December illustrated almanac
the prophets and celebration of light
This is an illustrated digital almanac of the internal emotional climate, as influenced by the external natural and astronomical events. I wanted to capture visually the shared experience of how it feels to be alive as a tiny human, enveloped in the greater cyclical movement of this planet, throughout one calendar year. Welcome to December!
The name of the month
December’s name comes from decem, which is latin for “ten”, as it used to be the tenth month of the original old Roman calendar, that excluded January & February. Other names for December are the Anglo Saxon Yule monath or Winter monath.
The wheel of the year
December, the last month of the year, is a time of reflection, renewal, manifestation and celebration. It is associated with Yule, a festival marking the rebirth of the sun and the return of light after the longest night of the year on the winter solstice. It’s a time to celebrate the return of light to the world, set intentions for the coming year, and reflect on the past year’s experiences. Typical symbols include evergreens, candles, and mistletoe.
Sun in Sagittarius (November 23d to December 22nd)
Sun is aligned with the fire sign of the Sagittarius for the majority of December. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, and these folks are known to be independent, strong-willed and optimistic. Their open mind and philosophical view motivate them to travel the world, contemplate the meaning of life and transform visions into action.
In Greek mythology, Sagittarius is the centaur, the half human and half horse, and a healer, whose higher intelligence forms a bridge between Earth and Heaven. Also known as the Archer, Sagittarius is said never to fail in hitting the mark, hinting to their power of prophecy and the claims that seers and prophets are born in this sign.
Season of Advent
December 1st is the First Sunday of Advent, marking the beginning of the Advent season. This is a liturgical period preceding Christmas, practiced by the Catholic Church as a season of prayer, fasting, and penitence.
December 6th is Saint Nicholas Day.
The patron saint of children is the model for Santa Claus and gift-giving.
December 8th is Bodhi Day.
Bodhi Day in the Buddhist calendar celebrates Buddha’s enlightenment.
December 13th is St. Lucia’s Day.
St. Lucia’s Day has long been associated with festivals of light and is still celebrated in Scandinavian countries. Before the Gregorian calendar reform in 1752, her feast day occurred on the shortest day of the year, hence the saying “Lucy light, Lucy light, shortest day and longest night”.
The Full Cold Moon
December’s full Moon is called the Full Cold Moon.
December 21st is December’s Solstice
In Northern Hemisphere, it is the winter solstice and the beginning of the astronomical winter, while in the Southern Hemisphere it’s the summer solstice and the beginning of astronomical summer. This is all thanks to Earth’s tilted axis, which means that at the solstice, half of Earth is pointed the furthest away from the Sun, and the other half is the closest towards it.
December 25th is Christmas Day,
a Catholic holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated by many religious and non religious people around the world. It also marks the beginning of Hanukkah this year, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights.
December 26th is Boxing Day …
in the Commonwealth countries, a centuries-old gift-giving ritual that originated in Britain in Victorian era. It is also the first day of Kwanzaa, a week-long holiday celebration of African-American culture, honouring family, culture, community, and the harvest during the darkest days of winter.
December 31st is the last evening of the calendar year.
The tradition is to kiss the person you hope to keep kissing.
