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December is one of the most festive months of the year. In every country, it is celebrated by various celebrations and events like religious, cultural, and even corporate events. December is one of the few months that have as many celebrations as it is.
People get together with their families and prepare to greet the new year with a smile.
Christmas celebrations all over the world holiday celebrations around the world are Hanukkah, Yule, and numerous others. After a year of suffering from the pandemic, people are anticipating this December Global Holidays to end the year positively.
Let’s take a look at the various world’s Christmas celebrations for December Global holidays.
Here are the most awaited December global holidays
1. Hanukkah
- Date of Celebration: November 28 – December 6
- Category: Religious
- Why It’s Celebrated: Celebrating the re-devotion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
- Where it’s celebrated: Israel and different Jewish groups throughout the world.
Hanukkah is also known by the name of Chanukah which is also known as Chanukah, or it is the Festival of Lights. This is an 8-day Jewish festival that kicks off at the end of day 25 in Kislev, the Hebrew Calendar month Kislev.
Each year, as per the Gregorian calendar, the date of the first day of Hanukkah is different. The Hanukkah festival is celebrated between November 28 until the 6th of December this year.
The chanting of strange songs like Ma’ozTzur and the recitation of the Hallel prayer is as well an integral part of the Hanukkah celebration.
Foods that are oil dried, such as potato pancakes (also known as latkes) as well as jam-filled donuts are also typical Hanukkah customs (also called sufganiyot). The guests typically exchange gifts and play with dreidels.
2. World AIDS Day
- Date of Celebration: December 1
- Category: Health
- The reason it’s celebrated to expose the underlying causes of the epidemic of HIV/AIDS.
- Where It’s Celebrated: Worldwide
On August 27, 1987, James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter introduced World AIDS Day.
Bunn along with Netter was employed by The World Health Organization’s Global Program on AIDS as public information officials during the period.
It was the first time World AIDS Day was celebrated in the following year on the 1st of December that has been the day’s annual date ever since.
The goal to celebrate World AIDS Day is to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS and to remember those who have been hurt in the aftermath of illness.
There are a variety of ways to commemorate the day that include visiting orphaned kids or donating funds to safe-sex programs and urging governments to boost efforts to stop spreading HIV.
3. Santa Lucia
- Date of Celebration: December 13
- Category: Religious
- What’s the reason for celebrating it to honor Lucia who was from Syracuse.
- Where It’s Celebrated: Scandinavia and in Italy
Santa Lucia was a saint from Italy who was killed as a martyr. In the darkest times during the winter, she’s thought of as a source of optimism.
Every year, on the 13th of December, Sweden recognizes and honors Santa Lucia as a figure of hope and light.
On this special day, meteorological events and processions are staged, with performers dressed in white and wearing headdresses that have real flames.
4. Yule
- Date of Celebration: December 21 – January 1
- Category: Pagan
- What’s the reason for celebrating it to celebrate Odin, the Norse god Odin
- Where it’s celebrated: Germany and different German people groups across the world
Yule is usually referred to as Yuletide. It is a Germanic festival celebrated all over the globe.
The celebration has pagan roots with connections with the Norse god Odin as well as Odin, the Anglo-Saxon Feast of Modraniht. Yuletide is among the most ancient and well-known festivals of winter around the world, which coincides with that of the Winter Solstice.
Yule is observed through the lighting of a huge log on a bonfire, and all night long, sitting outside.
While log burning is being done, the majority of people celebrate Yule by constructing the Yule altar, making an annual Yule wreath. Or by giving the gift of Mother Nature.
Dinners with candles as well as Yule decorations for trees, along with the exchange of gifts that are based on nature are famous.
5. Festivus
- Date of Celebration: December 23
- Category: Parody
- The reason it’s celebrated to promote a stance against the commercialization of Christmas
- Where it’s celebrated Around the World, and particularly within the United States
Festivus is a worldwide festival that gained a lot of attention in 1997 thanks to the Seinfeld episode titled “The Strike.”
The goal of this fake holiday is to raise awareness of Christmas’s materialism.
Festivus is celebrated by staking out around the base of an aluminum pole instead of buying a costly Christmas tree. ” Feats of Strength” and ” airing of grievances” are two other well-known traditions of the Festivus season.
Certain critics have been pushing Festivus supporters, calling them anti-traditionalists and having misconceptions regarding Christmas’s origins and significance.
However, the season has grown in popularity, particularly for those who are budget-conscious and minimalists.
6. Christmas
- Date of Celebration: December 25
- Category: Religious
- The reason why it’s celebrated to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ
- Where It’s Celebrated: Worldwide
Christmas is, in no doubt the most well-known Christmas holiday in December.
The celebration celebrates Jesus’ birth. Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who Christians believe was sent to save humanity from the sin of mankind.
The thing that sets Christmas apart from other celebrations of religion is the fact that it is observed by all people even by non-Christians.
It is important to note, however, that the precise date of Jesus Christ’s birth is not known. Christmas was chosen due to its connection to Christmas, which was the Roman year’s solstice of winter.
Furthermore, it is observed as a social instead of a religious holiday in numerous nations. Many ways to commemorate the holiday, including the giving of Santa Claus as well as Father Christmas gifts.
On Christmas Day many attend the church, but there are also possibilities for a fully-fledged holiday.
7. Boxing Day
- Date of Celebration: December 26
- Category: General
- Why it’s celebrated Different symbolisms
- Where It’s Celebrated: Worldwide
There’s been always some disagreement regarding the way Boxing Day came to be and the proper way to observe it.
Certain people believe it was the normal day on which churches distributed donation boxes to the poor following Christmas.
Some people view Boxing Day as the day to express gratitude to duty men postal carriers, duty men, and other workers for their efforts all through the year.
Despite its importance in history, Boxing Day is one of the most celebrated holiday celebrations in December.
Several countries around the world such as New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia as well as New Zealand, have announced that the day will be a public holiday. Boxing Day is usually celebrated in these countries by hosting sports activities.
8. Kwanzaa
- Date of Celebration: December 26 – January 1
- Category: Cultural
- What’s the reason why it’s celebrated To protect certain African quality
- Where it’s celebrated Around the World, and particularly those in the United States
Kwanzaa is a holiday in December that has African origins that are predominantly observed throughout the United States. The late Dr. Maulana Karenga started the celebration at first in 1966 during the following of the Watts violence which occurred in Los Angeles, California.
Kwanzaa is an interpretation of the Swahili word kwanza meaning “first. The word ” matunda ya kwanza” originates from the Swahili phrase ” matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits.“
Kwanzaa is usually celebrated by the performance of traditional African dances and music. It also includes poetry reading, storytelling, and discussions on diverse African cultural beliefs.
9. New Year’s Eve
- Date Celebration: December 31
- Category: General
- The reason it’s celebrated to check the year’s close
- Where It’s Celebrated: Worldwide
The December last festival on this list is the day of the month’s end.
New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate the closing of the year prior and mark the start of the next.
This day is observed in a variety of ways. Many religious people head to their places of worship to thank God for the blessings of another year. In restaurants, cafes, and other gatherings for socializing, people gather to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
The party is usually at its peak at midnight, when jolly shouts, music along with fireworks from the air.
Some List of December Global Holidays
- December 1 – United Arab Emirates (National Day)
- December 4 – Ghana (Farmer’s Day)
- December 6 – Finland (Independence Day), Spain (Constitution Day)
- December 7 – Thailand (King Bhumibol’s Birthday)
- December 10 – Thailand (Constitution Day)
- December 12 – Mexico (The Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe)
- December 13 – Malta (Republic day)
- December 16 – Bangladesh (Victory Day), South Africa (Day of Reconciliation)
- December 18 – Qatar (National Day)
- December 24 – Christmas Eve, Libya (Independence Day)
- December 25 – Christmas Day, Pakistan (Birthday of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah)
- December 26 – Various Countries (Boxing Day), Slovenia (Independence and Unity Day)
- December 29th – Sri Lanka (Unduvap Full Moon Poya)
- 30th – Philippines (Rizal Day)
- 31st – Various Countries (New Year’s Eve)
Final Words
There’s a wide range of December Global Holidays that will inspire you to finish your year off on a high way and with style.
Keep in mind that December isn’t just a month for getting yourself more pleasures throughout your day. It’s also the perfect time to recognize the significance of people who made the ending of the year worthwhile by giving them the best blessings.
