December Global Holidays around the Holidays

December Holidays Around the World (2021-22)

Few months present as many multicultural celebrations as December. From Christmas to Omisoka, the last month of the year is a “world of holidays.” Let’s take a look at some of December’s holidays around the world.

1. Christmas

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In the Christian faith, Christmas is the historical celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Whether celebrated for this religious reason or solely as a cultural celebration, Christmas traditions vary around the world. While Americans celebrate with Christmas trees, visits from Santa Claus, and dreams of snowy landscapes, Christmas falls during Australia’s summer, where it is popular to go camping or to the beach over the holiday. Some Australians decorate a “Christmas Bush,” a native Australian tree with small green leaves and flowers that turn red during the summer.

In England, Christmas traditions are similar to those in the United States, but instead of leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus, children leave mince pies and brandy for Father Christmas. In Iceland, the capital city Reykjavik turns into a winter wonderland with its Christmas market and for the children, there is not one but thirteen Santas, known as Yule Lads. One arrives each night in the thirteen days before Christmas, leaving small gifts in shoes left in window sills. Read more about how Christmas is celebrated around the world here.

2. Hanukkah

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Hanukkah, or Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish celebration that commemorates the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean Revolt. Those who took part in the re-dedication witnessed what they believed to be a miracle. Even though there was only enough untainted oil to keep the menorah’s candles burning for a single day, the flames continued to burn for eight nights.

Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar. Celebrations revolve around lighting the menorah. On each of the holiday’s eight nights, another candle is added to the menorah after sundown. The ninth candle, called the shamash (“helper”), is used to light the others. Typically, blessings are recited and traditional Hanukkah foods such as potato pancakes (latkes) and jam-filled donuts (sufganiyot) are fried in oil. Other Hanukkah customs include playing with dreidels and exchanging gifts. Learn more about Hanukkah here.

3. Kwanzaa

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Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 after the Watts riots in Los Angeles. He founded the US, a cultural organization, and started to research African “first fruit” (harvest) celebrations. From there, he combined aspects of several different harvest celebrations to form the basis of Kwanzaa.

The name Kwanzaa comes from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili. Each family celebrates Kwanzaa in its own way, but celebrations often include songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large traditional meal. On each of the seven nights, families gather, and a child lights one of the candles on the Kinara, then one of the seven principles, values of African culture, is discussed. An African feast, called a Karamu, is held on December 31. Learn more about the principles of Kwanzaa here.

4. Boxing day

Boxing Day takes place on December 26. Only celebrated in a few countries, the holiday originated in the United Kingdom during the Middle Ages. It was the day when the alms box, collection boxes for the poor often kept in churches, were opened and their content distributed, a tradition that still happens in some areas. It was also the day servants were traditionally given the day off to celebrate Christmas with their families.

Boxing Day has now become a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, among other countries. In England, soccer matches and horse races often take place on Boxing Day. The Irish refer to the holiday as St. Stephen’s Day, and they have their own tradition called hunting the wren, in which boys fasten a fake wren to a pole and parade it through town. The Bahamas celebrate Boxing Day with a street parade and festival called Junkanoo. Learn more about the origins of Boxing Day here.

5. Omisoka

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Ōmisoka, New Year’s Eve, is considered the second-most important day in Japanese tradition as it is the final day of the old year and the eve of New Year’s Day, the most important day of the year. Families gather on Ōmisoka for one last time in the old year to have a bowl of Toshi Koshi-soba or Toshi Koshi-udon, a tradition based on eating the long noodles to cross over from one year to the next.

At midnight, many visit shrines or temples for Hatsumōde. Shinto shrines prepare amazake to pass out to crowds and most Buddhist temples have large cast bells that are struck once for each of the 108 earthly desires believed to cause human suffering. Learn more about Ōmisoka here.

6. Yule

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Yule, also called Yuletide, is a festival marked by Germanic people around the world. The festival has pagan roots and can be traced back to the Norse god Odin as well as the Anglo-Saxon festival of Modraniht. Yuletide technically falls within the Winter Solstice, making it one of the oldest and most popular winter celebrations in the world.

Ancient people marked Yule by lighting a huge log in a bonfire and spending the long night outdoors. Although the custom of log burning is still practiced today, most people also mark this occasion by building a Yule altar, making an evergreen Yule wreath, or giving back to Mother Nature. Candlelit dinners and Yule tree decorations are also common, as are exchanging of nature-based gifts.

7. New Year’s Eve

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The last December holiday on this list 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 as well as usher in the incoming year.

There are numerous ways to observe this day. Most religious people visit their places of worship to thank God for the blessings of another year. Other people observe New Year’s Eve in pubs, restaurants, and other social gatherings. The celebrations usually peak at midnight, where shouts of joy, songs, and fireworks rent the air.

What other holidays do you celebrate in December?

December Global Festivities 2021

All the December global Holidays for 2021 with dates are given below.

Name Of December Global Festivities 2021	Date Of December Global Festivities
United Arab Emirates (National Day)	01 December 2021
Ghana (Farmer’s Day)	04 December 2021
Finland (Independence Day), Spain (Constitution Day)	06 December 2021
Thailand (King Bhumibol’s Birthday)	07 December 2021
Thailand (Constitution Day)	10 December 2021
Mexico (The Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe)	12 December 2021
Malta (Republic day)	13 December 2021
Bangladesh (Victory Day), South Africa (Day of Reconciliation)	16 December 2021
Qatar (National Day)	18 December 2021
Christmas Eve, Libya (Independence Day)	24 December 2021
Christmas Day, Pakistan (Birthday of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah)	25 December 2021
Various Countries (Boxing Day), Slovenia (Independence and Unity Day)	26 December 2021
Sri Lanka (Unduvap Full Moon Poya)	29 December 2021
Philippines (Rizal Day)	30 December 2021
Various Countries (New Year’s Eve)	31 December 2021

The Bottom Line

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Evidently, there’s a wide collection of December global holidays to help you wind up the year in style.
Remember, December isn’t just a month to treat yourself to the finer things in life. It’s also the perfect season to appreciate those who’ve truly made the ending year worth living by showering them with befitting gifts.
Therefore, it’s prudent to prepare yourself adequately for this season by saving enough money for it...