December Product Launches

The Origin of December

December, like September, October, and November, retains its original Roman calendar placement. Named "December" from the Latin "decem" (ten), it was the tenth and final month in Romulus's original Roman calendar starting in March.

Despite January and February's addition later by King Numa Pompilius, making it the twelfth month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and subsequent renaming attempts of other months, December kept its numerical name, highlighting the calendar's evolution. Originally 29 days, Julius Caesar increased December to 31 days in 46 BCE.

Signifying winter's depth for Romans, it marked the agricultural cycle's end and a time for rest. December featured the prominent festival of Saturnalia (from December 17th), honoring Saturn with feasting and merrymaking, possibly influencing Christmas traditions. Though emperors like Commodus tried renaming it (e.g., "Amazonius"), the original Latin name endured. The Gregorian calendar, the global standard, preserved December's name, twelfth position, and 31 days, maintaining its ancient Roman legacy.

December Today

December in the U.S. is primarily the holiday season, featuring Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, along with significant retail activity. Celebrations involve decorations, gifts, music, and special foods. Santa Claus is prominent for children, while Hanukkah includes menorah lighting, and Kwanzaa honors African heritage. The Winter Solstice also occurs in December. Economically, it's the peak retail season, with varied weather across the country impacting activities. The month is also marked by charitable giving, reflection, and anticipation for the new year, creating a blend of traditions, commerce, seasonal changes, and goodwill.

The December Zodiac

In the tropical zodiac, which is most commonly used in Western astrology, the month of December features two zodiac signs:

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21): Individuals born from November 22nd to December 21st fall under the sign of Sagittarius. This sign is symbolized by the Archer and is associated with the element of Fire and a mutable quality. Sagittarians are often characterized as adventurous, optimistic, honest, and philosophical.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19): People born from December 22nd to January 19th are Capricorns. This sign is symbolized by the Sea-Goat and is associated with the element of Earth and a cardinal quality. Capricorns are typically described as ambitious, responsible, disciplined, and practical.

The December Birthstone

December has three official blue birthstones: Turquoise, Zircon, and Tanzanite, each with unique origins and histories.

Turquoise, an ancient stone mined for over 5,000 years, was traded through Turkey ("Turkish stone") and prized by ancient Egyptians and Native Americans for jewelry and symbolism (good fortune, protection, friendship).

Zircon, possibly named for "cinnabar" or "gold colored," is billions of years old, used in jewelry since the Middle Ages, and blue zircon became a December birthstone in 1952; it historically symbolized sleep, protection, wealth, and wisdom.

Tanzanite, a blue/violet zoisite discovered in Tanzania in 1967 and popularized by Tiffany & Co., became a birthstone in 2002 and is associated with transformation and intuition. These blue stones provide diverse options for December.

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