December is marked as the most festive month of the year. The month hosted all manner of events and festivals worldwide, including religious, cultural, and even corporate events. This article has listed all December global holidays, including their origin and how we celebrate them. Read on to learn more, and don’t forget to share this post with your friends on social media.
List Of All National Holidays In December
Below are the lists of all December Global Holidays you need to know. Here are the national holidays in the month of December:
1. World AIDS Day
History: World AIDS Day is celebrated to raise awareness of the spread of HIV/AIDS and honor those who are infected or affected by the disease. There are numerous ways to celebrate the day, including visiting impoverished children orphaned by the disease, sponsoring safe-sex campaigns, and lobbying governments to ramp up efforts to curb the spread of HIV.
World AIDS Day was declared by James W.Bunn and Thomas Netter in August 1987. They served as public information officers for the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Programme on AIDS. They announced December 1 to mark the first World AIDS Day celebration.
2. Hannukah
History: Hannukah is a period to celebrate the re-dedication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem after the Maccabean Revolt. The celebrations include the lighting of candles every night throughout the eight days.
Hannukah, also known as Chanukah or the Festival of Lights, is one of the Jewish festivals that traditionally begins on the 25th of the month of Kislev (Between November-December) on the Hebrew calendar. The day of the celebration varies each year. However, this year, Hannukah falls between November 28 and December 6.
3. Santa Lucia
History: Santa Lucia was a saint from Italy who died as a martyr. In the darkest months of the year, she is seen as a light of hope.
Every year on December 13th, Sweden remembers and honors Santa Lucia as a symbol of light and hope. Mysterious concerts and parades are held on this momentous day, with musicians dressed in white and wearing headdresses with actual flickering candles.
4. Yule
History: Yuletide is one of the oldest and most major December holidays globally, coinciding with the Winter Solstice. The celebration has pagan origins, including links to the Norse god Odin and the Anglo-Saxon Feast of Modraniht. Yule, often known as Yuletide, is a Germanic festival celebrated all over the world.
Yule is one of the romantic December global holidays celebrated by igniting a large log in a bonfire and spending the entire night outside with friends and family. It is celebrated from December 21 – January 1.
5. Festivus
History: Festivus is a December global festival that obtained notoriety in 1997 due to a Seinfeld episode called “The Strike.” The goal of this sham holiday is to raise awareness about Christmas materialism. It is observed on December 23.
Festivus is celebrated by standing nearby a plain aluminum pole rather than purchasing an expensive Christmas tree. “Feats of Strength” and “airing of grievances” are two more famous Festivus practices.
Some interpreters have slammed Festivus supporters, describing them as anti-traditionalists with wrong ideas about Christmas and its importance.
6. Christmas
History: Christmas is by far one of the most celebrated December global holidays in history. The day remembers the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom Christians regard as God’s final genuine son sent to redeem humanity from sin.
Christmas is widely celebrated even by non-Christians all over the world. Although the correct date of Jesus’ birth is uncertain, it was celebrated because it matched the Roman calendar’s Winter Solstice which occurs on December, 25.
7. Boxing Day
History: There has always been a variation of how Boxing Day was inaugurated and how we celebrate it. Some people believe this was the special day when churches gave gift boxes to the poor after Christmas. Others consider Boxing Day as the day to thank errand boys, letter carriers, and other types of servants for their efforts throughout the year.
Notwithstanding its historical point, Boxing Day is one of the most celebrated December global holidays. It is celebrated on December 26 every year.
8. Kwanzaa
History: Kwanzaa is one of the December global holidays with its origin rooted in Africa, and it is observed in the United States. The day was founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga and was first observed in 1966 following the Watts riots in Los Angeles, California. The word ‘Kwanzaa is a translation of the Swahili word ‘kwanza,’ which means ‘first,’ and comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “the first fruits.”
Kwanzaa is celebrated with the performance of traditional African music and dances. There is also storytelling, poetry recitation, and discussion of various African cultural beliefs. The day is marked on December 26 – January 1 each year.
9. New Year’s Eve
History: Finally, on our list of December global holidays is New Year’s Eve which also happens to fall on the very last day of the month. The purpose of New Year’s Eve is to mark the end of the old year and usher in the incoming year.
On this occasion, many religious people go to their various churches to worship God and thank Him for the blessings of another year, often known as the 31st night.
On the other hand, many non-Christians also celebrate this day in pubs, restaurants, and other social events to revive themselves.
Summary:
List of December Holidays And Dates
- World’s AIDs Day – December 1
- Hannukah – December 6
- Santa Lucia – December 13
- Yule – December 21
- Festivus – December 23
- Christmas – December 25
- Boxing Day – December 26
- Kwanzaa – December 26
- New Year’s Eve – December 31
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