With the pandemic surging worldwide, people are looking to the holiday season for a source of joy and normalcy. This holiday season will be far from normal, no matter what holiday you choose to celebrate, but the traditions are still being kept amidst the pandemic. During the month of December, there are several major holidays being celebrated around the world. In addition to these popular holidays, many smaller holidays are on the December calendar and are something to look forward to. Learn more about these holidays below and get into the holiday spirit!
Christmas
One of the most dominant December holidays, Christmas, takes the cake as one of the most festive and celebrated holidays in the world. Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus. However, many people who do not have a religious affiliation also choose to celebrate Christmas to spread joy and celebrate time with family and friends. The holiday is celebrated on December 25th in many countries, however, many others choose different dates to celebrate the holiday. Christmas is celebrated differently globally, with different countries and regions adopting their own unique traditions. Some symbols of Christmas, however, remain popular in most regions. Two of the most popular symbols, the Christmas tree and candy cane, originated in 17th century Germany. The hanging of mistletoe and the singing of Christmas carols originated in England and the “Yule Log” originated in Norway. This holiday is most often celebrated with loved ones and typically involves the sharing of a meal.
Arguably the most popular Christmas symbol is “Santa Clause” In America, Santa is pictured as a jolly old man wearing a red suit who brings presents for the children on Christmas eve. However, in other countries worldwide, Santa Clause is often referred to by another name and is portrayed quite differently. In France, he is referred to as “Papa Noël” who wears a long red cloak and fills the children’s shoes with goodies by the fireplace. In the Netherlands, a man named “Sinterklaas” rides around town on a white horse and knocks on doors handing out gifts. In Germany, a female figure named “Christkind” takes on gift-giving responsibilities. This popular holiday, no matter how it’s celebrated, is deeply rooted in tradition and aims to bring people together.
Hanukkah
Another popular December holiday is Hanukkah. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated by millions of people worldwide. This year, Hanukkah is already in full swing, beginning at sundown on December 10th and lasting 8 days until December 18th. The holiday celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem when legend suggests the Jewish people rose up and fought against their Greek oppressors in the second century B.C.
Hanukkah is also referred to as “The Festival of Lights” as one of the most prominent symbols of Hanukkah and traditions is the lighting of a “menorah.” This candelabrum with eight branches represents the eight nights the oil of the menorah remained lit during the rededication. Each night of Hanukkah, one of the branches is lit to represent one of the eight nights. In addition to the lighting of the menorah, the holiday is celebrated with prayer, spending time with loved ones, playing games, and eating traditional meals. Another important symbol of Hanukkah, the dreidel, is a four-sided spinning top used to play games with. After a few games of dreidel, a delicious meal full of traditional foods is another way to celebrate the holiday. Latkes (fried potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled donuts) are among the most popular dishes during Hanukkah. The exchanging of gifts on each night of Hanukkah, especially for young children, is another tradition many look forward to.
Kwanzaa
Founded in 1966, Kwanzaa is a seven-day festival that celebrates African and African American culture. This year, Kwanzaa will be celebrated from December 26th to January 1st. Created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor at California State University, he combined a combination of Zulu and Ashanti harvest celebrations to create Kwanzaa. The celebration of Kwanzaa often includes singing and dancing, African drums, storytelling, and a shared meal. On each night of Kwanzaa, one of the “seven principles” is discussed and a candle is lit. The seven principles are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Like the other holidays, Kwanzaa has its own sacred symbols used to celebrate the holiday. These symbols include the candleholder, the unity cup, the seven candles, and gifts. Kwanzaa is a celebration of the seven principles and African tradition, keeping these cultural values and principles alive and celebrated.
Omisoka
In Japan, New Year’s Eve referred to as “Omisoka” is the second most important Japanese holiday each year, as it celebrates the final day of the year. This holiday is celebrated on December 31st, the day before the new year. To celebrate the crossing into a new year, families will gather for a meal featuring long-noodles or “toshikoshi-soba.” The festivities continue into the evening, and at midnight many will travel to temples and shrines to participate in “hatsumōde,” the first prayer of the new year.
Omisoka and the Japanese new year are deeply rooted in luck and focus a lot of their traditions on the bringing of good luck into the new year. To help bring good luck, people will often decorate with “Kadomatsu” which are gateway pines placed at the entrances of homes to attract deities. The celebration of the Japanese new year is highly anticipated and celebrated for several days before and after the new year.
In addition to these major celebrations happening this holiday season, there are many other smaller holidays and days of recognition that also happen during December including:
December 10 — Human Rights Day
December 12 — Poinsettia Day
December 13 — International Children’s Day
December 21 — Winter Solstice
December 23 — Festivus
December 26 — Boxing Day
December 31 — New Year’s Eve
December is full of holidays and celebrations, meaning there’s something for everyone to get excited about! Whether you celebrate one of the larger holidays or just choose to spend extra time with loved ones (safely, of course) this holiday season, December is a great month to do so. Happy Holidays!
Vocabulary list:
Festive (adj): cheerfully celebratory of a holiday or event
Affiliation (n): connected to
Adopting (v): to follow or use
Portrayed (v): describe something in a particular way
Oppressors (n): a group of people causing people pain and discomfort
Candelabrum (n): a branched candlestick
Shrines (n): an enclosure featuring a religious object or statue
Anticipated (v): look forward to
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hailey Womer is a third-year student at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York pursuing a dual major in Public Relations and Political Science. With interests in communications, public diplomacy, and politics & government, she hopes to use communication to grow the passions of the public and advocate for others. In her free time, you can find her editing social media content, engrossed in the fashion trends of the season, catching up on the latest political buzz, or on a philanthropic mission to make the world just a little bit brighter!