December is undoubtedly the most festive season of all months. Representing the last month of the year, it also marks the celebration of important religious figures.
To many, it’s a month of vacation, leisure, and little work. It’s also compromised with a lot of holidays which are held in higher esteem worldwide.
Table of Contents
Top 10 Popular December Holidays And Their Symbols
Below is the list of the Top 10 Popular December Holidays And Their Symbols
Hannukah
Hannukah is a religious celebration held from the 28th of November to the 6th of December of every year to mark the rededication of the second temple in Jerusalem. It is an 8-day Jewish celebration observed by all Jewish communities across the globe. This festivity also marks the beginning of a New year according to the Gregorian calendar. It is often marked by singing special songs like Ma’oz Tzur, reciting the Hallel prayer, eating oil-dried foods, and playing with dreidels.
Santa Lucia
Santa Lucia is a religious celebration marked by the people of Scandinavia in Italy and Sweden. Its purpose is to celebrate Santa Lucia who happened to be an Italian Saint who died a martyr. The celebration is marked on the 13th of every December and it normally is marked singers clad in white apparel and in hairdressers in an atmosphere of merry-making and concerts.
World Aids Day
World Aids Day is a December 1st celebration marked by the World Health Organization and all individuals across the world. It’s normally graced with visiting affected orphans, championing the need for safe sex, and lobbying government officials in financing Aids research. The idea of HIV/AIDS was first suggested in 1987 by Thomas Neuter and hence has received attention from the general public.
Yule
Yule is a pagan festivity marked from December 21 to January 1 with the sole aim of paying tribute to Norse god Ordin. Deviating from the ancient days when a bonfire of logs was made, the current celebration just sees an altar of Yule made and an evergreen wreath made. It also features a candlelit dinner and exchange of nature-based gifts.
Christmas
Christmas is a Christian religious festival celebrated to mark the birth of the Messiah; Jesus Christ. It is marked on December 25 all over the world and this makes it unarguably the most celebrated festival in the world even by non-Christians. The date for the celebration was picked simply not because it had something to do with the birth of Jesus however, it was picked because it had correspondence to winger solstice on the Roman Calendar. It is marked with numerous activities like attending church and gift exchange amongst people as well as from Santa Clause.
Boxing day
Boxing day is also another generalized holiday and festivity that is observed across the globe. There are numerous reasons held by different groups in celebrating this day. It is marked on December 26 and has been declared a holiday by several countries like the UK, US, Canada, and Ghana. Some people hold the belief to gift errand boys and postmen during such a day.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a cultural festival observed from December 26 to January 1 mostly in American to preserve certain African heritage. This celebration is known to be have been created by Dr.Maulana Karenga after the Watts riot in 1966 in Los Angeles. Celebrations normally involve traditional African songs and dancing, storytelling, poetry recitals, and discussion of various African principles and values.
New Year’s Eve
The next festivity marked globally is New Year’s Eve which is always observed on the 31st of December. The purpose of the festivity is to mark the end of the old year and an ushering into the new year. Celebrant often visits their religious centers, some go to the pubs and others to movie houses and restaurants to enjoy. The celebration is often climaxed at midnight.
Festivus
Festivus is a parody festival marked on the 23rd of December every year to protest Christmas consumerism. It’s often observed in The United States and it became populous in 1977. Celebrants often speak against purchasing expensive Christmas goods and they also air their grievances.
The Qatar National Day
December 18th is celebrated at The Qatar National Day which marks the unification of Qatar in 1878. The observation was decreed on 21 June 2007. It’s a public holiday and most people rest in their homes while a remembering service is held. Others visit restaurants and are the recreational centers.
