12th

December

Latin Script

Dec 1–31 Solar Calendar Sagittarius–Capricorn (♐→♑)

Major Festivals

Christmas

Dec 25

Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Public holiday in India (December 25 is a gazetted holiday). Major celebrations in Goa, Kerala, and northeastern states. Globally the most widely observed festival, affecting business calendars worldwide.

Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice / Makara Vilakku

Dec 21/22

The shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun is at its southernmost point, beginning its northward return (Uttarayana). In the Hindu calendar, the solstice is the eve of Uttarayana. Makara Vilakku at Sabarimala in Kerala is timed to this event.

New Year's Eve

Dec 31

The final night of the Gregorian year. Celebrated globally with fireworks, countdowns, and social gatherings. Significant travel and hospitality peak season in India (Goa, Rajasthan, Himalayan hill stations).

Auspicious Days for Rituals & Events

✓ Winter Solstice (Dec 21/22) — eve of Uttarayana, minimum daylight

✓ Christmas (Dec 25) — public holiday in India

✓ Dec 31 — New Year's Eve, transition to new year

About December

December is the twelfth and final month of the Gregorian calendar, with 31 days. From the Latin decem (ten), it was originally the tenth month. The Winter Solstice (around December 21–22) marks the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere — the sun's southernmost point — after which days begin lengthening again toward Uttarayana. Christmas (Dec 25) is a gazetted public holiday in India. December is peak tourist season across South and Himalayan India. For photographers, December's low sun angle provides extended golden hour photography, making it one of the best months for long-shadow landscape shots. New Year's Eve celebrations close the Gregorian year.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Winter Solstice 2026?

The Winter Solstice 2026 falls on December 22, 2026 at approximately 03:50 UTC. This is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. After the solstice, days begin lengthening — which is why Uttarayana (northward solar journey) begins around December 21–22, not January 14 as it was in ancient times (the calendar has drifted due to precession).

Why does the Indian calendar observe Makar Sankranti on January 14 when the solstice is December 21?

Makar Sankranti is the astronomical event of the sun entering Capricorn (Makar Rashi) in the sidereal zodiac (Nirayana system, using fixed stars). The Western/tropical zodiac follows the Spring Equinox and has shifted about 23–24 days relative to the sidereal over the past 1,700 years due to precession. So what was once the solstice (December 21 tropically) is now observed on January 14 in the Indian sidereal system.

Is Christmas a public holiday in India?

Yes, December 25 (Christmas Day) is a gazetted public holiday in India. It is especially celebrated in Goa, Kerala, Kolkata, Mumbai, and the northeastern states with large Christian populations. Churches hold midnight Mass services and festive gatherings.

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