December is the last month of the year and we have enough reasons to celebrate. For some people the December festivals commence with the first day of Hanukkah where the Festival of Lights is celebrated right up to New Year’s Eve on the 31st December.

However, what gets heard most during December is Christmas even though the month is full of other religious and secular holidays and festivals. Let’s welcome this new and last month of the year by taking a look at some of the festivals that are celebrated. Let’s plan our December festivals now!

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December 1

AIDS Awareness Day: The day set aside by the international community to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic and mourning those who have lost their lives from the disease.

December 2

First Sunday of Advent also known as the Advent Sunday is the set aside by Christians as the first day of the Advent season which prepares them for the celebration of Christmas, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.

December 3

The First Day of Hanukkah marks the start of Hanukkah where the Jewish communities celebrate the Festival of Lights also known as Chanukah. For eight days, the Jewish remembers the struggle for religious freedom.

December 6

Feast of St Nicholas celebrated by Christians in regards to his reputation as a bringer of gifts.

December 8

– Bodhi Day (Day of Enlightenment) It is a Buddhist feast celebrating the day Buddha experienced enlightenment.

– Feast of Immaculate Conception celebrating the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception. It is a public holiday in some Catholic countries

December 9

The Last Day of Hanukkah marks the last day of the Jewish Festival of Lights also known as Chanukah.

December 10

Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10. It was chosen to honour the United Nations General Assembly adoption and proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UDHR, on December 10, 1948.

December 23

Human Light is celebrated by humanist. This holiday was started by the New Jersey Humanist Network celebrating “a Humanist’s vision of good future.”

December 24

Christmas Eve is the entire day or evening before Christmas Day. It is usually observed around the world as a full or partial holiday to anticipate the Christmas Day.

December 25

Christmas Day is celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike. It is the biggest feast that is celebrated in the month of December. The day commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a religious as well as cultural festival that is celebrated by billions of people all over the world.

December 26

– Boxing Day is usually a holiday after Christmas Day. It actually originated from the United Kingdom and is celebrated by many countries that were once part of the British Empire.

– Saint Stephen’s Day celebrated by Christians to commemorate St Stephen who was the first Christian martyr or protomartyr. It is celebrated on December 27 in Eastern Christianity.

December 31

New Year’s Eve which is the last day of the Gregorian Year (Watch Night). It is the seventh day of Christmastide. Many people around the world celebrate it in the evenings by organizing social gatherings where they eat, dance and drink together. Christians also attend a watch night service on this day to mark the end of the year and the beginning of a new one. The transition is usually marked with fireworks.

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