December elejétől kezdve: since the beginning of December. "Valami elejétől kezdve" means "since the beginning of something" (if you refer to time). In a broader context (and not as a time expression): (starting) from the beginning of something. "Valami elején" is "at the beginning of something". One more correction: "phrase" is "kifejezés" or "szófordulat" instead of "frázis".