December Holidays
by Kelley Garcia
December has a significant number of religious holidays. Just in case you were wondering how many different ones there are, here is a list. If I've missed any, please let me know.
Christian Holidays
- Advent (Begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, often starting in late November): A four-week season of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus.
- Feast of St. Francis Xavier (December 3): A Catholic feast day honoring the missionary and co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).
- St. Nicholas Day (December 6): Commemorates the life of Saint Nicholas, known for his generosity, and is often celebrated with gift-giving or treats for children.
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8): A Catholic Holy Day of Obligation that celebrates the belief that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin.
- Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12): A major Catholic feast day, especially for those of Mexican and Mexican-American descent, honoring the appearance of the Virgin Mary to St. Juan Diego.
- Las Posadas (December 16–25): A primarily Hispanic Christian celebration commemorating Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem in search of lodging.
- Christmas Eve (December 24): The evening before Christmas Day, observed with special church services like Watch Night services.
- Christmas / Feast of the Nativity (December 25): Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Orthodox Christians often celebrate the Feast of the Nativity on January 7, due to using a different calendar.
- St. Stephen's Day (December 26): Commemorates Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and is also known as Boxing Day in some places.
- Feast of St. John the Evangelist (December 27): Honors Saint John, a disciple of Jesus and traditionally the author of the Gospel of John.
- Holy Innocents Day / Childermass (December 28): A solemn observance honoring the male children killed by King Herod in an attempt to kill Jesus.
- Feast of the Holy Family (Sunday after Christmas): A Catholic day to honor Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as a model for religious family life.
Jewish Holidays
- Hanukkah (Dates vary, often in December, lasting eight nights): Known as the "Festival of Lights," it commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days.
Bodhi Day (December 8): A Buddhist holiday commemorating the day Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment and became the Buddha.
Winter Solstice / Yule (Around December 21): A traditional festival celebrated by Pagans and Wiccans that marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, celebrating the return of the sun.
Zarathosht Diso (December 26): A Zoroastrian observance commemorating the death of their Prophet Zarathushtra, typically observed with prayer.
Gita Jayanti (Date varies): A Hindu observance that commemorates the sacred day when Lord Krishna offered his philosophical teachings to King Arjuna (the Bhagavad Gita).
Guru Gobind Singh's Birthday (Date varies): Commemorates the birth of the tenth Sikh Guru and spiritual leader, though the Gregorian date can sometimes fall in January.
Kwanzaa (Dec. 26 - Jan. 1) is a cultural celebration of African heritage and unity, rather than a religious holiday, though it is often observed during this time of year.
It may seem like December has the most holidays of any month but March, April, and October contain a higher quantity of significant holidays across a wider range of world religions.
In whatever way you and your family and friends celebrate this month, all the best wishes from BAWL and me to you and yours!