December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars. It is one of seven months with the length of 31 days. December is the first month of meteorological winter in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, December is the seasonal equivalent to June in the Northern hemisphere, which is the first month of summer. December is the month with the shortest daylight hours of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest daylight hours of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
December symbols: Its birth flower is the narcissus. The birthstones of December are the turquoise, zircon, and tanzanite. The zodiac signs for the month of December are Sagittarius (until December 21) and Capricorn (December 22 onwards).
Historical Events for December, 1848
Day of Week 2nd » Franz Josef I of Austria called Franz Josef I becomes Emperor of Austria.
Day of Week 5th » California Gold Rush: In a message to the Congress of the United States called U.S. Congress, U.S. President James K. Polk confirms that large amounts of gold had been discovered in California.
Famous Deaths for December 1848
18th » Bernard Bolzano, Bohemian priest and mathematician (b. 1781)
19th » Emily Brontë, English author and poet (b. 1818)