December is without a doubt the most delightful month of the year. Around the world, the month is celebrated with a variety of activities and festivals, including religious, cultural, and even corporate events.
Remember that December isn’t simply about splurging on the better things in life. It’s also the ideal time to thank people who have genuinely made the previous year worthwhile by showering them with appropriate presents.
In this article, we shall see some of the December global Holidays which are celebrated in different parts of the world.
1) Hanukkah
Hanukkah 2021 began on the 28th of November and will end on the 6th of December. Hanukkah, also known as the Celebration of Lights, is a Jewish festival celebrating the rededication of the second temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean insurrection against the Seleucid empire. Hanukkah lasts for eight nights and days, beginning on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, which can fall anywhere between late November and late December.
The event is commemorated in the Gregorian calendar by lighting the candles of a candle Abram with nine branches known as the menorah or hanukiah.
Each night, one branch is put above or below the others, and its candle is used to light the other eight candles; this special candle is known as the shamash in Hebrew. The shamash will light one more candle until all eight candles are lit together on the festival’s last night.
2) Christmas (25th of December)
Christmas, also known as the Nativity Feast, is an annual religious and cultural event celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ that is celebrated by billions of people around the world on December 25th. According to the traditional Christmas story, Jesus was born in Bethlehem when Joseph and Mary arrived in the city, as described in the New Testament. Because the inn was empty, they were offered a stable, where the Christ child was soon born, with angels delivering the good news to shepherds, who subsequently spread the word farther. Although the month and date of Jesus’ birth are unclear, the church determined the date as December 25th in the early fourth century, which coincides with the winter solstice.
On the Roman calendar, the solstice is celebrated on December 25th, although most Christians observe it on the Gregorian calendar, which has been adopted nearly universally in civic calendars around the world.
However, some Eastern Christian churches celebrate Christmas on December 25th of the older Julian calendar, which corresponds to January 7 in the gregorian calendar, for Christians who believe that God came into the world in the form of man to atone for humanity’s sins, rather than knowing Jesus’ exact birth date. The major reason for celebrating Christmas is to keep track of the date.
3) Boxing day (26th of December)
Boxing Day is a December global holiday that occurs the day after Christmas Day, making it the second day of the Christmas season. It originated in the United Kingdom and is now observed in a number of nations that were once part of the British Empire. Boxing Day is on the 26th of December, however, the associated bank holiday or public holiday may fall on that day or one or two days later. Boxing Day was originally a day off for slaves, as well as the day when they got a special Christmas box from their masters. On Boxing Day, servants would also return home to offer their relatives Christmas boxes.
4) Kwanzaa (26 December-1 January)
Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture that takes place from December 26 to January 1st, culminating in a communal feast known as caramo, which is usually held on the sixth day. It was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga and is based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of the continent, including west and southeast Africa. It comes to a conclusion on January 1st when gifts are exchanged and meals are shared. Maulana Karenga, an African studies festival and active member of the Black Power movement, organized the festival in 1966, and it was the first to take place.
5) Omisoka New Year’s Eve (31 December)
Omisoka is a traditional Japanese New Year’s ceremony held on the last day of the year. With Japan’s conversion to the Gregorian calendar at the start of the Meiji era, it was traditionally held on the last day of the 12th lunar month. The celebration is now held on New Year’s Eve. Omisoka, or New Year’s Eve, is the final day of the old year and the eve of New Year’s Day, the most important day of the year in Japanese custom.
6) Yule (21st December-1st January)
Yule, also known as Yuletide, is a German holiday observed by its residents. The Norse god Odin and the Anglo-Saxon Modraniht celebration, in particular, have pagan roots. These days, it’s more like Christmas, with people getting together for meals and exchanging gifts. The Yule log, for example, has produced a variety of Christmas rituals. Yuletide, which corresponds with the Winter Solstice, is one of the oldest and most well-known winter celebrations in the world.
Yule was celebrated by igniting a large log in a bonfire and spending the entire night outside..
7) Festivus (23rd December)
In 1997, the Seinfeld Episode Strike event became a cultural event. The parody holiday, which stands around a decorative aluminum pole rather than a decorated tree, is a little protest against Christmas commercialization. Festivus customs such as “feats of strength” and “airing of grievances” are also popular.
Some experts have criticized Festivus followers, labeling them as anti-traditionalists who have misunderstood the true meaning of Christmas. The holiday, on the other hand, has become increasingly popular, particularly among frugal shoppers and minimalists.
8) New Year’s Eve (31 December)
The very last day of the month also happens to be the last global holiday on the list for December. The objective is to commemorate the conclusion of the previous year as well as to welcome the new year. It is observed in a variety of ways.
Some religious individuals worship to thank God for another year’s blessings. Others have Midnight Parties in pubs and restaurants.
9) Saint Nicholas Day ( 6th December)
Saint Nicholas Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Nicholas, is celebrated in Western Christian countries on the 6th or 5th of December, and in Eastern Christian countries on the 19th of December, according to the old church calendar. It is Nicholas of Myra’s feast day, which is notable for his reputation as a gift-giver.
10) Our Lady of Guadalupe Day 2021 ( 12th December)
Our Lady of Guadalupe, often known as the Virgin of Guadalupe, is a Catholic title for the Blessed Virgin Mary associated with a series of five Marian apparitions in December 1531 and a renowned picture on a cloak housed at Mexico City’s Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The basilica is the world’s most visited Catholic pilgrimage site and the third most-visited sacred site.
11) Saint Lucy’s Day 2021 ( 13th December)
St. Lucia’s Day is a light festival held on December 13 in Sweden, Norway, and the Swedish-speaking portions of Finland in honor of St. Lucia (St. Lucy). St. Lucia was one of the first Christian martyrs, slain by the Romans in 304 CE for her religious convictions. On Monday, December 13, 2021, St. Lucia’s Day will be honored.
12) Saturnalia ( 17th December – 23rd December)
Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival and holiday dedicated to the deity Saturn, which began on the 17th of December in the Julian calendar and later extended to the 23rd.
13) World AIDS Day
The idea for World AIDS Day was conceived by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter in August 1987. Bunn and Netter were working as public information officers for the World Health Organization’s Global Programme on AIDS at the time. The next year, on December 1, the first World AIDS Day was observed, which has remained the holiday’s official date ever since.
The goal of World AIDS Day is to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and to remember people who have been affected or impacted by the illness. There are a variety of ways to celebrate the occasion, including visiting orphaned children, supporting safe-sex programs, and pushing governments to increase efforts to stop the spread of HIV.
Final verdict
Holidays and festivals are some of the finest occasions to come together with family and make lifetime memories, and families all over the world have numerous traditions that they treasure.
Everyone looks forward to the holidays, whether it’s a day of leisure, memory, giving thanks, or partying. Holidays not only provide fresh life to our hectic schedules, but they also serve as a reminder of how great it is to be alive.
The different December Global Holidays are listed above by date, so have a look and enjoy them with your family, friends, and loved ones. If you enjoyed this article please share it with your colleagues and relatives so that they can also know about December global holidays.