting at that point.
Another theory is that it was named after the Roman god Decanus. This makes sense because December is the 10th month of the Roman calendar, which has been in place since October 31st.
Theories aside, December is most certainly the 12th month of the year. In 1752, the Gregorian calendar was introduced, meaning that the 12th month of the year was officially renamed to December.
As mentioned December is the twelfth and last month of the year. and it is the last of the four quarters of the year. It is one of 7 months of the year with 31 days.
Trivia, Folklore & Fun Facts About December
Trivia, folklore, and December fun facts.
December is a month of holidays and traditions. It is a time when people come together and celebrate the season. It is also a month when you have more time to spend with family and friends.
We all love trivia, and in December we have some pretty amazing fun facts to share with you. Did you know the longest day and shortest night of the year is December 21st and 22nd, respectively?
Here are some more fun facts, trivia, and even a little bit of folklore about the month of December:
- Snowfall on Christmas Day — In almanac prediction states that if snow falls on Christmas Day, Easter will be warm, green and sunny.
- Winter Solstice — The month of December brings the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the shortest day of the year (the day with the least amount of daylight) and occurs December 21st or 22nd. So it ends up being the longest night for the month as well. However, in the southern hemisphere the month of December brings the summer solstice and warm sunny weather.
- Geminid Meteor Shower — Look skyward on the night of December 13 after 9 P.M. for a chance to catch a glimpse of the Geminid meteors. The Geminid meteor shower is the most active shower of the year.
- Full Cold Moon — December’s Full Moon, the Full Cold Moon, appears on Saturday, December 18, reaching peak illumination at 11:37 P.M. EST. Read more about the Full Cold Moon.
- December Birthstones — December’s traditional birthstone is turquoise. It is considered a symbol of good fortune and success. Zircon and tanzanite are also considered to be December birthstones. See the December Birthstone page to learn more.
- December Birth Flower — December’s birth flowers are the holly (Ilex aquifolium) and the paperwhite Narcissus (Euphorbia pulcherrima)—a relative of the daffodil with lovely white blooms.
- The Zodiac — If you were born between the dates of November 23rd thru December 21st then your zodiac sign is Sagittarius. If you were born between the dates of December 22nd thru January 19th, then your zodiac sign is Capricorn.
- The Tradition of the Yule Log — The Anglo-Saxons called it “Winter month” or “Yule month” because of the custom of burning the Yule log around this time.
- Magical World of Walt Disney — The world became a little more magical on December 5th, 1901, when Walter Elias “Walt” Disney was born in Hermosa, Illinois.
- Nobel Peace Prize — December 10th is when Nobel Prizes are awarded which is the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
- The Unluckiest Day of the Year — Forget Friday the 13th. According to ancient folklore, Dec. 28 is the unluckiest day on the Christian calendar.
- First Airplane Flight — On December 17th, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright, two brothers from Dayton, Ohio, ushered in the era of flight and soared into history.
The Two Most Popular Holidays – Christmas & New Year’s Eve
Christmas
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” We all know that December is regarded as one of the most cherished months of the year. Christians around the world celebrate this holy day known as Christmas on December 25th each year.
Storefronts are festooned with holiday decorations and the Christmas spirit! Homes are eccentrically decorated with all kinds of novel Christmas decorations up to the high tech of animated lights.
It’s a month of festivities, joy, and family reunions. It’s a time of giving gifts and celebrating family and friendship.
Did you know that “Jingle bells” was composed in 1857, and not intended to be associated with Christmas – it was meant to be a Thanksgiving song! But today, you can’t celebrate Christmas without singing ‘Jingle Bells!’
Kudos goes to the state of Texas where on December 5th, 2013, the Texas A&M Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas completed building the largest gingerbread house in the world. In fact, the total calories for this Gingerbread house is a whopping 35,823,400 to be exact.
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve is the other most popular holiday in the world. What’s the reason for that?
- It’s a time for making resolutions and starting a new year.
- It’s a time to honor the past and look forward to the future.
- It’s a time of partying and celebrating with friends and loved ones.
NY Times Square is THE New Year location.
New York Times Square is the go-to place for the New Year’s Eve Tradition of gathering each year to celebrate the countdown into the new year with the drop o the New Year’s Eve Ball.
Designated Holidays & Events Celebrated in December
For sure, many people believe that the entire month of December is one big holiday. That being said, be sure to take a little time from your busy holiday shopping and preparation, to thoroughly enjoy all of the December holidays on your calendar.
December Calendar
Famous People Born in December Birthdays
How special you are if you are lucky to be born in this celebratory month of December! Who shares your birthday with you?
December 1: Bette Midler, Lee Trevino, Pablo Escobar, Sarah Silverman, Woody Allen.
December 2: Britney Spears, Lucy Liu.
December 3: Joseph Conrad, Julianne Moore, Ozzy Osbourne.
December 4: Jay-Z, Marisa Tomei, Tyra Banks.
December 5: Little Richard, Margaret Cho, Martin Van Buren, Walt Disney.
December 6: Steven Wright, Philip K. Dick.
December 7: Aaron Carter, Harry Chapin, Terrel Owens, Tom Waits, Larry Bird.
December 8:Ann Coulter, Eli Whitney, Flip Wilson, Jim Morrison, Nicki Minaj, Sammy Davis, Jr.
December 9: Judi Dech, Kirk Douglas, Donny Osmond
December 10: King James I of Scotland, Emily Dickenson, Umera Ahmad
December 11: Nikki Sixx.
December 12: Bob Barker, Edvard Munch, Frank Sinatra, Jennifer Connelly.
December 13: Jamie Foxx, Steve Buscemi, Ted Nugent, Dick Van Dyke, Herman Cain, Mary Todd Lincoln.
December 14: Vanessa Hudgens.
December 15:Adam Brody, Don Johnson.
December 16: Bill Hicks, Ludwig van Beethoven, Sir Arthur Charles Clarke.
December 17: Ludwig Van Beethoven, Pope Francis, Sir Humphrey Daley
December 18: Betty Grable, Brad Putt, Christina Aguilera, Jospeh Stalin, Katie Holmes, Keith Richards, Ray Liotta, Steven Spielberg.
December 19: Jake Gyllenhaal, Reggie White, Criss Angel
December 20: Lara Stone, Uri Geller.
December 21: Chris Evert, Frank Zappa, Jane Fonda, Kiefer Sutherland, Samuel L. Jackson.
December 22: Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, Robin Gibb, Ted Cruz.
December 23:
December 24: Ava Gardner, Hamid Karzai, Howard Hughes, Ricky Martin.
December 25: Jesus Christ (Christian tradition), Annie Lennox, Cab Calloway, Conrad Hilton, Clara Barton, Helena Christensen, Humphrey Bogart, Isaac Newton
December 26: Chris Daughtry, Jared Leto, Lars Ulrich, Mao Zedong, Steve Allen.
December 27: Louis Pasteur, Marlene Dietrich.
December 28: Denzel Washington, Stan Lee, Woodrow Wilson.
December 29: Jon Voight, Mary Tyler Moore, Ted Danson, Jude Law.
December 30: LeBron James, Matt Lauer, Patti Smith, Sean Hannity, Tiger Woods, Davy Jones.
December 31: Anthony Hopkins, Diane von Furstenberg, George Marshall, Henri Matisse, John Denver, Val Kilmer.
20 Quotes About the Holy Month of December
“Chill December brings the sleet, Blazing fire, and Christmas treat.”
Sara Coleridge
“May and October, the best-smelling months? I’ll make a case for December: evergreen, frost, wood smoke, cinnamon.”
Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon
“In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago.”
Christina Rossetti
“There’s something super special about December.”
Charmaine J. Forde
“In cold December fragrant chaplets blow, and heavy harvests nod beneath the snow.”
Alexander Pope
“Outside the house, it was storming, a busy downfall of flakes that the wind blew lightly across acres of old snow left from December.”
Gladys Hasty Carroll
“When I was a child, my December weekends were spent making cards, decorating the tree, hanging the wreath, and preparing brandy butter and peppermint creams.”
Pippa Middleton
“If we make it through December, everything’s gonna be all right; it’s the coldest time of winter and I shiver when I see the falling snow.”
Merle Haggard
“Will love be true as December frost, or fickle and fall like the rose in June?”
Clement Scott
“I know. I’m lazy. But I made myself a New Years’ resolution that I would write myself something really special. Which means I have ‘til December, right?”
Catherine O’Hara
“Of all the months of the year there is not a month one half so welcome to the young, or so full of happy associations, as the last month of the year.” –
Charles Dickens
“Nothing ever seems too bad, too hard, or too sad when you’ve got a Christmas tree in the living room.”
Nora
“It was snowing. It was always snowing at Christmas. December, in my memory, is white as Lapland, though there were no reindeers. But there were cats.”
Dylan Thomas
“If cold December gave you birth, The month of snow and ice and mirth, Place on your hand a Turquoise blue, Success will bless whatever you do.”
Unknown
“May and October, the best-smelling months? I’ll make a case for December; evergreen, frost, wood smoke, cinnamon.”
Lisa Kleypas
“December is the toughest month of the year. Others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, October, August, and February.”
Mark Twain
“December’s wintery breath is already clouding the pond, frosting the pane, obscuring summer’s memory.”
John Geddes
“How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”
Dr. Seuss
“The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.”
Louisa May Alcott
“Some Christmas tree ornaments do more than glitter and glow, they represent a gift of love given a long time ago.”
Tom Becker
The Big Takeaway!
In summary, this blog shared fun facts, trivia, famous birthdays, holiday days, and inspirational quotes about December.
Whether you’ve been good or bad all year, be kind to yourself and your loved ones during the holidays and get into the spirit of the season by enjoying all that the month of December has to offer!
