December in European languages
by languages.eu
Why is it called December? December got its name from the Latin word decem (meaning ten) because it was originally the tenth month of the year in the calendar of Romulus c. 750 BC which began in March. The winter days following December were not included as part of any month.
Polish grudzień and Ukrainian hrúden’ are derived from a common Slavic root gruda, meaning a “heap” or “lump”. Belarusian snjéžan’ means “snow month”.
Irish Nollaig comes from Latin nātālīcius, “birthday”. Welsh Rhagfyr literally means “foreshortening”, referring to the days shortening. Scottish Gaelic Dùbhlachd is derived from dubh, “black”. Similarly, Breton Kerzu means “very black”.
Turkish aralık means “passageway” or “interval”. Finnish joulukuu literally means “Yule month” (or “Christmas month”). Basque abendu come from Latin adventus, “arrival”.