The Surprising History of December

Known for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve—and for "Seinfeld" fans, of course, Festivus—December is filled with cherished traditions. But beyond these celebrations, the month boasts tales of meteorites, ancient winter rituals and even a giant Swedish goat made of straw. Read on to learn more about December’s surprising history.

The month’s name comes from the Latin word “decem,” meaning 10, as it was originally the 10th month in the Roman calendar. It became the 12th month under the Gregorian calendar and was extended to 31 days under the Julian calendar.  

December also marks the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, typically around December 21-22, which marks the shortest day of the year. The full moon in December is known as the cold moon, a name derived from the Mohawk nation, whose traditional territory straddles the U.S.-Canada border. According to The Farmers’ Almanac, other Native American tribes called it the “moon of the popping trees,” “drift clearing moon” or “snow moon.” 

Astronomically, December is home to the Geminid meteor shower, one of the year’s most active meteor displays. Known for their green fireballs, the Geminids’ meteors travel a super-speedy 78,000 miles per hour, with their radiant point (the spot in the sky from which they appear to originate) in the Gemini constellation, according to NASA. 

The word “cyclone,” used to describe rotating, spiraling winds, was coined by Henry Piddington in 1848 after the British East India Company official studied devastating Indian Ocean storms, including a December 1789 event in Coringa, India, that left more than 20,000 dead.   

A meteoroid exploded over Connecticut on December 14, 1807, marking the first recorded meteorite fall in the U.S. Yale professors Benjamin Silliman and James Kingsley investigated the event, and Silliman’s chemical analysis proved the meteorite contained iron, laying the foundation for meteoritics (the study of meteors). The event made headlines, though skeptics, including President Thomas Jefferson, questioned its authenticity. Jefferson is said to have remarked, “It is easier to believe that two Yankee professors could lie than to admit that stones could fall from heaven,” according to the New England Historical Society.

In December 1965, astronauts aboard Gemini 6 played "Jingle Bells," making it the first song broadcast from space. While appropriate for the holiday season, it was a prank: After reporting a supposed unidentified object to Mission Control, Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford surprised everyone by performing the tune with a harmonica and sleigh bells they had secretly brought aboard.

In other December musical history, it was December 25, 1896, when John Philip Sousa came up with the iconic march "Stars and Stripes Forever." According to the U.S. Marine Corps, he was heading back to America from Europe on a steamer when inspiration hit. 

December traditions often trace back to ancient celebrations like Saturnalia, an ancient Roman festival that inspired many Christian customs. Saturnalia halted work, closed schools, and suspended many social norms, as people decorated their homes in greenery, feasted, played music and gave gifts. 

Another midwinter pagan festival, Yule, or Jól, was celebrated by Vikings during the winter solstice. Rooted in pre-Christian traditions, Yule involved honoring the dead, with rituals such as feasting, drinking, making horse sacrifices and oath-swearing. 

And, as if you needed another event to add to your December calendar, take note that December 12 is Poinsettia Day (recognized by the U.S. House in 2002); December 15 is Bill of Rights Day, established by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941; and December 26 is National Candy Cane Day, celebrating the season’s beloved red-and-white striped treat.  

The Gävle Goat, a roughly 43-foot-high straw structure, has been an annual December tradition in Gävle, Sweden, since 1966. Hand-constructed and adorned with red ribbons and lights, the goat attracts tens of thousands of visitors and more than 100,000 webcam viewers each year. However, the goat, which stands from the first Sunday of Advent until soon after New Year’s, has also been a target of vandalism, particularly arson, over the decades, leading to rebuilt versions and protective measures like guards and fire retardants. In 2023, jackdaws, smaller crow-like birds, added to the goat’s challenges by feeding on the seeds hidden in its straw.