December Global Holidays: We all enjoy the holidays. It’s usually a time we keep work and other official tasks aside and have fun. Also, it’s a time to connect with our loved ones and bond with our families. Many people look forward to this time to get engaged, married, or attend weddings.
Indeed, those whose schedules are usually busy throughout the year, they look forward to the month of December. In the meantime, this is one month with many holidays globally. Do you know that this month has up to 10 global holidays? Let’s learn about them in this article. Please read to the end to get all the details.
December Global Holidays
Now, let’s get to know all the global and even other December Global Holidays:
Thus, many religious groups and nation’s celebrate a lot of events and ceremonies at the end of the year. This makes December very busy and filled with lots of holidays. Let’s get to know them.
Below are the 3 major holidays in December globally.
25th of December – Christmas Day
26th of December – Boxing Day
31st of December – New Year’s Eve
However, there are other ones in this month which are also celebrated by people on a very large scale. Many religions and groups observe the worldwide too. They include the following:
Date Event
December 1st United Arab Emirates National Day
Also, December 4th Farmer’s Day (Ghana)
December 6th Independence Day (Finland)
Constitution Day (Spain)
December 7th King Bhumibol’s Birthday (Thailand)
Also, December 10th Constitution Day (Thailand)
December 12th The Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe (Mexico)
December 13th Republic Day (Malta)
Also, December 16th Victory Day (Bangladesh)
Day of Reconciliation (South Africa)
December 18th National Day (Qatar)
Now, December 24th Christmas Eve
Independence Day (Libya)
December 25th Christmas Day
Birthday of Quid-e-Azam Muhamad Ali Jinnah
December 26th Boxing Day
Independence/Unity Day
December 29th Unduvap Full Moon Poya
Also. December 30th Rizal Day (Philippines)
December 31st New Year’s Eve
Additionally, there are other holidays in December. These ones are religious holidays. Let’s consider them below.
December Global Holidays – Religious Holidays in December
In the meantime, here we shall be listing and discussing the religious holidays in December celebrated around the world. Below are the religious holidays in December.
10th to 18th of December – Hanukkah
This festival originates with the Jews. They usually observe it only 8 consecutive days in a year. This is from 10th to 18th December. Indeed, the celebration is about how God provided for their forefathers miraculously in the wilderness. It is a festival of thanks to God almighty.
21st of December – Yule
This is another ancient festival, celebrated similarly to Christmas. It is usually celebrated once every year.
25th of December – Christmas Day
Remember, more than 80% of Christians believe that Jesus Christ was born on 25th December. On this day, they rejoice and make merriments to thank God for the gift of his dear son. It is usually accompanied by the giving and receiving of gifts.
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26th of December – Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is an African festival celebrating its heritage. On the same date, I can also do boxing day.
31st of December – New Year Eve
This is a global holiday. People all over the world celebrate it. It was originated from a Japanese tradition. Likewise, the tradition was to celebrate at the end of every year. Give thanks to God and anticipate something greater the next year.
With all said, please note that of all the above holidays, only new year’s Eve is celebrated globally. The others are peculiar to regions or religious groups.
December Global Holidays – December Holidays around the world
Shinto Ōmisoka
Ōmisoka is a great holiday in Japan. It is celebrated on 31st December yearly (New Year’s Eve). It is the second-most important day in Japanese tradition. On this day, the people rejoice and celebrate for having been alive throughout the year.
In other words, they thank God for life too. Each family will gather on Ōmisoka for one last time to have a bowl of toshikoshi-soba or toshikoshi-udon. They believe that this tradition of eating long Noddles together will help them live till the next year.
Moreover, in the middle of the night, a lot of people go to the temples and shrines for Hatsumōde.
It is believed that Shinto shrines prepare amazake to pass out to crowds. On the other hand, a lot of Buddhist temples have large cast bells struck once for each of the 108 earthly desires believed to cause human suffering.
Santa Claus
Christmas
Many Christians believe that their savior, Jesus Christ was born on 25th December. I’d they themselves celebrate their own birthdays, how much more that of their life-giver? Because of this, they ensure that they celebrate this in a grand style every 25th December.
By the same token, it is accompanied by lots of displays of love and affection, giving and receiving gifts, and sober reflection. People in each continent or region carry out certain rituals and events. Do you know what? many use Christmas trees, visits from Santa Claus, and dreams of snowy landscapes, Christmas falls during Australia’s summer, and more. Many in America go to Disney Land and have fun there. Others decorate their homes and invite friends and relatives.
Do you know that in England, children leave mince pies and brandy for Father Christmas? Also in Iceland, the capital city Reykjavik turns into a winter wonderland because people sell a lot of Christmas stuff like trees, candles, toys, and many more.
Here, you will see up to thirteen Santas, known as Yule Lads. Interestingly, one arrives each night in the thirteen days before Christmas, leaving small gifts in shoes left in window sills. On Christmas day, people eat drink, exchange gifts, and have fun.
Hanukkah
Do you remember the dedication of the second temple in Jerusalem? That’s where this name stems from. Hanukkah, or Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish celebration. It is used to remember the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean Revolt.
These people who took part in it experienced God’s amazing miracle of provision. The flames of a candle that was supposed to burn for a day burnt for 8 days. This made them always remember this incident yearly.
Moreover, some people call it the Festival of Lights. Every year, it starts on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar. The celebrants light the menorah. Every day for the 8 days, another candle is added to the menorah after sundown. The ninth candle, called the shamash (“helper”), is used to light the others.
Also, every day, the people recite blessings. They cook and enjoy traditional Hanukkah foods like potato pancakes (latkes) and jam-filled donuts (sufganiyot) fried in oil in a grand style. They as well exchange gifts with their loved ones.
Kwanzaa
This is a unique festival originated 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. Maulana perfectly blended aspects of different harvest celebrations to form the basis of Kwanzaa. This has become a unique and rich cultural festival today.
They got their name Kwanzaa from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” meaning “first fruits” in Swahili. Here, each family celebrates Kwanzaa in a special way. Their activities include singing, dancing, poetry reading, drumming, storytelling, lighting of candles by a child on the Kinara. Also, the family will sit down and discuss one of the seven principles and values of African culture. Lastly, on 31st December, they will hold an African feast called Karamu.
Boxing Day
This is not a global celebration. However, many countries of the world celebrate it. This is usually on December 26. Hence, it has its root in the United Kingdom during the Middle Ages. Then, people collect the alms box for the poor, keep them in churches, and on this day, they distribute it to the poor. Also, on this day, Masters give their servants a day off to join others in celebrating Christmas.
Today, it’s becoming more and more popular. Thus, this is especially in Germany, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, among other countries. On this day in England, soccer matches and horse races take place. People as well have fun and enjoy a lot of other events.
Do you know what the Irish call this holiday? They call it St. Stephen’s Day and celebrate it with their own tradition called hunting the wren. During the event, boys fasten a fake wren to a pole and parade it through town. The Nigerian people just talk about it in news. There’s usually no celebration.
However, the Bahamas celebrate Boxing Day in a grand style. They carry out a street parade and festival called Junkanoo.
I hope you got value. Please if you have questions, tell us in the comments section.