Most Popular December Global Holidays & Festivities 2022: Complete Information Of All December Holidays Around The World, National Holidays And December Festivities.
People always have eyes on the holidays for many reasons, such as to catch up with families to share love and create memories with their loved ones and have some fun with friends. And that is why December is everybody’s favorite because it provides a lot of holidays. December Global Holidays are full of festivals and events that we can celebrate with our families and friends.
These festivals and events are celebrated in different countries and communities and are categorized as religious, public, and National Holidays In December. This article provides you with all the information about December Holidays Around The World, and Festivities, so continue reading till the end.
Table of Contents
December Global Holidays
December is a time of celebration. Some of these holidays are national and public holidays only celebrated in a specific country or region. And some of which are celebrated globally.
Here is the list:
| Holidays | Date |
| Hannukah | 28th November – 6th December |
| World AIDS Day | 1st December |
| Santa Lucia | 13th December |
| Yule | December 21 – January 1 |
| Festivus | December 23 |
| Christmas | December 25 |
| Boxing Day | December 26 |
| Kwanzaa | December 26 – January 1 |
| New Year’s Evening | 31st December |
December Global Festivities
St. Nicholas Day
On December 6, we commemorate St Nicholas Day in honor of St Nicholas. As the Christmas season begins in the evening, some people begin their celebrations on December 5th night. St Nicholas sold all his wealth to needy people. He focused his complete life to helping those who were sick or in agony.
The world knows virtually little about Saint Nicholas’s life. But some stories are known, especially when Saint Nicholas left gold for three daughters whose father does not afford a dowry. This humbleness of Saint Nicholas formed the basis of going gifts for needy people.
Many European countries celebrate St Nicholas Day by sharing candies, chocolates, and small gifts. Children put carrots on their shoes, hoping that St Nicholas would exchange them in the gits and treats. German children dressed up as Saint Nicholas and collected money for the needy people. This day is specially celebrated in Russia and Greece.
Hannukah
Hannukah is an eight-day festival starting from the evening of November 28 till December 6. It is also called Chanukkah, Festival of lights, Feat of dedication, and Jewish festival. Hannukah festival is the longest December Global Holidays as it is celebrated for eight days. The most important of all Hanukkah customs is the light of the menorah all night long.
Also known as the Hanukkah light, the menorah symbolizes a simple lamp and chandelier or eight branches with a candle (“staff”) used to light another eight candles. People ignited one candle on the first night and lighted an extra candle each evening to light candles on the last night. Olive oil was used to illuminate the menorah but was replaced by candles. Gradually added to the menorah every night of the ceremony from right to left, but left to right.
We offer praises during the time that candles are lit each evening. Menorah back then shone outside but now to save neighbors from harm brought in. Hannukah is a religious festival, but we also done some nonreligious activities in Hannukah, like festive meals, songs, and games.
Santa Lucia
We celebrate Saint Lucia on December 13 to pay homage to Lucia Syracuse . Santa Lucia was an Italian saint who represented Italia who was killed. In the dark part of the cloud, it is seen as a reflection of light. On the 13th of December Sweden is remembered and praised by Santa Lucia as an emblem of hope and light. We set the atmosphere with atmospheric concerts and processions, white dresses and helmets, and dazzling candles on this specific day.
The Swedes include teenagers and young adults in the celebration; however, for Norway, Santa Lucia is predominantly a celebration intended for (young) children. We held it in lower elementary schools as well as kindergartens. In mid-November, you’ll see an assortment of vintage frilly white gowns in most stores. That sell children’s clothing in the mid-price range. If you go on December 13, you’ll know the reason.
Children dressed in white cotton clothes walk in a slow-moving parade, hand out yellow buns and wearing! Lights as they sing the tune, Santa Lucia.
Lucia is a young Christian girl born in Sicily in the year 283. And determined to assist others by bringing meals and beverages to those who were needy. And carrying candles on her head so that she could have free hands.
Lucia was determined to remain single, dedicating all her time to God according to the legend. But the Roman Emperor had recently prohibited Christianity. And Lucia’s mom had offered her wedding to a wealthy bloke who was likely to have many attractive characteristics. Still, unfortunately, in Lucia’s case, the Christian faith wasn’t one of them.
Winter Soliscate
The solstice of December is the shortest winter day of the northern hemisphere. And it is the longest day of regions of the equatorial. We can observe the solstice of December on the 20th or 21st, 22nd or 23rd of December however, the 20th and 23rd December solstices are not common.
On this day people light candles and burn fires to draw the sun. Some people cannot wait for the cold weather, the snow, the skiing, the fire, and the holiday spirit. You will notice a kind of peace as you walk through the forest — a sort of peace.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is an African-American week-long cultural festival. That kicks off on the 26th of December 2021 and concludes on the 1st of January. It is the world’s second-longest December Global Holidays. Many millions of people in all over the United States and worldwide celebrate the holiday with traditional African costumes during the festival.
Families gather to celebrate St. Mary’s Day. During the day, Lucia dresses her eldest daughter in white and serves coffee and baked delicacies to other family members and guests. Such as saffron bread and ginger biscuits. Kwanzaa is a spiritual holiday celebrated from December 26 to January 1. In the course of these holidays, African Americans dress up in strange costumes. As well as make their houses festive with fruit as well as vegetables. They also light the fire in a kinara.
World AIDS Day
The first of December is World AIDS Day. This event falls in the December 1 Day Holidays we celebrate it on December 1 with other events. Meeting orphans and vulnerable children, supporting safer sex programmes, and asking governments to take action to prevent the spread of HIV are just a few ways to commemorate the day. It was first celebrated on December 1, 1987, by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter. After that, it becomes an official holiday.
Yule
Yule, also called Yuletide, is celebrated by the German community worldwide from December 21 to January 1. It is one of the world’s oldest and most well-known festivities and December global holidays. They held the most popular winter festival in Germany. Also known as Yule Tide, the Yule Festival was first celebrated by the ancient German people as a religious festival. They later compared this game to Christmas.
We originally observed Yule from late December to early January, according to the German lunar calendar. In the Nordic countries, the Yule festival’s meaning is still used for Christian Christmas. As well as other religious celebrations over the season. This has progressively led to a national holiday using the same name as Christmas in current times.
Yule is also widely used in English-speaking countries for Christmas. Traditions like a log, Yule goat, wild boar, Yule singing, and others from Yule. In modern times, we consider Yule a cultural festival and a religious festival with some Christians and some neo-pagans.
They derive Yule from the Old English terms Geol and aim. The first shows the 12-day festival of Yule, while the second shows the Yule month. We believe that both words are derived from the common German. And are related to Gothic (frame) joule is and Old Norse jol. Thus, the etymological pedigree of the term remains uncertain. Although many speculators have tried to trace the Indo-European relatives outside the German group.
Christmas
Christmas is the most popular event around the globe. People from all over the world wait for these Global Holidays to celebrate this event.
Firstly Christmas was a Christian festival where they celebrate the birth of Jesus. But in the 20th century, it became a family festival celebrated by Christians and also by non- Christians too. In many European countries, they exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, December 24. In line with the idea that the baby Jesus was born on the night of December 24.
However, the morning of December 25 became a time of gift-giving in North America. In 17th-18th-century Europe, a steady exchange of gifts took place within the first 25 hours. When the family returned home from Christmas service. On the evening of the 24th, when it was time to exchange gifts, a Christmas service began at the end of the day.
In North America, on the morning of December 25, the family’s time to open the top gifts. Except for the Catholic and other Lutheran and Episcopal churches, to the end of the church services that day, is a striking picture. About what local customs influence religious activities.
Omisoka:
We’ve all heard about New Year’s Eve, but few people have heard of Omisoka, the exact holiday celebrated in Japan. The Japanese New Year’s Eve festival of Omisoka, which coincides with New Year’s Eve in the United States. Is a major one for the Japanese people in December.
We will celebrate Omisoka to mark a brand new year with many possibilities like New Year’s Eve. However, their celebrations are different. We celebrate the Japanese New Year on the day that ends the year. To prepare for a brand new year and a fresh start. The people, clean their homes and clear out the year’s mess by cleaning the entire house from bottom to top. We know this as “osoji.” The Japanese enjoy a massive celebration with family and friends and traditional Japanese food.
Many people party out or go home to observe a nationwide New Year’s Day talent show. Until the time comes to begin counting until midnight. One of Japan’s most important cultural celebrations is known as Omisoka, which means “spiritual festival.” They go to Shinto temples at night. Temples ring a massive bronze bell around midnight. To represent the 108 desires of the earth that caused the human condition.
- Clean up their homes and then eat a big meal. At 11 p.m. all gather for the last meal of Toshi Koshi Soba. This tradition is based on the idea that eating noodles for a long time can give you a longer life span. And allow you to cross between one year and the next.
- Another reason why a lot of food preparation is done on the last holiday of the calendar is that it’s considered not a good idea to cook in the kitchen during those first 3 days of the New year.
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is the last holiday on the list of December Global Holidays. This festival is originated in the UK and celebrated in a few countries on December 26. On this day, people collected boxes for the poor filled with funds and often placed them in Churches. The packets then opened, and to them distributed things.
That became a tradition that still takes place in various countries. Football matches and races take place on this day to collect funds. We predominantly played a Cricket Test match in Australia each year in this tradition called Boxing day test match and is very popular.
Bodhi Day:
We observe bodhi Day on the 8th of December in order to mark the awakening of Siddhartha Gatama who became Buddha Shakyamuni. Buddha Shakyamuni after his first tasting of freedom. In the midst of the major December global holidays, this celebration is now gaining popularity in certain countries as a different celebration for the New Year celebration, particularly for Buddhists.
The principal day of observance of Buddhists, Bodhi Day is celebrated by religious communities all over the globe. The day commemorates Buddha’s ultimate understanding of spiritual truth as well as his passing away. The day of wisdom is also called Sambuddhatva Jayanthi which means “the birth or awakening of Sambuddha’. Your travels to Japan could bring you to an unforgettable experience. Which is one of the most significant moments in the history of humanity.
Las Posadas:
Christmas celebrations across the globe may look different. Here’s a look at the las posadas tradition in December global holidays and how it originated. If you were rise living in South Texas or the Catholic church, you might have heard of las pocas or been a part of one.
Posadas Some might claim it’s like caroling. A group of people goes from house to house, singing the Christmas season or other religious songs. And, at some point, we invited the group of singers for a holiday feast and other celebrations. However it is, it also has a more significance for religious reasons.
Las posada is a custom introduced into Latin America by the Spanish. And later adopted by the two countries of Mexico in Mexico and Guatemala. Beginning around sundown on December 16, people of all ages get into the spirit of Christmas by dressing up as shepherds, angels, or even Mary and Joseph. The event recreates the pilgrimage to Bethlehem of Mary and Joseph. While they walk between Nazareth through Bethlehem in their locality.
Each time they leave home and sing songs in the hopes of finding a home to remain. We deny them at every home until the conclusion of the celebration. And the final home invites them in for a meal and celebration. The story of the journey is symbolic of how Mary and Joseph were rejected on the evening of the birth of Christ until an innkeeper allowed the two in the manger.
Posadas continues for eight nights, each night having a new home and allowing the group to join for a celebration in the evening. On December 24, the ninth night and last of the posada, all go to midnight mass, followed by the traditional dinner.
Krampusnacht:
It’s one of the holidays that seems much closer to Halloween and Christmas. On Krampusnacht on December 5, people dressed as Krampus. And consume a lot of alcohol, scurry around the city, and scare children. They often chase children in the street and smash the children with sticks.
Costumes for Krampus are comprised of a wood-carved mask and a costume made of goat or sheepskin. They wore cowbells on the hips of the wearer. Costumes can be pretty expensive in Europe. But we usually make them of lesser expensive materials like fake skin paint and fur.
The source of Krampus not widely known. However, most Anthropologists agree that the legend is pre-Christian and dates back to the mythology of the pagan world. A source believes that Krampus is as old as the Wiccan God that is Krampus, the Horned God from the Witches. At least one anthropologist believes that Krampus is descended from a pagan supernatural figure that was eventually subsumed into the Christian Satan.
The pagan pre-Christian pantheon of Europe is a bit hazy. Because the druids of Europe did not record anything. And their sites of worship, rituals, and symbols were typically transferred to. And integrated into Christian practices during missionaries’ efforts to wipe pagan beliefs completely. Krampus, and the “Horned God” are great examples of this.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception:
Immaculate Conception Day is a holy day of worship that falls on December 8. It is a religious holiday in December global holidays. We dedicate the day to the birth of the Virgin Mary in the mother’s womb, Saint Anne. We also recognized Immaculate Conception Day as one of the most significant occasions during the Roman Catholic Church’s Liturgical Year.
They also referred to it as the Holy Day of Obligation, observed by an oblation Mass. Family meals, processions, and parades mark the day in Mary’s honor. But, the celebration cannot confused with Annunciation to the Lord. Which is the celebration of the coming of Gabriel, the angel Gabriel at Mary. And her determination to accept the birth of Jesus Christ in her womb.
How To Observe Immaculate Conception Day:
Host a dinner party:
You can host a dinner party with your loved ones and family to celebrate Immaculate Conception Day. This is an ideal occasion to plan family gatherings and get everyone together.
Participate in Mass:
Get your day started with a church service at the time of Immaculate Conception Day. Nearly every church has an extra mass to mark the day.
Take part in an event or parade:
After the Mass, it’s normal for the faithful to participate in parades. And processions to celebrate Immaculate Conception Day. It’s a wonderful way to stay connected to your neighborhood.
December National Holidays
There are many Holidays In December celebrated in the whole world, group of countries, or by group of regions. But there are many December National Holidays that are honored by specific countries.
National Holidays that are observed in December
| December National Holidays | Date | Country |
| Restoration of Independence | December 1 | Portugal |
| National Holiday | December 1 | Romania |
| King Bhumibol’s Birthday | December 5 | Thailand |
| Independence Day | December 6 | Finland |
| Constitution Day | December 6 | Spain |
| Mother’s Day | December 8 | Panama |
| Inmaculate Conception Day | December 8 | Chile |
| Virgin of Caacupe Day | December 8 | Paraguay |
| National Youth Day | December 8 | Albania |
| The Anniversary of ISIS’s Victory | December 10 | Iraq |
| Constitution Day | December 10 | Thailand |
| Republic Day | December 13 | Malta |
| National Day | December 16 | Bahrain |
| Emperor’s Birthday | December 23 | Japan |
| Christmas Eve | December 24 | Various Countries |
| Quid-e-Azam Day | December 25 | Pakistan |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Various Countries |
| Christmas Day 2 | December 26 | Various Countries |
| Republic Day | December 31 | Taiwan |
| New Year’s Eve | December 31 | Iceland |
Frequently Aѕkеd Questions
Is December 25 a World Holiday?
Nо, December 25 іѕ nоt a world holiday. Althоugh Christians аll оvеr thе world celebrate Christmas, nоt аll countries recognize іt аѕ a public holiday.
For example, іn сеrtаіn раrtѕ оf Central Asia аnd Eastern Europe, Christmas іѕ celebrated 13 days lаtеr (on January 7), bесаuѕе thеу uѕе thе Julian calendar.
Countries thаt uѕе thе Julian calendar instead оf thе Gregorian оnе include Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Serbia, etc.
Arе Christmas аnd Boxing Dау paid holidays?
If Christmas Dау аnd Christmas Dау fall оn a Saturday, thіѕ іѕ a non-working dау fоr аn employee. Note thаt thеrе аrе differences bеtwееn thе rules fоr employees, part-time workers, аnd private sector employees.
Hоw mаnу holidays аrе celebrated іn Canada іn December?
Canada celebrates fоur major holidays іn December: Christmas (December 25), Boxing Dау (December 26), Nеw Year’s Evе (December 31), аnd National Dау оf Remembrance аnd Action Agаіnѕt Violence Agаіnѕt Women (December 6).
Whаt іѕ thе mоѕt unique December party?
Onе оf thе mоѕt unique December holidays іѕ Festivus. A secular holiday created аѕ a parody оf Christmas commerce. Festivus celebrations include thе “Feats оf Strength” аnd thе “Venting оf Grievances”.
Aftеr appearing оn thе television program “Seinfeld”, thе holiday received a lot оf attention.