December is a month of meaningful celebrations and joyful holidays. Suppose you have a dream to know about the different people, cultures, events, and traditions of other countries. In that case, December is a month in which you can travel and enjoy your holidays and see other people in the world that how they enjoy their holidays in this Month. No matter in which country you are living or to which country you are traveling, you will feel and taste the joyfulness of this Month. We can summarize December’s global significance by saying that Every nation has its own identity, every country has its own taste, and every country has its own December.
You might also want to know about how different people celebrate this Month all over the world. So, let’s discuss the popular and common holidays that are celebrated all around the world in this Month. Here, we will enthusiastically explore the days traditionally celebrated in December in different countries and nations according to their cultures and traditions. We will also discuss the common and local holidays and vacations celebrated in different countries around the globe. So, let’s start.
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December Holidays around the World
A holiday is a unique day or time when people commemorate an important event in their lives. It might be a cultural celebration like Chinese New Year or Carnival or a religious holiday like Christmas or Hanukkah.
These December holidays are frequently founded on customs and principles that are significant to their participants. Additionally, they frequently contain unique foods, music, and rituals and can be a wonderful opportunity to connect with your culture or faith.
So here, let’s explore the top global December holidays that most people worldwide celebrate in this Month.
UAE National Day
The UAE citizens celebrate December 2 as their national day. This day marks and denotes the formal nationalization and the start of the UAE’s federal unification in 1971. The official theme of this day and the inner and essential purpose for the celebrations of this day lies in the Spirit of the Union that UAE has manifested in itself. The people of the United Arab Emirates celebrate this day with all their spirit, joyfulness, cultural values, and traditional and geographical diversities on every 2nd December of the year.
The National day of UAE, December 2, is actually a joyful and enthusiastic celebration of the unification and the combination of Seven states as one nation. UAE national day is known as a remarkable occasion when all the people, whether they are local or expatriates, celebrate and include themselves in the joys and celebrations of this day. On this day, you usually see the national flags everywhere on homes, cars, and streets. In fact, this day marks the unity and patriotism of UAE nationals.
Thailand’s National Day
Thailand celebrates King Bhumibol’s birthday every year on December 6. (unless the holiday falls on the weekend, then the celebrations move to the following Monday). The event is also celebrated as Father’s Day and Thailand’s National Day. When Thailand celebrates the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday, it turns into a wild party scene with virtually everyone taking to the streets to honor the great monarch. There is dancing, music, and a tonne of lights! And yeah, there are decorations everywhere. Make sure to travel to the area around December if you want to experience Thailand at its finest. We promise you will remember it as a memorable experience for the rest of your life.
Dubai Shopping Festival
Dubai Shopping Festival is not a festival of one day, but it is an event that runs for a month, and it’s been celebrated In December since 1996. Locals, residents, and tourists can experience Dubai Shopping Festival’s distinctive celebrations during the festival. The city’s malls, high street shops, festival and community markets, daily prizes, mega raffles, unique drone shows, fireworks, concerts, and live shows from international and regional artists usually bring enthusiasm to this festival.
It is organized by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), and the tourism department of Dubai plays an important role in this festival.
The most recent iteration of the Dubai Shopping Festival offers numerous sites throughout the city and the chance to enjoy the wonderful winter weather outside in Dubai. No Doubt, in the December global holidays, this festival is one of the things that are worthy of participating in and enjoying.
World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day is observed and celebrated annually on December 1. This is a chance for people all over the world to come together to combat HIV, show support for those who are affected and remember those who have passed away from AIDS-related illnesses. World AIDS Day, the first global health holiday, was established in 1988.
About 105,000 HIV-positive people are living in the UK. The virus is thought to be present in 38 million persons worldwide. Despite the virus’s discovery in 1984, one of the most deadly pandemics in history has killed close to 35 million people.
Today, there are laws protecting those living with HIV, there have been scientific improvements in HIV treatment, and we know a lot more about the disease. Despite this, over 4,139 people in the UK receive an HIV diagnosis each year, few people are aware of how to protect others and themselves, and stigma and prejudice are still commonplace for many HIV-positive people.
St. Nicholas Day
St. Nicholas Day is a day of celebration on December 6. It honors the life of St. Nicholas (sometimes known as Santa Claus), a Christian saint renowned for his benevolence and charity. Many people exchange gifts and partake in special cuisine on St. Nicholas Day in his honor.
It is a well-known fact that St. Nicholas sold everything he owned and donated the proceeds to the needy. St. Nicholas, who was raised as a devoted Christian, devoted his entire life to helping the ill and afflicted.
Bodhi Day
Every year on December 8, Japan honors Bodhi Day. It often occurs on the eighth day of the lunisolar calendar’s 12th Month. The day, known as Rohatsu in Japan, was changed to its current date by Emperor Meiji, who also started the process of westernizing Japan. It is a day that many people can benefit from and is spiritually energizing.
Bodhi Day honors the 2,500-year-old event when Siddhartha Gautama acquired enlightenment and changed into the Buddha, also known as the “awakened one.” Legend has it that Siddharta, at the age of 29, abandoned the comforts of the palace and set out on a journey of deep introspection to discover the meaning of life, rejecting the lavish lifestyle of a prince.
Buddhists observe this day by practicing meditation, studying the “dharma” (the “universal truth or law”), chanting sutras, and showing compassion to all living things. Some people choose to celebrate the day with a supper of tea and cakes. Tea ceremonies are typically held in conjunction with the planting of Bodhi trees throughout the month. The following month, incense and multicolored lights are displayed in Tokyo, the nation’s capital city, as well as in towns and villages all over the country.
Saint Lucia’s Day
Saint Lucia’s Day is not exactly the most well-known of the December international holidays. Nevertheless, Saint Lucia, the patron saint of light, is honored on December 13 as a religious feast. December 16 Parades, cookouts, and special religious services are frequently used to mark the occasion. It’s also a day to mark the start of the Christmas season in certain nations, such as Italy and Sweden.
Las Posadas
Every year, from December 16 to 24, Mexico and other countries of Latin America celebrate Las Posadas, a religious celebration. Las Posadas, which translates to “The Inns” in Spanish, is a significant component of the Christmas celebrations. Parties are held over the nine celebration evenings at various residences. Each event begins with a procession of all the attendees to symbolize Mary and Joseph’s quest for lodging on the night of Jesus’ birth. As a representation of Mary and Joseph finding refuge in a stable after being unable to find accommodation in Bethlehem, the march is typically led by an angel. The celebrations feature prayers, food, music, fireworks, and pietas.
Hanukkah
The Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev, which typically falls in December in the Gregorian calendar, marks the beginning of the eight-day Jewish Festival of Rededication, commonly known as the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah is observed from December 18 through December 26, 2022. Chanukah, another name for Hanukkah, is a holiday commemorating the rededication of the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem.
Winter Solstice
The shortest day of the year is commemorated on the winter solstice. Most nations observe it on December 21. However, some do it on different days. Solstice, which means “sun stands still,” refers to how the sun appears stationary in the sky during the winter solstice. The days lengthen again after the winter solstice.
Yule
Yule is a wintertime celebration of the sun’s rebirth. Pagans, Wiccans, and Druids are among the many groups who observe it worldwide. Yule, which often occurs in late December or early January, is known for its special occasions, gift-giving, and family get-togethers. It’s celebrated on December 21.
Yule ceremonies included bonfires, holly, mistletoe, and evergreen tree boughs for decorating, sacrifice rituals, feasts, and gift-giving.
Christmas Eve
The nicest night of the year is arguably Christmas Eve, which is on December 24. Christmas has the capacity to bring together families and friends, warm our emotions, and serve as a constant reminder of all the things for which we have reason to be grateful. Put on your comfy pajamas, turn on the fireplace, make a call to a loved one, and top your hot chocolate with marshmallows.
Another significant international holiday in December is Christmas Eve, which is also a special day for Christians everywhere. The day before Christmas is frequently observed with family get-togethers and unique religious services. Many people exchange gifts on this day, and some families even have Christmas supper.
Christmas
We celebrate Christmas every year on December 25, a day to spend with family, observe a significant Christian festival, engage in fun customs, or spread holiday pleasure! Christmas has developed over many centuries into an international holiday that is both religious and secular and packed with enjoyable family activities. Christmas is a time of year when we commemorate the birth of Jesus. It is one of the most significant holidays of the year and is observed by Christians everywhere.
St. Stephen’s Day
St. Stephen’s Day is observed annually on December 26. The day honors the Christian Saint Stephen, as suggested by its name. On this day, Christians remember the saint who was the first Christian martyr and was well-known for his charitable work with the underprivileged. This day is frequently referred to as the “Day of the Wren” in Ireland. This term comes from an ancient custom that involved utilizing a wren’s feathers to bring good luck. Catholic history gave rise to St. Stephen’s Day; some Christians might even visit a church on this day to hear a special sermon.
Kwanzaa
In the midst of the Black Freedom Movement in 1966, Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chair of the department of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, founded Kwanzaa to address the need for a cultural foundation in practice and philosophy. Dr. Karenga sought strategies to support the African-American community after the Watts riots in Los Angeles. He started researching African “first fruit” (harvest) festivities and formed the US Group, a cultural organization. Kwanzaa’s roots can be traced back to Karenga, a harvest festival that incorporated elements of the Ashanti and Zulu harvest festivals.
It’s Kwanzaa time! Kwanzaa is a seven-day African American and pan-African traditional celebration that is observed from December 26 to January 1. It emphasizes the importance of family and community. Families gather to feast and dance while also reflecting on and renewing their commitment to the seven principles on the last day of the holiday.
New Year Eve
On December 31, New Year’s Eve occurs only once a year. It is the last day of the last Month of the year, which normally feels like it goes on forever but somehow flies by.
The majority of us don’t really consider the significance of our annual ritual of saying goodbye to one year and hey to a new one on December 31. Even those who don’t make special preparations to ring in the new year at the stroke of midnight on December 31 honor the tradition by reflecting on the previous year and setting goals for the future.
Conclusion
There are plenty of holidays that different people from different countries, nations, and cultures celebrate every year in the Month of December. These holidays can be called December Global Holidays. In this article, we have explored and discussed the top December global holidays that most people and nations enthusiastically celebrate every year, according to their own traditions, customs, and modes of celebration.
