1486: "December"
Interesting Things with JC #1486: "December" – A month named for ten, yet placed at the end of the year, still carries the weight of old rituals and returning light. December holds the quiet tension between darkness and renewal, asking what we choose to keep alive.
Curriculum - Episode Anchor
Episode Title: December
Episode Number: 1486
Host: JC
Audience: Grades 9–12, college intro, homeschool, lifelong learners
Subject Area: History, Cultural Studies, Etymology, Astronomy (Seasonal Cycles)
Lesson Overview
By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:
• Define the historical origin of the word December and its connection to the Roman calendar.
• Compare ancient Roman December traditions, including Saturnalia, with later winter practices.
• Analyze how cultural and religious customs merged over time, especially during late antiquity.
• Explain the importance of the winter solstice in shaping seasonal rituals.
Key Vocabulary
• December (dee-SEM-ber) — Derived from the Latin decem, meaning “ten”; in a sentence: December originally marked the tenth month of the early Roman calendar.
• Saturnalia (sat-er-NAY-lee-uh) — A Roman festival honoring the god Saturn, characterized by feasting, role reversals, and gift-giving.
• Solstice (SOL-stis) — The shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere; in context, ancient cultures marked this moment as the turning point toward lengthening daylight.
• Evergreens (EH-ver-greenz) — Plants that remain green year-round; historically used as symbols of endurance during winter.
• Calendar Reform (KAL-en-dur ree-FORM) — Changes made to the Roman calendar that added January and February, shifting December to the year’s end.
Narrative Core
Open: The episode begins by revealing that December’s name comes from an older Roman calendar where it was actually the tenth month.
Info: Listeners learn that early Romans had no official calendar months for deep winter, leaving a gap between the harvest season and spring.
Details: The episode explores Saturnalia, the festival honoring Saturn, highlighting its customs: gift-giving, social role reversals, candles, and communal celebration.
Reflection: The story considers the winter solstice and the shared human experience of finding warmth, light, and renewal during the darkest days.
Closing: These are interesting things, with JC.
A calm river runs through a forest where the seasons meet in the middle. On the left side, bright green and yellow trees show the colors of early autumn under warm light. On the right side, the trees are covered in fresh white snow, creating a winter landscape. Mist rises gently from the water and softens the transition between the two seasons. At the top, bold black text reads “INTERESTING THINGS WITH JC #1486” and “DECEMBER.”
Transcript
December carries a name from another era. The word comes from the Latin decem (deh-kem), meaning ten, because the earliest Roman calendar started in March. In that older world, December truly marked the tenth month. The stretch of deep winter that followed had no place on the calendar at all. It was simply cold, quiet time between the harvest and the return of light.
When Roman leaders later added January and February, the numbering shifted but the name stayed. December moved to the end of the year, and its title became a fossil of an older system. What didn’t fade was the character of the month itself. For the Romans, December was the one moment when people could step back from strict expectations.
Saturnalia filled the center of the month from December 17 to 23. It honored the god Saturn, pronounced Sah turn. It brought feasts, candles, gift baskets, and the rare experience of relaxed rules. Masters served meals to workers. Friends traded simple presents. Public squares filled with noise and color. The festival worked because daily life took a toll, and a community needed one shared week to exhale.
December also lands near the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year across the Northern Hemisphere. Ancient families watched the sun drift to its lowest point, then slowly begin its climb back toward longer days. Fire, evergreens, and gatherings grew from that moment. They were ways to show that people could hold on to light even when the sky offered only a few hours of it.
Centuries later, as Christianity spread through the Roman world, winter customs blended into Christmas. By the 4th century CE, December 25 became the date for celebrating Christ’s birth. Yet the older rhythms remained. December kept its mix of reflection, renewal, and the simple human need to find warmth together at the close of a year.
These are interesting things, with JC.
Student Worksheet
Why was December originally considered the tenth month of the Roman year?
Describe two major features of Saturnalia and explain why they were meaningful to Romans.
How did the winter solstice influence traditions involving fire and evergreens?
Explain how earlier winter customs blended into later Christmas celebrations.
Creative prompt: Write a short journal entry from the perspective of someone living during Saturnalia.
Teacher Guide
Estimated Time
45–60 minutes
Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Strategy
Introduce the Latin root decem and connect it to related English words (decimal, decagon). Provide visual aids showing the early Roman calendar and the position of the solstice on an annual cycle.
Anticipated Misconceptions
• Students may assume December was always the twelfth month.
• Learners may misunderstand Saturnalia as identical to modern holidays rather than a distinct Roman tradition.
• Some may think ancient societies had precise astronomical tools identical to today, rather than observational methods.
Discussion Prompts
• How do societies use festivals to cope with difficult seasons?
• What makes the solstice a natural point for celebrations around the world?
• Why do names from older systems (like December) persist even after reforms?
Differentiation Strategies
• ESL: Provide illustrated vocabulary cards and sentence starters.
• IEP: Allow oral responses or graphic organizers for comparing traditions.
• Gifted: Encourage deeper research into calendar reforms from Numa to Julius Caesar.
Extension Activities
• Create a timeline tracing major calendar reforms from the early Roman Republic to the Gregorian calendar.
• Compare Saturnalia with another winter festival from a different culture.
• Investigate how solstice observations vary across global latitudes.
Cross-Curricular Connections
• Astronomy: Earth’s axial tilt and the cause of solstices.
• Anthropology: Cultural adaptation to seasonal darkness.
• Linguistics: Evolution of Roman calendar terminology into modern languages.
Quiz
Q1. What does the Latin root decem mean?
A. Twelve
B. Ten
C. Winter
D. Light
Answer: B
Q2. Why did December shift position in the calendar?
A. The solstice moved
B. January and February were added
C. The Romans removed a summer month
D. The year was shortened
Answer: B
Q3. What was a major feature of Saturnalia?
A. Silence and fasting
B. Role reversals and gift-giving
C. Planting crops
D. Military parades
Answer: B
Q4. What natural event occurs near December each year in the Northern Hemisphere?
A. The longest day
B. The hottest night
C. The shortest day
D. The coldest recorded temperature
Answer: C
Q5. December 25 was selected as a Christian holiday by which century?
A. 1st century CE
B. 2nd century CE
C. 3rd century CE
D. 4th century CE
Answer: D
Assessment
Open-Ended Questions
Explain how ancient Roman traditions and natural events shaped the meaning of December in both ancient and later cultures.
Compare Saturnalia to a winter celebration you know today. Identify at least two similarities and two differences.
3–2–1 Rubric
3 – Accurate, complete, and thoughtful; includes clear explanations and examples.
2 – Partially complete; some details missing or unclear.
1 – Inaccurate, vague, or significantly incomplete.
Standards Alignment
Common Core ELA (CCSS)
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.4 – Students determine word meaning and etymology (e.g., decem) within historical context.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.2 – Identify central ideas such as cultural continuity and seasonal rituals.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2 – Analyze historical themes in Roman festivals and calendar systems.
C3 Social Studies Framework
• D2.His.1.9-12 – Analyze historical events and processes, such as calendar reform.
• D2.Civ.2.9-12 – Evaluate roles customs play in social order and community life.
NGSS (Cross-Curricular Science Connection)
• HS-ESS1-1 – Understanding Earth’s place in the universe supports solstice interpretation.
ISTE Standards
• ISTE 3.Knowledge Constructor – Students research historical and astronomical sources to evaluate cultural development.
International Equivalents
UK National Curriculum (History – Key Stage 4)
• Historical Knowledge and Understanding – Examining ancient civilizations and continuity of traditions.
IB MYP Individuals & Societies
• Criterion A: Knowing and Understanding – Demonstrate factual knowledge about ancient cultures and seasonal observances.
Cambridge IGCSE History
• Depth Study: Cultural Change – Exploring how traditions evolve through contact and reform.
Show Notes
This episode explores the deep history of December, tracing its name to the early Roman calendar where it once marked the tenth month. JC highlights how Saturnalia served as a social reset, a week of reversed roles and gift exchange that helped communities pause after a difficult year. The episode further connects these customs to the winter solstice, a powerful astronomical marker that inspired fires, evergreens, and gatherings meant to preserve hope during long darkness. As traditions evolved and Christianity spread, older winter customs blended into emerging December celebrations. This context-rich episode offers educators a meaningful way to discuss cultural continuity, astronomy, etymology, and the human experience of marking seasonal change.
References
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https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-companion-to-the-year-9780192142313Beard, M., North, J., & Price, S. (1998). Religions of Rome: Volume 1, A history. Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/highereducation/books/religions-of-rome-volume-1-a-history/7F0C2C742D475E1AAF9C264CBFB9AB3F
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https://archive.org/details/sacredprofane00eliaEncyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). December. In Encyclopaedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/DecemberEncyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Saturnalia. In Encyclopaedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/SaturnaliaEncyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Winter solstice. In Encyclopaedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/science/solsticeEncyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Christmas: Historical background. In Encyclopaedia Britannica.
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https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucp/books/title/?id=9961Hutton, R. (1996). The stations of the sun: A history of the ritual year in Britain. Oxford University Press.
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-stations-of-the-sun-9780198205708Kelly, J. N. D. (2004). The origins of Christmas. Continuum.
https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/origins-of-christmas-9780826480119/Macrobius. (1983). Saturnalia (R. A. Kaster, Ed. & Trans.). Princeton University Press.
https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691021138/saturnaliaMichels, A. K. (1967). The calendar of the Roman Republic. Princeton University Press.
https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691621024/the-calendar-of-the-roman-republicPenrose, W. (2015). Winter festivals and the symbolism of evergreen plants. Journal of Cultural History, 8(2), 113–127. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1470412914561068
Santino, J. (1994). All around the year: Holidays and celebrations in American life. University of Illinois Press. https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p071061
