December Global Holidays: Most Festive Month of The Year

While December has the shortest day of the year and the coldest weather of the year, it is also the most cheerful and joyous month of the year. During this month in the dead of winter, people and cultures around the world have a lot to celebrate, remember, and cherish. December global holidays may be commemorated for a variety of reasons, but they are all the most anticipated social and religious events on the local calendar.

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So, here’s a quick rundown of what to expect, the symbolisms, speciality meals, and how to celebrate some of the world’s most famous December global holidays.

Several global holidays are observed in December around the world. Here are some of the major holidays held around the world in December:

Christmas Day (December 25th)

Christmas is a Christian holiday that commemorates Jesus Christ’s birth. It is extensively observed by Christians all over the world and is recognized as a cultural and public holiday in many nations.  Delicious cuisine enjoyed throughout the December global holidays is an essential component of the festive celebration. It is a time when families gather to exchange gifts, decorate Christmas trees, and share festive feasts. Christmas falls on December 25th, one of the world’s most important December global holidays.

Hanukkah (varies between late November and late December)

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that lasts eight nights and days. It commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem as well as the oil miracle. A candle is lit on the menorah each night, and traditional delicacies such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts) are eaten.

Kwanzaa (December 26th – January 1st)

Kwanzaa is a relatively new festival in the December global holidays, founded in 1966 in the United States by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Kwanzaa is a Pan-African and African-American festival that honors family, community, and African history. Dr. Maulana Karenga founded it in 1966. Families gather to light the Kinara (candle holder) and participate in activities that encourage solidarity, self-determination, and cultural pride during Kwanzaa. This Jewish December global holidays commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. And of course, no good December global holidays is complete without eating delicious foods

Boxing Day (December 26th)

Boxing Day is celebrated in a number of nations, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It began in the United Kingdom, where servants and craftsmen were frequently given gifts or “boxes” from their employers. It is now observed as a public holiday, with shopping bargains, sporting events, and charitable activities. Boxing day is a December global holidays that falls on December 26th, the day after Christmas Day.

New Year’s Eve (December 31st)

While New Year’s Eve is not exclusive to December, it is generally celebrated as the concluding day of the year around the world. People gather to say goodbye to the previous year and greet the new year with festivities, fireworks, and numerous rituals. The most famous event takes place in Times Square in New York City, where the iconic ball drop occurs at midnight. People observe December global holidays to mark the conclusion of the old year and the beginning of the new year.

Krampusnacht

The December global holidays are on December 5 this year. Krampusnacht, or Krampus Night, is celebrated every year in Germany and other European countries by screaming children and men dressed in frightening diabolical costumes. Krampusnacht, which is more like Halloween than Christmas, is a centuries-old Christmas ritual that occurs the night before the Feast of St. Nicholas.

Krampus is thought to be a half-man, half-goat hybrid with huge horns, red eyes, and teeth. Every year, men costumed in Krampus’ shaggy clothing and demonic masks visit each community to hunt and whack mischievous children with twigs. The purpose of these December global holidays is to remind youngsters to be good all year, or Krampus will come the following year to punish them.

Santa Lucia

Santa Lucia, also known as Saint Lucy, is a Christian feast observed on December 13th in Scandinavia, mainly in Sweden and Norway. Santa Lucia is associated with light and is celebrated during the winter solstice, during the darkest time of the year. The holiday has religious as well as secular importance.

This December global holidays symbolizes light and hope and is marked by concerts and processions; boys and girls dressed in white wearing headdresses with flickering candles; Coffee and baked delicacies (such as saffron bread and ginger cookies) are consumed, and little gifts are exchanged with neighbors, bus drivers, and the postman.

Winter Solstice and Yule

Winter Solstice and Yule are both prominent December celebrations that commemorate the changing of seasons and the return of light. While they have historical and cultural roots, they are interpreted differently in different traditions.

While the Winter Solstice is essentially an astronomical occasion, Yule is a spiritual and cultural celebration of the winter season. Many modern-day festivities incorporate aspects from various traditions and tailor them to particular beliefs and habits. During the darkest season of the year, these holidays provide an opportunity for introspection, regeneration, and connection to the rhythms of nature.

For many cultures around the world, the winter solstice, often known as the December solstice, is not just the shortest day of the year, but also a particular December global holidays with significant spiritual importance.

The Stonehenge gathering in the United Kingdom is one example of a global tradition to observe the December global holidays.

Yule or Yuletide is another December global holidays that falls within the Winter Solstice (December 21 – January 1)

Throughout addition to the more well-known December global holidays described above, local cultures celebrate a variety of unique holidays and festivals throughout December.

December 1 – World AIDS Day, United Arab Emirates (National Day)
December 6 – Finland (Independence Day), Spain (Constitution Day)
December 8 – Bodhi Day (Day of Enlightenment in Buddhism)
December 10 – Human Rights Day, Thailand (Constitution Day)
December 12 – Mexico (The Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe)
December 16 – Bangladesh (Victory Day), South Africa (Day of Reconciliation)

FAQ about December Global Holidays

Q: What are some other global holidays celebrated in December?

A: Aside from the previously stated holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Eve), there are a few more global holidays observed in December.

Q: Are there any holidays specifically celebrated in December in Asia?

A: Yes, there are holidays celebrated in December in various Asian countries.

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