![\"December](\"http:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/images\/blog\/december.gif\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In many languages this month is known as December, or something similar, which comes ultimately from the Latin *decumo-m\u0113nsris<\/em> (of the tenth month) – the Roman calendar started in March (m\u0101rtius<\/em>) [source<\/a>]. <\/p>\n However in some languages December has a completely different name:<\/p>\n In Welsh<\/strong> December is Rhagfyr<\/em> [\u02c8r\u0325a\u0261v\u0268\u031er], which means the ‘foreshortening’, from rhagfyrhau<\/em> (to foreshorten), from rhag<\/em> (a prefix with various meanings) and byr<\/em> (short, small) [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n In Breton<\/strong> December is miz Kerzu<\/em> [miz \u02c8k\u025b\u0281.zy] – which means ‘very dark month’. The Cornish for December is similar and has the same meaning: Mys Kevardhu<\/em> [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n In Scottish Gaelic<\/strong> December is D\u00f9bhlachd<\/em>, From dubh<\/em> (dark), so it’s a dark time [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n In Irish<\/strong> December is M\u00ed na Nollag<\/em> (the month of Christmas). Nollag<\/em> is the genetive of Nollaig<\/em>, which comes from the Old Irish Notlaic<\/em> (Christmas), from Latin n\u0101t\u0101l\u012bcia<\/em> (a birthday party), from n\u0101t\u0101lis<\/em> (natal), from n\u0101tus<\/em> (born) [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n In Finnish<\/strong> December is joulukuu<\/em> (Christmas\/yule moon) [source<\/a>], which was also the meaning of the Old English word for this month: G\u0113olm\u014dna\u00fe<\/em>.<\/p>\n In Czech<\/strong> December is prosinec<\/em> [pr\u0254s\u026an\u025bt\u0361s], which comes from prosinoti<\/em> (flashing, shining) [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n