December Cheat Sheet: Birth Month Facts, Legend & Lore
December Arrivals
I want to start by sayin that I think December arrivals get screwed on the gift giving, yall have my sympathy. Then there are the parents that go broke in December tryin to cover all the gifts, yall have my sympathy too. I don’t even wanna think about households with multiple December birthdays. Yikes! Let’s get to the good things about arriving at the end of the year, and there are quite a few benefits.
December folks tend to be practical and very optimistic. Their sense of determination, goal oriented drive, and self-discipline leads them to accomplish great things. Even so, they also tend to go with the flow and navigate life as it comes. Another wonderful thing about them is that they are oh-so very generous, which I personally feel is because they know what it’s like to get shafted on the gift receiving, so they don’t want others to feel that.
That richness of spirit, grace, mindfulness and positivity that December arrivals embody translates into better health too. Why shouldn’t it? Mental health and physical health go hand in hand, making December folks resilient and more balanced, so they also tend to have a lower risk of certain chronic conditions. Studies have shown that they tend to live to be 100+ years old. So take that, all you stingy gifters LOL
December Holidays
Notable holidays include:
- 10th: Human Rights Day
- 3rd Sunday: National Wreath Day
- 18th: First Night of Hanukkah* (varies, sometimes in November)
- 21st: Winter Solstice
- 25th: Christmas
- 26th: First day of Kwanzaa
- 31st: New Year’s Eve
December Folklore
A good portion of December’s legends and lore is centered around Winter Solstice/Yule, with nearly every region and culture having some sort of celebration or festival to mark the season. The focus of many of these celebrations were often centered around birth or death. For ancient Nordic and Egyptian cultures this was the times their goddesses gave birth. In the Scottish Highlands they believed the winter was brought on by a hag-goddess and that the only way to get rid of her and the cold she brought, Scots would carve her likeness into a wooden log and burn it, hoping it would banish her. Let’s not forget the Germans with Krampus celebrations.
December Birthstones
December is the third of the three months that has three birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon (June and August are the other two). December’s birthstones come in various hues of blues. With this variety of blue hues, people with December birthdays can choose a beautiful gemstone to fit any vibe.
Turquoise:it’s long been believed that turquoise is a symbol of friendship and happiness. Legend says the stone’s energy could be imbued with intentions for daily wear or meditation. It should be worn near your heart to ensure positive, good vibes. With its blue color streaked with brown ribbons, the stone was also said to symbolize the earth and sky coming together and the joining of female and male energies.
Tanzanite: It’s a fairly new stone, found in the mid 1960s. A gorgeous blue-purple variety of the mineral zoisite that is only found in one part of the world, Tanzania. Mining for this gem has slowed over the years, making the natural version of this stone increase in value. Natural stones are often heat treated to enhance their blue-purple color.
Zircon: During the Middle Ages, this December birthstone was thought to lull one into a deep sleep and scare off evil spirits. In the Hindu religion, zircon alternates with hessonite garnet as one of the nine gems of the navaratna. When worn together, the nine gems protect the wearer and bring wealth, wisdom and good health. Victorians had a fondness for blue zircon. Fine specimens can be found in English estate jewelry from the 1880s.
December Birth Flowers
If you arrived in December, you have two birth flowers: Holly and Narcissus.
Holly: Holly simply represents happiness and optimism. Pagan and Celtics have been using holly for ages, as it was an important part of their winter solstice celebrations. For the Celtics, it was a symbol of good luck and protection. Today, holly is part of Christmas celebrations and can be found in wreaths and garlands.
Narcissus (Paperwhite): Narcissus Paperwhite represents loyalty and hope. Giving a loved one a bouquet of paperwhites represents your unadulterated love for them, your admiration for their true self, and your desire that they will always remain the same. Aww! Paperwhites are white flowers that also represent innocence, sweetness, purity, hope, and simplicity.
December Zodiac
Sagittarius, the archer, represents those born between Nov 22nd and Dec 21st. The final fire sign of the zodiac, Sagittarius are unlike any other sign of the zodiac, they are a blend of passion, curiosity, intensity, and adaptability. Sagittarius is symbolized by the archer, a half-horse, half-man centaur, who is not scared to use its bow and arrow to explore vast areas and look for solutions in places and locations where others would not dare go.
Capricorn, the goat, is a water sign and represents those born between Dec 22nd and Jan 19th. Capricorn recognizes that the only way to reach the summit of the mountain is to be patient, persistent, and dedicated. Capricorns are relentless: They are determined to overcome whatever stands in their way. They have big picture, long-term goals and they absolutely don’t want to be bogged-down by annoying details or superfluous information.
