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December (from Latin decem, "ten") or mensis December was originally the tenth month of the Roman calendar, following November (novem, "nine") and preceding Ianuarius. It had 29 days. It had 29 days. When the calendar was reformed to create a 12-month year starting in Ianuarius, December became the twelfth month, but retained its name, as did ...
The original Roman calendar is usually believed to have been an observational lunar calendar [2] whose months ended and began from the new moon. [3] [4] Because a lunar cycle is about 29.5 days long, such months would have varied between 29 and 30 days. [5]
December is the twelfth and final month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. December, from the Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry. December's name derives from the Latin word decem (meaning ten) because it was originally the tenth month of the year in the calendar of Romulus c. 750 BC, which began in March ...
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In the old Roman calendar (until perhaps as late as 153 BC), the mensis Martius ("Mars' Month") was the first month of the year. It is one of the few months to be named for a god, Mars, whose festivals dominate the month.
December 25 was the traditional date of the winter solstice in the Roman Empire, [26] where most Christians lived, and the Roman festival Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (birthday of Sol Invictus) had been held on this date since 274 AD. [27] In the East, the birth of Jesus was celebrated in connection with the Epiphany on January 6.
August panel from a Roman mosaic of the months (from El Djem, Tunisia, first half of 3rd century AD) Sextilis (lit. ' sixth ') or mensis Sextilis was the Latin name for what was originally the sixth month in the Roman calendar, when March (Martius, "Mars' month") was the first of ten months in the year. After the calendar reform that produced a ...
Saturnalia is an ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of the god Saturn, held on 17 December in the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities until 19 December. By the 1st century BC, the celebration had been extended until 23 December, for a total of seven days of festivities. [ 1 ]