If you were born on December 31, your zodiac sign is Capricorn. Capricorn season runs from about December 22 to January 19, and the sign is usually described as patient, disciplined and quietly ambitious.

Sagittarius covers the earlier part of the month, from about November 22 to December 21. Every December birthday lands in one of those two signs, and which one you get depends on which side of the solstice you arrived.

December 31 zodiac sign: the quick answer

Here is the whole month at a glance.

  • Dec 1 to about Dec 21: Sagittarius, the restless, curious, say-it-out-loud sign.
  • About Dec 22 to Dec 31: Capricorn, the steady, plan-ahead, finish-what-you-start sign.

"About" matters here. The Sun moves into a new sign at a slightly different day and hour each year, so the switch can fall on Dec 21, 22 or 23. If your birthday sits near the edge, you will want to check your birth year.

What a New Year's Eve Capricorn tends to be like

Capricorn is an earth sign ruled by Saturn, the planet astrologers link with structure, time and responsibility. Many people with a Capricorn Sun describe themselves as the one who remembers the dentist appointment, the gift budget and the backup plan.

In relationships, Capricorns often take a while to open up. They show love by turning up, fixing the thing, and remembering what you said back in March. Dry humor is common, and the loyalty tends to burn slowly, so people notice it after a few years. If you are curious how Capricorn pairs with other signs, the Celestial Match tool is a fun place to start.

At work, the Capricorn style is to build quietly. You might skip the loud brainstorm, go away, and come back with a finished draft and a timeline. Colleagues sometimes read that as cold, when you are usually just thinking in long arcs.

The growth edge for this sign is rest. When you are this devoted to getting things done, every free hour can look like unfinished business. Plenty of Capricorns say the lesson took them years: a day with nothing to show for it can still be a good day.

A New Year's Eve birthday suits the sign in a funny way. You were born at the moment the whole world makes resolutions, and Capricorn loves a goal. Dec 31 babies also tend to have one standing complaint, that friends are always busy on their birthday, and a Capricorn will have quietly planned around it by October.

For the full portrait, read the Capricorn sign page.

The Sagittarius and Capricorn cusp (Dec 20 to 23)

If your birthday is Dec 20, 21, 22 or 23, you were born on what people call the cusp. It is a popular idea, but astrology gives you only one Sun sign, and the date the Sun changes signs shifts a little every year.

So someone born on Dec 22 might be Capricorn in one year and Sagittarius in another. To know for sure, compare your birth date and time with the exact moment the Sun entered Capricorn that year. For a birthday right on the line, your birth place matters too.

Cusp birthdays often feel like a blend. Some people say they have Sagittarius's appetite for big ideas and Capricorn's urge to make them real. Take that as a prompt for reflection, since it is no rule.

If you are not sure which side you are on, a full chart settles it and shows far more. The Astrofio Birth Chart Report is built from your exact date, time and place of birth, so you can see your Sun, Moon and rising sign together instead of guessing from one date.

Does your sign change at midnight on New Year's Eve?

No. Your sign belongs to the day you were born, so a Dec 31 birthday is Capricorn whether you arrived at 12:05 am or 11:55 pm. The Sun is already about nine days into Capricorn by then.

The new calendar year changes nothing. Jan 1 is also Capricorn, and the season carries on until about Jan 19, when Aquarius begins.

For a light day-to-day read on how Capricorn energy is shaping the week, the daily horoscope is a good place to check in.

FAQ

What zodiac sign is December 31?

December 31 is Capricorn. Capricorn season runs from about December 22 to January 19.

Is Dec 22 Sagittarius or Capricorn?

It is usually Capricorn, but not always. The Sun enters Capricorn on Dec 21, 22 or 23 depending on the year, so a Dec 22 birthday should be checked against your birth year. A birth chart report can confirm it.

What is the element of Capricorn?

Capricorn is an earth sign, alongside Taurus and Virgo. Earth signs are often described as practical, grounded and patient. Capricorn is also a cardinal sign, which means it likes to start things and set direction.

Which signs get along with Capricorn?

Astrology often pairs Capricorn with the fellow earth signs Taurus and Virgo, and with the water signs Pisces and Scorpio. That is a starting point only. Your Moon and Venus signs shape much of how you connect, which is why a full chart says more than Sun signs alone. If your birthday sits near the cusp, the Sagittarius page is worth a read too.