The month of December brings a lot of celebrations and joys. Here I have mentioned all the December global holidays; you must know about.
December is one of the most festive months of the year. This is the last month of the year and brings many joyous festivals for everyone worldwide.
It is also worth noting that people love the month of December as it is also a month full of holidays, and those who love the winter season look forward to it and plan wonderful activities to celebrate it.
The holidays are when people with busy schedules over the course of the year can catch up with their family and friends and relax before heading back to work in the new year.
Many people associate the December holidays with the celebration of saying goodbye to the old year and welcoming the new year with a lot of positivity and blessings as they say goodbye to the previous year.
The month of December is filled with countless festivals and celebrations. In the range of these festival days, you can have seasonal celebrations, public holidays, national holidays, or days marked as holidays internationally.
The holiday season is just around the corner so I will list the major December global holidays celebrated worldwide. The list includes Hannukah, Yule, Festivus, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, etc.
Let’s look at some festivals and celebrations that will be celebrated in December 2024.
1. Hanukkah
- Celebrated on: November 28 – December 6
- Category: Religious Holiday
- The reason behind Celebration: to commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem
- Where it’s Celebrated: In Israel and different parts of the world where Jewish groups live
Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights. It’s the festival of the Jewish community.
Hanukkah brings together Jewish citizens from all over the world to remember the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE that resulted in the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple.
In the Gregorian calendar, Hanukkah can occur anytime between late November and December as per the Hebrew calendar and is celebrated for eight consecutive days and nights.
During the festival, candles are lit on nine menorah branches or hanukkiyah, a candelabrum. The two chains are usually tied together at the top or bottom of the candle holder, and one of the branches is usually placed above or below the other four.
2. World AIDS Day
- Celebrated on: 1 Dec
- Category: Health & Awareness
- The reason behind Celebration: To spread awareness against AIDS
- Where it’s Celebrated: Globally
James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter originally proposed the idea of World AIDS Day in August 1987.
Those guys were working as public information officers. In recognition of this day, AIDS awareness is spread throughout the world.
Several approaches are being considered to mark the event, such as adopting orphaned children, promoting safe sexual practices, and getting governments to intensify efforts to combat HIV.
3. Human Rights Day
- Celebrated on: December 10
- Category: General
- The reason behind Celebration: Commemorating the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
- Where it’s Celebrated: Worldwide
A yearly celebration of Human Rights Day, referred to as Human Rights Day in some parts of the world is one of the most important celebrations on December 10.
The UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on this day in 1948. The declaration aims to give everyone rights regardless of nationality, religion, or race.
Among the human rights protected by the UDHR is the right to life, the right to liberty, the right to be free from slavery, and many other.
4. Santa Lucia
- Celebrated on: 13 December
- Category: Religious
- The reason behind Celebration: In the remembrance of Saint Lucia
- Where it’s Celebrated: Scandinavia and in Italy
This day marks the feast day of the Italian Saint Lucia, who died as a martyr and is considered a light figure in the darkness.
During the winter of December, a festival dedicated to Santa Lucia is held in Sweden as a sign of the coming of light and hope.
Some special concerts and processions mark this important day, where people wear white and carry white headdresses that feature actual flickering candles.
5. Yule
- Celebrated from: December 21 – January 10
- Category: Pagan
- The reason behind celebration: As a tribute to the Norse god Odin
- Where it’s Celebrated: Germany and other German-speaking groups around the world
Yuletide festival is celebrated by the German people globally. Its roots are pagan, with the influence of the Anglo-Saxon Feast of Modraniht and the Norse god Odin.
Yuletide is one of the oldest and globally celebrated winter holidays, marking the onset of the Winter Solstice.
A large log was lit in a bonfire for Yule celebrations, and the ancient people spent the night outdoors making a bonfire and partying.
Today, people still burn logs as part of the celebration, but many also create a Yule altar, make an evergreen Yule wreath, or give back to Mother Nature as part of this tradition.
Christmas dinners are often accompanied by candlelight, as are decorations of Yule trees, along with the exchange of nature-based gifts.
6. Festivus
- Celebrated on: December 23
- Category: Parody
- The reason behind Celebration: To counter consumerism during the Christmas holiday season
- Where it’s Celebrated: Worldwide but most specifically in the US
The goal of Festivus is to speak out against Christmas consumerism. The holiday was popularized in 1997 by an episode of the Seinfeld show titled “The Strike.”
Instead of purchasing a traditional Christmas tree, Festivus participants stand around a simple aluminum pole.
Festivus customs can encompass many other things, such as “Feats of Strength” and “airing of grievances.”
Pundits have criticized Festivus supporters for their anti-conventional views about the true meaning of Christmas. Despite these things, the holiday is getting increasingly popular, especially among frugal spenders.
7. Christmas
- Celebrated on: December 25
- Category: Religious and Cultural
- The reason behind Celebration: To commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ
- Where it’s Celebrated: Globally
Christmas is a global holiday and is celebrated all around the world. Various celebrations and traditions mark this day.
Christians celebrate this day to honor the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they consider sent to restore humanity to its original state. However, it is important to mention that no one knows exactly when Jesus was born.
In the Roman calendar, Christmas coincides with the winter solstice. Many countries observe Christmas as a cultural festival rather than a religious celebration.
People worldwide celebrate Christmas in different ways, including by leaving gifts for Santa Claus, attending churches, preparing meals, and taking advantage of the holiday season.
8. Boxing Day
- Celebrated on: 26 December
- Category: General
- The reason behind Celebration: Symbolism varies
- Where it’s Celebrated: Globally
It falls on the second day of the Christmas season, 26 December, after Christmas Day, and is one of the most important holidays celebrated worldwide.
While Boxing Day was originally celebrated as a day to give gifts to the poor to appreciate their services. But today it is mostly celebrated as a day for shopping.
Many nations, including Germany, Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and many others, celebrate this day on 26 December. Many sports events are held on this day in these countries.
9. Kwanzaa
- Celebrated from: December 26 to January 1
- Category: Cultural
- The reason behind Celebration: To keep African values alive
- Where it’s Celebrated: Globally, especially in the US
The first Kwanzaa celebration took place in 1966. The annual Kwanzaa celebration occurs between December 26 and January 1 and culminates with a communal feast known as Karamu, usually on the sixth day.
This festival creates a celebration combining African harvest traditions from several parts of West and Southeast Africa, based on Maulana Karenga’s original concept.
As a part of celebrations, women wear kaftans, decorate their house with candles and art objects, and bring fresh fruits. There is a custom of including children in Kwanzaa ceremonies to express respect and gratitude to the ancestors.
10. New Year’s Eve
- Celebrated on: December 31
- Category: General
- The reason behind Celebration: To celebrate and welcome the coming year
- Where it’s Celebrated: Globally
The last day of the year, December 31, is known as New Year’s Eve by the Gregorian calendar and Old Year’s Day or St. Sylvester’s Day in other countries.
It is common to dance, eat, drink, and watch or light fireworks during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the West; however, Christians commonly attend watch night services. A typical celebration lasts until January 1, New Year’s Day.
American Samoa, Baker Island, and Howland Island are among the first places to welcome the New Year, while Kiribati, the Line Islands, and Tonga are among the last countries to celebrate the New Year.
Other Popular December Global Holidays
In December, people around the world also celebrate many other holidays.
- December 1 – Commemoration Day of U.A.E, Democracy day of Chad, National Day of Romania,
- December 2– National Day of U.A.E
- December 4 – Farmer’s Day
- December 5– Thailand King Bhumibol’s Birthday
- December 6 – Independence Day of Finland, Constitution Day of Spain
- December 7 – King Bhumibol’s Birthday, Unduvap Full Moon Poya in Srilanka
- December 8– Immaculate Conception Day, Constitution of Uzbekistan, Panama’s Mother’s Day, National Youth Day in Albania, Santa Marian Kamalen Day
- December 10 – Constitution Day of Thailand
- December 12 – Virgin of Guadalupe Day in Mexico
- December 13 – Republic day of Malta
- December 16 – Victory Day of Bangladesh, South African Reconciliation Day
- December 18 – National Day of Qatar
- December 26 – Independence and Unity Day of Slovenia
- December 29 – Unduvap Full Moon Poya of Sri Lanka
- December 30 – Rizal Day of the Philippines
At The bottom
December is full of a variety of holidays that are available around the world that you can take advantage of to end the year on a positive note.
It is important to remember that December is not just a time to enjoy getting yourself some of the pricier things you want.
In addition, this is a great time to check in with yourself, evaluate your progress, and prepare yourself for a new start-up with new goals and resolutions for the new year.