Looking to wrap up your year on the right, organized note? Sick of the struggle to keep your hectic schedule in order? If you answered yes, then we’ve got good news for you! Here on VL Calendar, you are able to download our spacious December 2023 Calendar for free! And, that’s not all! You’re also able to download calendars for every month of 2023, free of charge!
December 2023 Calendar Printable Templates
You only need two things to enjoy our free, printable calendar downloads. First: a .pdf reading software such as Adobe Reader. And second: a printer with 8.5″ by 11″ paper. If you’ve got those two things, then simply click the download button below to print our December Calendar instantly. And the best part? We never limit how many calendars you are able to print. So feel free to print a few for yourself, a couple more for the the office, and even some for friends and family!
The Month of December
You already know that December is the last month of the year. But did you know that it also used to be the tenth month? You see, prior to 153 BCE the format of the calendar used was known as the Roman calendar. In the Roman Calendar, the year began with March and ended with December. Therefore, the months of January and February did not exist. In fact, their days weren’t even numbered.
Knowing that December used to be the tenth month of the year makes a lot of sense when you break down its name. Have you ever seen the prefix “dec” before? What about a DECagon, a ten-sided figure? That’s right, in Latin “dec” means ten. Therefore, the month of December was originally named after the number ten. However, even when the month became the twelfth month of the year, the name still stuck.
Another fun fact regarding December is the weather. While north of the equator December is the month that kicks off the cold winter months, this is not so in the southern hemisphere. Believe it or not, in countries south of the equator, December is the beginning of warm, summer months!
December Holidays & Observances
More specifically, on our December 2023 Calendar, you will find 31 days and four major holidays. In fact, on every calendar on VL Calendar, you’ll see that we’ve labelled all major holidays for your planning convenience. On the December holidays are Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is held every year on December 24, the day prior to Christmas. You’ll see that Christmas Eve 2023 falls on a Sunday. Although Christmas Eve and Christmas are Catholic holidays, they are also considered public holidays. This means that the majority of schools and businesses will be closed on this day (or at least by dinnertime).
While traditions will differ by family and faith, for many people it is customary to attend mass at midnight. Other families may choose to open gifts at midnight of Christmas Eve as this is when it officially becomes “Christmas.” Although every family differs in their traditions, Christmas Eve is often a time for baking, eating, drinking, gathering with close friends and family, and exchanging and opening gifts.
Christmas Day
Following Christmas Eve, Christmas Day is always held on December 25 to celebrate the birth of Christ in the Christian religion. Christmas Day will be on a Monday.
Just like Christmas Eve, but probably more so, Christmas Day is a public holiday. Most businesses are closed for the entire day. And again, traditions differ by family. While some families wake up early to see what presents “Santa Claus” has brought the “well-behaved” boys and girls, other families go to Church first thing in the morning.
Additionally, many people will have close friends and family over on this day to celebrate and exchange more gifts. It is customary to prepare a lavish meal complete with a large turkey or ham. Other popular symbols of Christmas Day include homes decorated with lights, mistletoe, a Christmas tree, Christmas ornaments, and Santa Claus in his fluffy red and white suit!
New Year’s Eve
Ending the year with a “bang” New Year’s Eve always takes place on the last day of the year: December 31. This is because it’s the way in which Americans say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new year. You’ll find New Year’s Eve 2023 on Sunday, December 31.
While some businesses consider New Year’s Eve a public holiday, many will simply close early. Because the main point of this holiday is to count down until the new year at midnight, most celebrations do not begin until late in the evening. Typical New Year’s Eve parties may include champagne, fireworks, and decorations featuring the number of the New Year.
Conclusion
We hope you found our free printable November 2023 calendars useful! Looking to plan ahead for next month? Click here to go to our free printable January calendars. Thank you for reading!