December derived its name from the Latin word “Decem” meaning ten (10). According to the old Roman calendar, it was the 10th month before they dedicated their new first month to January moving December to 12th month though it maintained its name as 10th month. According to the Biblical calendar, 1st of Tevet 5776 begins at sundown 13th December 2015. It ends on 10th January 2016.

This month will be the fourth (4th) and tenth (10th) month of the Biblical Civil and Sacred calendars respectively. This is the twelfth (12th) and final month of the year 2015 according to the Gregorian calendar.

This month is a hibernating season when there is little productivity. While the south goes for summer and shuts down for the festive season, the north also goes into hibernation at the gates of the winter season.

On 24th Kislev 5776 (6th December) the 8 day festival of Hanukkah (Chanukah) commences – this is the Jewish festival of lights. It ends on 2nd Tevet (14th December). According to historical records, the Maccabees successfully rebelled against Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days, even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day’s lighting.

On Tenth of Tevet (22 December, Hebrew: עשרה בטבת, Asarah BeTevet), is a minor fast day in Judaism. The fast commemorates the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar’s two and a half year siege of Jerusalem in the year 588 BCE. Like other minor fasts, Asara B’Tevet begins at dawn (first light) and ends at nightfall (full dark). In Israel, the Tenth of Tevet has also come to be marked as a memorial day for the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

December is referred to as a festive season. It is the period of time when many in the Ecclesia celebrate the commemorative birth of Yeshua on 25th December – Christmas Day.

This month the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere will happen on 22 December 2015. That is the gate of the winter season while in the southern hemisphere they will experience their summer solstice on the same day.