December has the most festive celebration around the world. December global holidays are a source of comfort for people all over the world. People enjoy these holidays and take solace in gatherings. Are you curious, about which holidays are included in this list of December global holidays? Get your answers by reading on.
World AIDS Day (December 1)
James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter first proposed the idea of AIDS in August 1987. They were working as public information officers for the WHO’s (World Health Organization) Global Program on AIDS. The next year, first-World AIDS Day was marked. From that moment on, the official date of AIDS is 1st December.
World AIDS Day is globally celebrated all over the world. People raise awareness of the spread of HIV or AIDs through various programs, seminars and AIDS awareness sessions.
Specialities of AIDS Day
- Visiting AIDS-infected or affected people.
- Visiting underprivileged children orphaned due to this disease.
- Funding safe-sex campaigns
- Lobbying the government to surge efforts to prevent the spread of HIV.
Immaculate Conception (8 December)
Immaculate Conception is a Catholic feast day among December global holidays. The Conception of Jesus Christ by Mary is celebrated on this day (Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ). This festival is one of the most significant among Christians and is considered a holy day.
The day marks the purity of sins. As Mary conceived her child without any sin. She’s considered the purest human being. Mary remained pure throughout her life, hence, she’s also regarded as Virgin Mary.
Specialities of Immaculate Conception
- Exchanging gifts
- Massive praying
- Family gathering
- Huge gatherings at church
- Sermons
- Thanking Mary’s intercession
Bodhi Day (8 December)
Bodhi Day is celebrated among Buddhists all over the world. As Buddhism is considered one of the influential religions, therefore, it is also included in December global holidays. On 8 December, Bodhi (Siddharta Gautama) reached enlightenment.
Specialities of Bodhi Day
- Going on pilgrimages
- Visiting Buddhist temples
- Visiting holy sites
- Giving donations
- Doing meditations
Human Rights Day (December 10)
The next December global holidays is Human Rights Day. Human Rights Day is celebrated annually on the 10th of December all over the world. People rely on equality among people without any discrimination. Many organizations stress over prevailing justice among various upper and lower nations.
Specialities of Human Rights Day
Various rights are advocated on this day. Some of them are the following;
- Rights to and liberty
- Freedom from slavery and torture
- The right to work and education
- Freedom of speech, opinion and expression
- Freedom of religion
- Freedom of privacy
- Freedom of marriage
Santa Lucia (December 13)
Santa Lucia is a religious Italian Festive. It’s celebrated in the honor of the martyr Saint Santa Lucia. She’s a symbol of light in the darkest parts of the year. This festival represents light and hope in Sweden. It’s celebrated on December 13 in Italy and Sweden.
Specialities of Santa Lucia
- Atmospheric concerts
- Ceremonies featuring singers
- Singers clad in white headdresses featuring actual flickering candles.
- It can be traced back to the 4th Century.
- Christian Feast Day.
Hanukkah (December 18 to December 26)
Hanukkah is popularly known as the Festival of Lights or Chanukah. It’s an eight-day Jewish festival. Jews traditionally celebrate this festival according to the Hebrew Calendar on the 25th of Kislev month. Every year, there’s little variation in the date of this festival, and therefore, it has no specific date. This year, Hanukkah will be celebrated between December 8 to December 26.
It’s a period to celebrate the re-dedication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. In the 2nd Century BCE, Jerusalem was recovered and its Second Temple was rededicated after the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire.
Specialities of Hanukkah
- Blue and white celebrations, just like Christmas.
- Candles (the nine-branched Candelabra) are lit every night.
- It’s also marked by the singing of special hymns (like Ma’oz Tzur and Hallel prayer).
- Eating oil-dried foods such as Latkes (potato pancakes), Sufganiyot (round jelly doughnuts).
- Playing with Dreidels and exchanging gifts.
Yule (December 21 to January 1)
Yule is a Pagan festival, also known as Yuletide. Germanic people follow this festival around the world. The roots of Yule are an old Anglo-Saxon era and the Norse god Odin. Yuletide is one of the most ancient and popular festivals that falls on the Winter Solstice.
Specialities of Yule
- Lighting a massive log in a bonfire
- Spending the night outdoor
- Building a Yule altar
- Candlelight dinners
- Tree decorations
- Gift exchanges (nature-based gifts)
- Red, green, gold, silver and white colours mark the Yule festival.
Festivus (23 December)
In 1997, Festivus entered the popular December global holidays culture. This holiday contradicts Christmas. As the Festivus celebrations mark the simplest preparations. They oppose the purchasing of expensive and lofty trees and gifts.
Whereas, on the other side some pundits criticize this festival. They say that Festivus enthusiasts are anti-conventional, unreasonable and unorthodox people. Some even say that Festivus opposes the true meaning of Christmas. Even though this festival is quite controversial, a lot of people follow it. Among minimalism advocates and frugal spenders, this festival is quite popular. Hence, it’s a part of the December global holidays.
Christmas Eve (December 24)
On the 24th of every December, various countries celebrate this day. Countries like Poland, Austria and Germany celebrate this with epic devotion. Some people do the conventional duties of Christmas Day on Christmas Eve like having family fathering and exchanging gifts. Therefore, it’s also included in December global holidays.
Specialities of Christmas Eve
- Church services
- Church visiting
- Exchanging gifts
- Family get-togethers
- Lunch and dinner parties
- Singing Christmas carols or songs
Christmas (December 25)
Christmas is a religious event that’s celebrated all over the world. The speciality of Christmas is that it is celebrated by even those people who don’t follow Christianity. This day marks the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is their last holy prophet sent by God. They also believe that Christ will redeem their sins.
In surveys done in 2021, 85 per cent of people in America said that they were going to celebrate Christmas. Whereas, in the UK, 88 per cent of people celebrated Christmas in 2021 (according to a survey). Both of these two nations have versatile people. People from different areas, religions and races. Most of them visit these countries annually for job hunting and studying.
Christmas has become more of a cultural event rather than a religious event. Although, many people went to Church on Christmas. But most of them take an all-out vacation, buy gifts and have family gatherings. Notably, the actual birth date of Jesus Christ isn’t known.
Specialities of Christmas
- Exchanging gifts
- Christmas parties
- Home decorations
- Family lunches and dinners
- Christmas dates
- Christmas Tree decorations
- Christmas movie marathon
- Outdoor walks, picnics or vacations
Boxing Day (December 26)
Boxing Day has always faced differentiation in opinions. This day’s origin isn’t clear. Some believe that this was the official day on which alms were distributed to the destitute after Christmas. Others assume that it’s the day, on which gifts were distributed among errand boys, servants, slaves, postmen and other people who work throughout the year.
Despite, what’s its real origin, it remains one of the iconic December global holidays. Numerous countries celebrate it as a public holiday to honour their minimalistic workers that aren’t appreciated enough.
Specialities of Boxing Day
- Appreciation to underprivileged labourers
- Sporting events
- Honouring postmen, errands and servant’s services.
- Celebrated in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Kwanzaa (December 26 to January 1)
Kwanzaa is an African festival sown deeply in African history and celebrated particularly in the United States. This day was established by Dr Maulana Karenga. It was first observed in 1966 after the Watts riots in Los Angeles, California. Word Kwanzaa is of Swahili accent. The Swahili word ‘Kwanza’ means ‘first’. It’s taken from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” meaning “the first fruits.”
Specialities of Kwanzaa
- Celebrated with traditional African songs
- Conventional dances
- Storytelling
- Marked by poetry and discussion of various principal values of African culture.
- Traditional meal
- Mega feasts called ‘Karamu’
- Mega feasts take place on December 31 each year.
New Year’s Eve
The last of the December global holidays is New Year’s Eve. It happens on the last day of this month with vigour and splendid celebrations. The purpose of NeYears’s’ Eve is to say farewell to the old year and welcome the coming year.
It’s celebrated by every country in the world. People usually don’t put the lights out and reminisce about the memories of the whole year. When the clock ticks 12, countries start their respective fireworks, countdowns and songs. Every country strives to have the best New Year’s Eve.
Specialities of New Year’s Eve
- All night-long concerts
- Fireworks at midnight
- Social gatherings
- Praying
- Pubs and Restaurants carnivals
- Last day festive
- Gathering of people at monuments of popular spaces
Omisoka (December 31)
Omisoka could be typically called the last day of December. On 31st of December. Omisoka is celebrated among the Japanese people. Japanese people clean their houses, way themselves up and wear new clean clothes on this day. The significance of this day is immense for Japanese people, as they clean their minds and bodies to welcome the new year.
Specialities of Omisoka
- Last festival in December global holidays
- Exchanging gifts
- Eating special foods and traditional Japanese meals or dishes
- Traditional ceremonies
Conclusion
December global holidays are coming. Enjoy the respective holidays of your religion and culture and be a part of others’ happiness as well.
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