Worldwide Holidays of December

What is special about the month of December? It's the holiday season that brings people together. Celebrating with friends and family, engaging in traditions and the festive feeling is what makes the month’s holiday season so special.

When the holiday season approaches, people around the world get excited to celebrate a variety of December global holidays. While many people think of Christmas, Hanukkah and even New Year's Eve as the major December global holidays, there are many others that communities and religions around the world celebrate. All of the December global holidays show the interesting cultures and beauty of different celebrations around the world.

Dec. 5 – King Bhumibol’s birthday in Thailand

Dec. 5 – Krampusnacht, AKA Krampus Night. Celebrated in European countries

Dec. 6 – St. Nicholas Day in Western countries

Dec. 8 – Bodhi Day Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment, becoming the Buddha(Varies in May/June geographically)

Dec. 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception – Roman Catholic

Dec. 10 – Human Rights Day United Nations

Dec. 10 – Constitution Day in Thailand

Dec. 13 – St. Lucia Day – Scandinavian celebration for people in community

Dec. 16 – 24 Las Posadas. Religious festival. Latin American and Hispanics in U.S.

Dec. 17 – 23 Saturnalia; Pagans honor Roman god Saturn

Dec. 17 –  Christmas Jumper Day  Wearing Jumpers for charities

Dec. 18 – World Arabic Language Day. UN - Arabic as sixth official language  

Dec. 19  – St. Nicholas Day in Eastern countries

Dec. 20 – International Human Solidarity Day – United Nations

Dec. 21 – Winter Solstice (Northern Hemisphere)

Dec. 21 – Summer Solstice (Southern Hemisphere)

Dec. 21 or 22 – Yule festivities for days or even weeks, by Wiccans and Pagans

Dec. 23 – Festivus – secular holiday; created by Dan O’Keefe (Seinfeld show)

Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve – Half day of work

Dec. 25 – Christmas by Christians and non-Christians; Globally

Dec. 15 – Hanukkah Nov. on Kislev Calendar; varies

Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 – Kwanzaa - Celebrates African American culture

Dec. 26 – Boxing Day in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa

Dec. 26 – St. Stephens Day, 1st Christian martyr; Western Christianity

Dec. 27 – St. Stephens Day, Christian martyr; Eastern Christianity

Dec. 29 – Peace Day, Cambodia

Dec. 31 to Jan. 3 – Omisoka/Shougatsu in Japan-New Year’s Eve and Osoji