December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars. It is one of seven months with the length of 31 days. December is the first month of meteorological winter in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, December is the seasonal equivalent to June in the Northern hemisphere, which is the first month of summer. December is the month with the shortest daylight hours of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest daylight hours of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
December symbols: Its birth flower is the narcissus. The birthstones of December are the turquoise, zircon, and tanzanite. The zodiac signs for the month of December are Sagittarius (until December 21) and Capricorn (December 22 onwards).
Historical Events for December, 1939
Day of Week 4th » World War II: HMS Nelson 28 6 is struck by a sea mine mine (laid by GS U-31 1936 2) off the Scotland Scottish coast and is laid up for repairs until August 1940.
Day of Week 12th » Winter War: Battle of Tolvajärvi Finland called Finnish forces defeat those of the Soviet Union in their first major victory of the conflict.
12th » HMS Duchess H64 6 sinks after a collision with HMS Barham 04 6 off the coast of Scotland with the loss of 124 men.
Day of Week 13th » World War II: Battle of the River Plate Captain Hans Langsdorff of the Nazi Germany German Deutschland class cruiser (pocket battleship) 'German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee Admiral Graf Spee' engages with Royal Navy cruisers HMS Exeter 68 6, HMS Ajax 22 6 a
Day of Week 14th » Winter War: The Soviet Union is expelled from the League of Nations for invading Finland.
Day of Week 17th » World War II: Battle of the River Plate The 'German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee named Admiral Graf Spee' is scuttled by Captain Hans Langsdorff outside Montevideo.
Day of Week 18th » World War II: The Battle of the Heligoland Bight (1939) known as Battle of the Heligoland Bight, the first major air battle of the war, takes place.
Day of Week 22nd » Indian Islam known as Muslims observe a "Day of Deliverance (India) or Day of Deliverance" to celebrate the resignations of members of the Indian National Congress over their not having been consulted over the decision to enter World War II with the Unite
Day of Week 24th » World War II: Pope Pius XII makes a Christmas Eve appeal for peace.
Day of Week 27th » Erzincan, Turkey is hit by an 1939 Erzincan earthquake called earthquake, killing 30,000.
27th » Winter War: Finland holds off a Soviet Union e.g Soviet attack in the Battle of Kelja.
Day of Week 29th » First flight of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator.