December is a great month to spend with friends and family, but there are many other important global holidays celebrated during this time. While Christmas is the most popular of all December global holidays, it isn’t the only one. In fact, December is also home to Hanukkah, Yule, and St. Stephen’s Day, among others. Read on to learn more about each of these important dates. And be sure to take part in at least one of these events, and you’ll find that your December is spent well!

Christmas is the most popular holiday in December Global Holidays

While Festivus is an anti-conventional holiday, its popularity continues to grow, thanks to the frugal spenders and minimalism advocates. Despite these trends, Christmas is still the most popular holiday in December. Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, which the Christians consider the last prophet, Christmas is celebrated worldwide. It is even celebrated by non-Christians, including people who celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday.

Events in December

Hanukkah

Traditionally celebrated from the beginning of December, Hanukkah honors Jewish religious practices and celebrates the miracle of lighting the menorah. The holiday is a celebration of light and is celebrated around the world, though in the past, the festival has been largely absent from our calendars. In 165 B.C., Judea was ruled by the Romans, who outlawed Jewish religious practices and occupied the holy second temple of Jerusalem. When the Romans invaded, the Maccabees lit the menorah and made it a celebration for eight days. The burning of the candles represents a celebration of life and death.

Yule

The winter holiday Yule was once buried by the influx of Christmas celebrations, but it was rediscovered by neo-pagans and Wiccans. Today, Yule is celebrated all year round, and its purpose is to raise awareness against the excesses of the Christmas season. Despite the many similarities, these two celebrations have completely different meanings. In fact, some people even regard Yule as the prototype of Christmas.

St. Stephen’s Day

One of the most notable December global holidays is St. Lucia’s Day, which honors a bright star in the sky that led three kings to Bethlehem to visit the newborn Jesus. Gift-giving includes candles, sweets, and other traditional St. Lucia’s Day products. Children also celebrate this holiday by singing Christmas carols and wearing a wreath of candles. According to legend, St. Lucia brought food and other necessities to Christians during the time of persecution.

Festivus

Christmas is the most widely celebrated December global holiday, but you might not be aware of Festivus, which is a holiday for the grumpy. Celebrated on December 23, Festivus is a holiday for those who don’t feel like celebrating Christmas. While the holiday is widely celebrated, it doesn’t involve buying a Christmas tree or exchanging presents. Instead, Festivators can ask others for a donation to a charity known as The Human Fund.

Kwanzaa

One of the many December global holidays, Kwanzaa is celebrated on the day after Christmas. This holiday is rich with symbolism, from the traditional libation to drinking from the unity cup. The ritual of karma, or sharing, is a time to give thanks and renew commitments to personal growth. Celebrations include food, readings, and colorful attire. The penultimate day is marked by a karamu banquet filled with celebration and joy.

World AIDS Day

Every year on the first of December, the United Nations designates the day as “World AIDS Day” to promote awareness of the problem and to remember the millions of people who have died from the disease. The day also aims to educate the public about HIV/AIDS and to push back against prejudice and discrimination toward people suffering from the disease. Various people choose to wear red ribbons to show their support for the day and donate to charity. Others hold bake sales to raise funds. Some even sell red ribbons to raise awareness for the cause.