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The Annotated Edition

DECEMBER by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

December is a brief poem where the month of December comes to life, arriving last in the year on a goat, wearing a crown of holly, and holding a pine-cone staff.

Poet
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The PoemFull text

DECEMBER

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Riding upon the Goat, with snow-white hair, I come, the last of all. This crown of mine Is of the holly; in my hand I bear The thyrsus, tipped with fragrant cones of pine. I celebrate the birth of the Divine, And the return of the Saturnian reign;-- My songs are carols sung at every shrine, Proclaiming "Peace on earth, good will to men."

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

December is a brief poem where the month of December comes to life, arriving last in the year on a goat, wearing a crown of holly, and holding a pine-cone staff. It merges the imagery from the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia with the Christian celebration of Christmas, suggesting that the spirit of midwinter joy transcends any one tradition. The poem concludes with the most well-known line from the Christmas story: "Peace on earth, good will to men."

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Riding upon the Goat, with snow-white hair, / I come, the last of all.

    Editor's note

    December presents itself as an elderly figure with snow-white hair, arriving last as the twelfth and final month. The zodiac sign Capricorn, represented by a goat, starts in late December, allowing Longfellow to use astrology as a visual shorthand for the season.

  2. This crown of mine / Is of the holly; in my hand I bear / The thyrsus, tipped with fragrant cones of pine.

    Editor's note

    The holly crown is a traditional symbol of Christmas and represents winter greenery that endures the cold. The thyrsus, a staff topped with a pine cone, is taken directly from the Roman god Bacchus and the Saturnalia celebrations. Longfellow intentionally blends pagan and Christian imagery to highlight their shared festive origins.

  3. I celebrate the birth of the Divine, / And the return of the Saturnian reign;--

    Editor's note

    Here, the two traditions are presented together without hesitation. 'The birth of the Divine' signifies Christmas, marking the birth of Christ. 'The Saturnian reign' alludes to Saturnalia, the Roman festival occurring in mid-December that honored a mythical golden age of peace and equality under the god Saturn. Longfellow regards both as equally meaningful representations of the same midwinter hope.

  4. My songs are carols sung at every shrine, / Proclaiming 'Peace on earth, good will to men.'

    Editor's note

    The poem concludes by giving December a universal voice — its carols are sung at *every* shrine, not just in churches. The final quotation is from the Gospel of Luke (2:14), where angels announce the nativity. By placing it at the end of a poem that has celebrated both Roman paganism and Christianity, Longfellow transforms it into a message for all humanity, instead of limiting it to just one faith.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is formal and festive, reminiscent of a herald delivering an important announcement. December conveys a sense of calm confidence—it’s not seeking approval to come; it’s simply proclaiming its presence. Beneath the formality lies warmth, particularly in the concluding line, but the prevailing mood is more ceremonial than inviting.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The Goat
The goat symbolizes Capricorn, the zodiac sign that starts in late December. It grounds December in the natural calendar and gives the month a vivid, almost mythological presence.
Holly crown
Holly is an evergreen that thrives during winter, serving as a lasting symbol of resilience and hope. When used as a crown, it also represents royalty — December is depicted as a seasonal king.
The Thyrsus
The thyrsus, a staff topped with a pine cone, is associated with Bacchus and the festivities of Saturnalia. Longfellow uses it here to clearly show that he is blending pagan Roman traditions into what could otherwise be seen as a strictly Christian poem.
Snow-white hair
White hair suggests old age, yet here it also represents snow. December embodies both the old (as the year's end) and the wintry look it brings.
Carols at every shrine
The word 'every' carries significant weight here. Shrines are associated with various faiths. Longfellow employs this imagery to broaden December's message, making it relevant to all religions.

§06Historical context

Historical context

This poem is one of twelve short pieces that Longfellow wrote to represent each month of the year, gathered in *The Poets Calendar* (published posthumously in 1882). Longfellow was creating his work during a time in mid-19th-century America when people were actively discussing the connection between classical education and Christian faith, and his poetry often sought to bridge the two. December falls at the crossroads of two significant festivals: the Roman Saturnalia (approximately December 17–23), a week filled with feasting, gift-giving, and social equality, and Christmas on December 25. Scholars have long pointed out that early Christians intentionally placed Christmas close to Saturnalia. As a Harvard professor who spoke multiple languages and had a deep understanding of classical literature, Longfellow was fully aware of this connection and used it to subtly advocate for a common human desire for light and generosity during the darkest time of the year.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

It’s a dramatic monologue where December talks directly to the reader. December describes how it looks—riding a goat, wearing a crown of holly, and holding a staff made of pine cones—and shares that it celebrates both Christmas and the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia. It wraps up with the angels' declaration of 'Peace on earth, good will to men.'

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