What Month is December?
December is the twelfth month of the year
December, abbreviated as Dec, is the 12th month of the Gregorian calendar, coming after November and before January.
December gets its name from the Latin word decem, meaning "ten." In the original Roman calendar, which began in March, December was the tenth month of the year.
When January and February were later added to the beginning of the calendar, December became the twelfth month, but its name remained unchanged. This is why December's name reflects the number ten, even though it is now the last month of the modern calendar.
Learn more about the 12 months of the year.
Details About December
- Days
- 31 days
- Weeks
- 4 weeks & 3 days
- Hours
- 744 hours
- Quarter
- Q4
Use our December countdown calculator to see how many days there are until December.
How to Pronounce December
dih·sem·ber
December 2026 Calendar
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start of Winter | Christmas Eve | Christmas | ||||
| New Year's Eve |
You can also print a formatted calendar with holidays with our December 2026 Calendar.
Key Dates in December
December Symbols
Zircon, Tanzanite, and Turquoise are the birthstones for December. The birth flowers for December are the carnation and snowdrop, symbolizing love, hope, purity, and fresh beginnings.
December Zodiac Signs
- ♐ Sagittarius (Archer): November 23 - December 21
- ♑ Capricorn (Goat): December 22 - January 20