December 2021

There is a lot to celebrate in December. This is a list of pretty much everything that goes on during the last month of the year. Many of these dates change from year to year. The days that change are marked with this » symbol.

December Lore and General Info

• Midwinter Celebrations
• December Moon Names
• Christmas Moon Lore
• More Yule Myths and Lore

Astronomical Events

• Sept 7 thru Dec 10: Taurids Meteor Shower
• Dec 4 » Total Solar Eclipse
• Dec 4 » New Moon
• Dec 7 thru Dec 17: Geminids Meteor Shower
• Dec 14: Halcyon Days Begin
• Dec 17 thru Dec 25: Ursids Meteor Shower
• Dec 19 » Full Moon – Big Winter Moon
• Dec 21: Winter Solstice

Astrological Events

Depending on which astrological system you adhere to, these are the signs that show up in December of 2021. Be aware that some of these dates will vary from year to year. Unlike the Sun signs which might just shift by 1 or 2 days, the dates of the various Moon signs will vary widely from year to year. The same holds true for the Chinese Zodiac. The Celtic Tree Signs are based on an arbitrary system and stay the same from year to year.

The December Sun begins in Sagittarius and finishes up in Capricorn:

• Nov 22 thru Dec 21 » Sun in Sagittarius
• Dec 21 thru Jan 20, 2022 » Sun in Capricorn

The moon cycles through the signs as follows:

• Nov 29 – Dec 1 » Moon in Libra
• Dec 1 – Dec 3 » Moon in Scorpio
• Dec 3 – Dec 5 » Moon in Sagittarius
• Dec 5 – Dec 7 » Moon in Capricorn
• Dec 7 – Dec 9 » Moon in Aquarius
• Dec 9 – Dec 11 » Moon in Pisces
• Dec 11 – Dec 14 » Moon in Aries
• Dec 14 – Dec 16 » Moon in Taurus
• Dec 16 – Dec 19 » Moon in Gemini
• Dec 19 – Dec 21 » Moon in Cancer
• Dec 21 – Dec 24 » Moon in Leo
• Dec 24 – Dec 26 » Moon in Virgo
• Dec 26 – Dec 28 » Moon in Libra
• Dec 28 – Dec 30 » Moon in Scorpio
• Dec 30 – Jan 1, 2022 » Moon in Sagittarius

You will notice that the Moon might begin the day in one sign and by the end of the day may have moved into another sign, so timing matters if you are wanting to be precise.

The Celtic Tree Signs in December:

• Elder: Nov 25 – Dec 22
• Pine: Dec 22 (tree of the Winter Solstice)
• Dec 23 – Is not ruled by any tree. It is the traditional day of the proverbial “Year and a Day” in the earliest courts of law.
• Birch: Dec 24 – Jan 20 –  Month of the Birch Tree

The Alternative Celtic Zodiac is as follows:

• Hornbeam: Dec 1 – Dec 10
• Aspen: Dec 11 – Dec 20
• Beech: Dec 21 (Winter Solstice)
• Apple: Dec 22 – Jan 1

The Chinese Calendar and Zodiac

We are currently in the year of the Ox (sometimes referred to as the Cow).  Each Month is also assigned a specific animal. Here’s what shows up in December 2021.

• Pig » Nov 7 – Dec 6 (Chinese Zodiac – Stem Branch Calendar)
• Pig  » Nov 5 – Dec 3 (Lunar Calendar – 10th Lunar Month)
• Rat » Dec 7 – Jan 4, 2022 (Chinese Zodiac – Stem Branch Calendar)
• Rat » Dec 4 –  Jan 2, 2022 ( Lunar Calendar – 11th Lunar Month)

Note: The traditional Chinese Astrology birth chart is built by the Chinese Stem Branch Calendar, not the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which I think is really confusing.  Because of a difference in time zones, the lunar months will have a different pattern between China and the USA.

Lucky and Unlucky Days

You might want to plan moving, traveling, major purchases, court dates, and weddings around these dates, avoiding the unlucky days and utilizing the lucky ones. Interestingly, the 15th is both lucky and unlucky.

• These are the lucky days in December:
  15, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 25. 
• These are the unlucky days in December:
  6, 11, 14, 15 and 21.

Fatal Days

The seventh is a fatal day for human life,
The tenth is with a serpent’s venom rife.

Holidays and Holy Days

Many of the holidays begin on the eve of the night before and end on the eve of the day of. It’s also important to remember that the dates of archaic festivals and feast days may vary widely depending on the source.

December 1

• 1: The Festival of Poseidon – the Greek god of the sea. Poseidon is also the god of rebirth.
• 1 thru 24: Advent

December 3

• 3: The Sementivaem – the second festival of Tellus, the Roman earth goddess.
• 3 » Night of Hekate Suppers

December 4

• 4: Bona Dea – a Roman festival for women only

December 5

• 5: Faunalia
• 5 » The Noumenia

December 6

• 6 » Celebrating The Agathos Daimon

December 14

• 14: Halcyon Days Begin
• 14 » Day of Ekadashi (Hindu)

December 15

• 15: The second Festival of Consus – the Roman god of good council
• 15: Bill of Rights Day

December 17

• 17 » Friday the 17th
• 17: Beginning of Saturnalia – festival of Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture. The most popular Roman festival, for on this day the roles of master and slave were reverted.

December 18

• 18: Eponalia

December 19

• 19: The Festival of Ops – second festival of Ops, Roman goddess of harvest.

December 21

• 21: Poseidonia of Aegina – possibly lasting as long as 2 months
• 21: Death of Tammuz – Ancient Babylonian Yule Ritual
• 21: Divalia – Angeronalia, festival of Angerona, the Roman goddess of secrecy.
• 21: The Dōngzhì Festival
• 21: Yule (In the southern hemisphere this is Litha)

December 23

• 23: The Larentalia (Larentinalia) – festival of Acca Larentia the Roman goddess who gave the early Romans their land

December 24

• 24: Birth of the Unconquered Sun ~ Sol Invictus
• 24: Christmas Eve

December 25

• 25: Christmas
• 25: The Birthday of Mithra – the Persian god of light and wisdom.
• 25: Festival of the Invincible Sun God
• 25: Feast of Frau Halle – Germanic goddess

December 26

• 26: Boxing Day
• 26: Day of the Wren

December 27

• 27: Mother Night

December 28

• 28: Feast of the Holy Innocents
• 28: Childremass
• 28 » Dakini Day (Tibetan)
• 28: Dyzymas Day

December 29

• 29: Feast of Fools
• 29 thru Jan 3: Shōgatsu (Shinto)

December 30

• 30 » Day of Ekadashi (Hindu)
• 30: Bringing in the Boar

December 31

• 31: Watch Night
• 31: New Year’s Eve
• 31: Festival of Hogmanay
• 31: Stonehaven Fireball Ceremony
• 31: First Footing

Saint Days

There is a surprising amount of magick associated with Saint days. This is a very short list of the Saint days in December, there are many many more. As time goes by I may end up listing them all, but for now, this is what I have.

• 6: Saint Nicholas Day
• 12: Feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• 13: St. Lucy’s Day
• 26: St Stephen’s Day
• 27: St John’s Day

Recipes For December

• Anise Cookies For Yule – Yule, Christmas and the Winter Solstice
• Figgy Pudding – Yule, Christmas and the Winter Solstice
• Simple Wassail Recipe – Yule, Christmas and the Winter Solstice
• Swedish Yule Bread – Yule, Christmas and the Winter Solstice
• Traditional Wassail Recipe For Yule – Yule, Christmas and the Winter Solstice
• Yule Eggnog Bread – Yule, Christmas and the Winter Solstice
• Glutinous Rice Balls – Tang Yuan – Winter Solstice
• Lamb Dumplings – Dongzhi – Winter Solstice

Many more seasonal recipes, including recipes for new and full moon ceremonies, ancient Greek and Roman holidays, Asian festivals and etc can be found here: Seasonal Recipes.

Notes:

Any December lore, almanac, astrological, and celebration dates that have been shared after this post was published can be found by searching the December posts to see what’s new.

A lot of work went into this post. It was compiled from various sources by Shirley Twofeathers for The Pagan Calendar, you may repost and share without karmic repercussions, but only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Blessed be.