We all like to celebrate festivals with our family specially December Global Holidays. These days will make us happy because all the workplaces and schools will be closed. Also, we get to spend the holidays with our families and friends. This is the time where we meet our dear ones and exchange gifts with them. So here we are going to discuss the holidays that fall in December. December is a month of celebration, as this is the last month of the year many people have a blast. Here you can find out the different December holidays around the world. All religions, cultures and places around the world celebrate their holidays in December.
Also, December Global Holidays is a long list of holidays 2021 and 2022. That is why this month is considered a vacation month. Even Though some people experience freezing weather during the month, people still celebrate the December holidays.
Learn about the most popular December global holidays 2021.
1. Santa Lucia
Date of Celebration: December 13
Santa Lucia is an Italian Saint who sacrificed his life as a martyr. After that, she was considered as the figure of light in the darkness. People celebrate it every year on December 13 and mostly in Scandinavia and Italy. Also on this day, people perform processions and singers dress in white clothes and hold candles.
They will honour Saint Lucia by doing every year. So this is one of the well-known December Holidays awaited by people who follow Santa Lucia. Also, it is one of the many religious festivals in Saint Lucia.
2. New Year’s Eve 2021 (2022 New Year)
Date of Celebration: December 31
New year’s eve 2021 is the largest global celebration marked as the last day according to the Gregorian calendar on 31st December. It is also known as Old Year’s Day or Saint Sylvester’s Day in several places. This festival is celebrated with everything from prayer to parties. The last day of the year is mixed with emotions, joy, and delight on one hand while sorrow and regrets on the other hand.
Everywhere around the globe, the way of celebrations is unique: few people gather in public locations to celebrate, while others attend midnight church services for blessings. Everyone enjoys traditional dishes and snacks that are considered to bring them good luck in the new year. Almost in every Spanish country people bolt down a dozen grapes, symbolizing their hopes and fortunes for the coming new year 2022.
3. Festivus
Date of Celebration: December 23
Festivus is not actually a real festival but it is celebrated by people who are against Christmas consumerism. It is celebrated every year on December 23 majorly in the United States. Further, it began by entering the popular culture of 1997 because of one of the episodes of Seinfeld show titled “The Strike”. The main objective of the Festivus is to end the expensive Christmas shopping done by the people. At first, there was much criticism of the Festivus. But today many have started to celebrate it. That is why for many it has become a tradition to celebrate Festivus every year.
4. Christmas
Date of Celebration: December 25
Worldwide many people celebrate Christmas on December 25 to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is one of the popular December Global Holidays. But in the scriptures, the birth of Jesus is not revealed and research shows that Jesus was not born in December. But now more than a religious significance, Christmas has become part of the culture. That is why many Non-Christians also celebrate it.
On that day people buy gifts for their family members and share them. Also, they give parties and decorate their homes. The five days starting from Christmas to New Year is a week of celebration for the people. Further Santa Claus arrives to offer gifts to the children. Many also attend the Church mass to honour the day.
5. Kwanzaa
Date of Celebration: December 26 – January 1
Kwanzaa is a cultural festival celebrated on the days from December 26 – January 1. People celebrate it to honour African values. Also, it has become a major December Holiday in the US. Many are coming forward to learn and respect the African heritage. This day was created by Dr Maulana Karenga and was first observed during the Watts riots in Los Angeles, California after 1966. The world Kwanza is from Swahili language meaning First. Also, this word is from the famous Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” and it means “the first fruits”.
The people celebrate this festival by dancing to African tunes. Also, they take part in telling stories, poetry and more. These are some of the main values of African culture. After a week’s celebration, the festival culminates with an elaborate feast called ‘Karamu’.
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6. Yule
Date of Celebration: December 21 – January 1
This is a day celebrated commonly in Germany to honour the Norse God Odin. It falls on December 21 every year. Yule, also called Yuletide, is a pagan festival that gets celebrated for the God Odin. Also, this festival falls on the Winter Solstice which makes it one of the oldest festivals.
The ancient people celebrated the Yule festival by lighting a huge log with fire. Now this custom is followed by many people in Germany. Also people mark the festival by creating a Yule altar. They will then offer flowers to Mother Nature.
7. Boxing Day
Date of Celebration: December 26
Boxing Day falls on December 26th. It is only celebrated in a few countries worldwide. The origin of the festival comes from the medieval ages of the United Kingdom. This was the day where the alms boxes were opened for the poor and distributed among them. So this tradition is followed in many places during Boxing Day. Now it has become a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Further in England during Boxing Day soccer and horse races are held. Also the Irish call the day St. Stephen’s Day and they have their activities to do on that day like hunting.
8. Ōmisoka
Date of Celebration: December 31
Ōmisoka or popularly called New Year’s Eve is one of the popular festivals celebrated in Japan. This is the moment where people think about the passing year. Then they begin the New Year with great happiness leaving all the past things behind. During New Year’s Eve, they eat long noodles which are a bowl of Toshi Koshi-soba or toshikoshi-udon. They do this as a part of the tradition.
Then also at midnight people visit the temples and shrines and pray to God. The bells in the Shinto shrines are rung to cast out the 108 human desires that cause human suffering.
9. Asarah B’Tevet
Date of Celebration: December 14
The 10th of Tevet, which is otherwise known to us as Asarah B’tevet, is observed as the day of fasting, mourning, and repentance. The members of the Jewish communities tend to refrain from food and drink from daybreak to nightfall. Moreover, they add Selichot which refers to penitential prayers, and other supplements to prayers.
Normally, the fast will end at nightfall as soon as one would spot three medium-sized stars in the sky. Religiously, the fasting method is adhered to because of the mourning of the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylonia. It is one of the December Holidays 2021, 2022 that you will feel in your spirits.
10. Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Date of Celebration: December 9 and 12
Each December 12th, the Mexicans come together to celebrate the feast of our lady of Guadalupe. It is a celebration mainly performed by the Mexican Catholic community. So, if you want to have fun that time, head to Mexico. Normally the event commemorates the appearance of Mary in front of Mexican peasant Juan Diego in 1531. Since that day, t day has become an important day, or rather we should say a holiday in Mexico.
The Mexican-Americans celebrate it as well to express their religious and cultural identity. So what happens during this day? The individuals tend to erect altars in their homes during the festival. The altars are generally made of a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe surrounded by candles and flowers. People rejoice on this day.
11. Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Date of Celebration: December 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a December Holiday that is celebrated on December 8th of every year. On this day, those following the Christian faith honor Mother Mary. The solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is hence a Catholic feast that celebrates the concept of Mary without sinning.
Even though this feast day happens in the liturgical season of advent, which we all know to be the day of preparation for the birth of Lord Jesus Christ, the day somehow has come to signify the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne. Normally, the observation for the feast begins with a Papal encyclical by Pope Pius IX. In it, he defines the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. You must celebrate this day to feel more close to Mother Mary.
12. Hanukkah
Date of Celebration: November 28 – December 6
Hanukkah, also called Chanukah, is a Jewish festival. This festival is celebrated for remembering the dedication of the Jerusalem temple after the Maccabean Revolt. They believe that it was a miracle for the temple to get rededicated again. Also, the occasion is known as the festival of lights and falls in the Hebrew calendar on the 25th of Kislev.
The menorah gets lit every day for eight days. Then the people eat traditional Hanukkah foods like potato cakes, fried doughnuts filled with jams and more. Further people also exchange gifts on that day. It is a popular Jewish festival and is one of the best December Global Holidays.
13. World AIDS Day
Date: December 1
World AIDS day is celebrated every year on the first of December. It was started by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter in 1987. Now, this day is celebrated officially in many places to bring out awareness about AIDS. That is why it has become December Global Holidays.
Also, those infected by the disease get the needed encouragement to talk about it. Many also visit the destitute children affected by the disease and interact with them. This is to show how the disease gets spread and also the governments organise programs to talk about safe sex. So many people will know how to prevent diseases like HIV.
2021, 2022 December Global Holidays and December Holiday Month Celebration
Of course whenever the thoughts of December Global Holidays come up, one straight thinks of Yule, Hanukkah, Christmas among other famous occasions. But we have compiled for you some almost never-heard-before December Holiday Month celebrations that will make your month more fun.
So, let’s begin December Global Holidays that are celebrated throughout the month
14. National Car Donation Month
December is the Month of Multicultural Holiday Celebrations, and one of those events that every country celebrates its National Car Donation Month. This month-long celebration serves as a reminder to the consumers that we can give our fellow human beings in more than one way to the causes we stand for rather than just writing off big bold checks.
A study has said that every year, almost 750,000 vehicles are donated for good causes. So, each year in December, the car dealerships, celebrities, and citizens come together to celebrate National Car Donation Month by choosing to donate a vehicle for a cause they support. If you haven’t gotten it done, it is time to do so.
15. National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month
From 1981, every president has talked about how it is the need of the hour to commit to preventing drunk driving. The presidential rule in America had developed the month of December as the National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month. It looks forward to making sure that you do not drive under the intoxicated and numbing influence.
The month of December is the universal time when everyone is prompted to follow, spreading awareness about the problems that come with drunk driving. With the number of accidents on the road increasing due to drunk impaired people navigating the car, the National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month is what everyone needs to spread the value of life.
16. National Impaired Driving Prevention Month
Like the National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month, the month of December is also the National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. It was President Obama who had designated December 2012 as the National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.
Moreover, the goal of the event that continues for one month seeks to invite the citizens, educators, health care providers, and community leaders to come forward and encourage the young people to live free of the abuse of drugs, alcohol, and other substances that may harm us. It is a cause that everyone should join. So, if you believe in it, all you need to do is don the red awareness ribbon and book a cab while drunk.
17. Spiritual Literacy Month
It is one of the most significant December Winter Holidays that is celebrated all over the world by everyone despite the differences in religious and spiritual beliefs. The goal of Spirituality Literacy Month is to encourage us in engaging with our spirituality. It promotes in us to deepen our faith or gain a broader understanding of our culture and religious practice so that we can feel closer to the divine being.
Generally, the event was first founded by two authors Frederic and Mary Brussat in 1996. They did it to promote a sense of respect for the world’s religions and spiritual traditions. Moreover, the inclusion of such a concept encouraged individuals coming from different walks of life to read sacred texts from all religions.
18. Universal Human Rights Month
One of the Months of Multicultural Holiday Celebrations is Universal Human Rights Month. It is of utter significance because it addresses many contemporary issues, that is restriction of basic rights, slavery, child trafficking, etc. This annual designation prompts people all across the globe to come together and stand up for equality, justice, and the dignity of all human beings. But how did it start?
Well, it began in 1948 when the United Nations penned up a document called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. After WW2, the U.N wanted to prevent the atrocities that had occurred. They developed the document to properly define and state that human rights are now, and would be from now on, protected universally.
19. Worldwide Food Service Safety Month
Did you know that almost one in ten people become sick every year by consuming contaminated food? Moreover, the study has also shown that 420,000 people are killed from these illnesses. Hence, the only way to solve this issue is by spreading awareness. December is one of the designated periods when people all over the world celebrate Worldwide Food Service Safety Month.
The goal of the month is to generally spread awareness about the dangers of food contamination, how to preserve food and cook it properly.
20. Youngsters on The Air (YOTA) Month
YOTA or Youngsters On The Air takes place each December with only one goal. That is to encourage the youngsters to get an active role on-air and expose them towards having an experience. What they want to achieve is to introduce the act of airing to the youngsters to the practical element of hobbies.
With communication becoming more and more digitized and modern, what they want to do is promote the youngsters to give time to their hobbies. Hence, the event that continues for a month-long establishes itself as a foundation that assists the youngsters in getting in touch with their imaginative side.
Conclusion
These are the 20 famous December global holidays celebrated globally by various people all around the world. The festivals show the culture and the beliefs of people. Also, it makes us think a lot about origins and history. All the festivals we saw today have an origin. Some even take us back to the ancient and medieval ages. So try to learn about the origins of the holidays you are celebrating and know their true meaning.
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