December Global Holidays and Festivities 2022
About December Global Holidays in 2022
Embracing the final month of the year with snuggly sweaters, a warm cup of hot coffee with cookies, faint sound of Christmas carols practiced by kids in a nearby Church, and stockings hung near the chimney. Ah! December is here! December global holidays 2022 complete festive list is here.
December, the most magical month of the year is upon us. The quiet reflectiveness of this festive month spreads cheers to all. It is undoubtedly the most joyous month which embarks upon the holiday mood and brings happiness. December marks midwinter and the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. December calls in for some well-deserved revelry before the new year comes around. In other words, December is full of events worth celebrating and hence December is the month of global holidays!
December Global Holidays are all about joy and happiness!
World AIDS Day
Date Marked: (Dec 1, 2022)
World’s AIDS Day is conceived to help bring attention to the HIV virus and create awareness. This day is dedicated to dispelling the myths about HIV disease and commemorating those who are infected or affected by the disease. The idea of observing World AIDS Day was introduced in August 1987 by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter. It is observed on December 1 every year by governmental and health agencies worldwide.
World AIDS Day is observed in various ways, such as visiting destitute children who are orphaned due to the disease, conducting HIV awareness campaigns, and educating the masses about safe sex. The red ribbon is the internationally recognized symbol of awareness and support for people living with HIV.
Krampusnacht
Date Marked: (Dec 5, 2022)
Celebrated in Austria, Germany, and other parts of Europe, Krampusnacht is “Krampus night.” On this day, adults might dress up as Krampus. Krampus is a beasty demonic figure who assists Saint Nicholas in scaring the children who have misbehaved. The Krampus costume is made from sheep or goat skin and a hand-carved wooden mask. It is a century-old tradition similar to the Christmas concept of the Naughty and Nice list .
Moreover, this character is portrayed in many Hollywood horror movies. This year Krampusnacht will be celebrated on December 5.
Saint Nicholas Day
Date Marked: (Dec 6, 2022)
Also called the Feast of Saint Nicholas, Saint Nicholas Day is the day to honor the death anniversary of the catholic saint, St. Nicholas of Myra. He was the man whose life inspired the tradition of Father Christmas and Santa Claus. The third-century saint who became an inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus. In several European countries, it is a holiday and celebrated with feasts and parades.
Children hang out their shoes with carrots and hay for the Saint’s horse in the prior evening, hoping St. Nicholas will fill them with candies and small gifts. St. Nicholas Day is celebrated in the coastal regions of northwestern Europe, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium. It is also celebrated in many small towns and villages of Greece and Russia.
Bodhi Day
Date Marked: (Dec 8, 2022)
It is a religious festival in Japan to celebrate Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death all in one day. It is celebrated on the eighth day of the twelfth month of the lunar schedule by Mahayana Buddhists. Each year it is celebrated on December 8. Bodhi Day commemorates the day of the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who experienced enlightenment.
The word’ bodhi’ means ‘awakening,’ and ‘enlightenment’ in Sanskrit and Pali. It is an important day for religious observance in the Buddhist communities. A meal of rice and milk is popular on this holiday.
Feast of Immaculate
Date Marked: (Dec 8, 2022)
It is a catholic feast day to celebrate Mary’s conception without sin. Also known as Immaculate Conception Day, it is celebrated in great joy for God’s gift to humanity in Mary. This day also recognizes the truth that God has created each and every human being to fulfill a particular mission that can be fulfilled by them only. It is a widespread belief that Mary was chosen as Jesus’s mother by God because of her purity. On this day, Catholics go to Church and pray for everyone’s well-being. Catholic churches in Argentina, Brazil, Korea, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Philippines, Spain, the United States, Uruguay, and Portugal celebrate this day.
Human Rights Day
Date Marked: (Dec 10, 2022)
Every year, Human Rights Day is celebrated on December 10. This day is celebrated to mark the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. People’s fundamental rights irrespective of race, nationality, religion, or gender are documented in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On this day every year, an event is held to honor the declaration’s adoption. Human Rights Day is marked as a day when nations address essential aspects of human rights. This day is celebrated globally.
International Human Solidarity Day
Date Marked: (Dec 20, 2022)
The International Human Solidarity Day was established in 2005 by the General Assembly. On December 20, every year, it is observed to celebrate the unity in diversity and remind all the member countries to respect their commitments to international agreements. On this day, various poverty eradication initiatives are reviewed and launched to promote solidarity and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The spirit of International Human Solidarity Day is cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character to maintain international peace and security.
St. Lucia’s Day
Date Marked: (Dec 13, 2022)
It is a religious festival to honor Italian Saint Santa Lucia. She chose to dedicate her life to God instead of marrying. She died as a martyr who the Romans killed in 304 A.D. It is considered as a figure of light and hope in the darkest part of the year. It symbolizes light in the middle of long, dark Nordic winters. St. Lucia’s Day marks the beginning of the Christmas season and is celebrated in Scandinavia and in Italy.
Atmospheric concerts and processions mark this day. Singers clad in white and wearing headdresses with actual flickering candles are a feature of this holiday. It is a traditional feast day and is celebrated on December 13.
Las Posadas
Date Marked: (Dec 16 – Dec 24, 2022)
It is a Mexican holiday to honor the journey of Joseph and Mary as they made their way from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Las Posadas takes place between Dec. 16 and Dec. 24. Las Posadas translates in English as ‘the inns’ or ‘the lodgings’. It is a nine-day Mexican Christmas tradition based on the story of Mary, Joseph, and their search for a safe place to stay.
A small child dressed as an angel, leads a procession of children through town as they go to various homes, seeking lodging for Joseph and Mary. It includes songs and scripture readings. It is an important festival in Cuba, Spain, Latin America, Guatemala, Mexico, and by Hispanics in the United States leading up to Christmas.
Hanukkah
Date Marked: (December 18th – December 26th)
Hanukkah is Hebrew for dedication. Hanukkah is a Jewish festival also known as Chanukah or the Festival of Lights. This 8 days festival begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar. After the Maccabean Revolt, the re-dedication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem is celebrated during this period.
Ma’oz Tzur is one of the songs associated with Hanukkah. Candles are lit every night throughout the eight days to ward off evil spirits and bad luck. Reciting the Hallel prayer, eating traditional oil-dried foods like potato pancakes (called latkes) and jam-filled donuts (called sufganiyot) are popular Hanukkah customs. The Judaic blessings are chanted before and during the process of lighting the candles. In 2022, the festival falls between December 18 to December 26. Hanukkah is celebrated by Jews worldwide.
Yule
Date Marked: (21-Dec-22 to 1-Jan 2023)
Celebrated by Germans all around the world, Yule. Also called as Yuletide, this is observed by lighting a big log in a bonfire and spending the entire night outside. This 12 day festival is the oldest and most prominent winter holiday globally, as it coincides with the Winter Solstice. It is a pagan celebration with roots in Norse and Celtic cultures. Candlelit dinners and Yule tree decorations are common features of Yule. People exchange nature-based gifts with friends and family.
It is one of the prominent global December holidays. Yule has pagan roots to the Norse god Odin and the Anglo-Saxon festival of Modraniht.
Winter Solstice
Date Marked: (21 Dec, 2022)
Winter Solstice is celebrated across the globe as the days just get longer from December 21. On this day, there are many traditions observed. In England, there is a Stonehenge gathering at dawn the day after the longest night to witness the magical occurrence of the sun rising through the stones. Its archaeological research suggests winter solstice festivals happened there.
Dongzhi is celebrated in China with family gatherings followed by a big meal. Rice balls called tang yuan is a featured dish. Additionally, to mark the end of the harvest season, the holiday has roots in the Chinese concept of yin and yang.
Shab-e-Yalda is celebrated in Iran at the end of shorter days. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. Yalda means ‘birth,’ and is marked by family gatherings, candles, poetry readings. Additionally, a feast is organized to get through the longest night of the year.
Burning of Clocks Festival
Toji in Japan, Santo Tomas festival in Guatemala and Dongchi in South Korean tradition are observed to mark the winter solstice. The Burning of Clocks festival takes place in Brighton. Also, it is associated with its yearly solstice parade, bonfire, and fire show. People wear costumes representing clocks. It denotes the passage of time march with lanterns made of wood and paper to the beach. The lanterns are then burned in a huge bonfire. It symbolizes the wishes, hopes, and fears that are brought to the flames.
Newgrange gathering of Ireland is a popular winter solstice tradition. The Newgrange passage tomb and ancient temple are aligned to witness the dramatic sunlight effect on the winter solstice. People gather to watch this 17 minute light effect by a small opening.
Festivus
Date Marked: (Dec 23, 2022)
Courtesy to the episode on the Seinfeld show titled ‘The Strike’. It is a parody holiday to stand against Christmas consumerism. People stand around a decorative aluminum pole instead of a decorated tree. The frugal spenders and minimalism advocate this false holiday to promote awareness about Christmas materialism.
The two common traditions of Festivus are ‘Feats of Strength’ and ‘airing of grievances’, which have continued to grow in popularity.
Rizal Day
Date Marked: (Dec 30, 2022)
Rizal Day is the national holiday observed in the Philippines to commemorate the death of the Filipino patriot José Rizal in 1896. The life and works of José Rizal, a national hero of the Philippines, are remembered and paid homage every year on December 30. The official ceremonies are performed at Rizal Park in Manila. On Rizal Day, flags are flown at half-mast, and the President of the Philippines lays a wreath on the shrine dedicated to Jose Rizal.
Christmas
Date Marked: (Dec 25, 2022)
Marking the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas is one of the most popular December Global Holidays. Even the non-Christians celebrate this festival worldwide with zeal and enthusiasm. People exchange gifts, share feasts with family and decorate trees in their homes. Many people attend Church services on Christmas Day.
In Iceland, Yule Lads are featured along with the Christmas market. The thirteen Yule Lads are similar to the thirteen Santas. Each of Yules visits every night for thirteen days before Christmas. They leave gifts for kids in the shoes left in the window sills
Americans associate Christmas with Christmas trees, visits from Santa Claus, and dreams of snowy landscapes. As Christmas falls during summer in Australia, people go camping or to the beach over the holiday. In England, instead of leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus as in the US, children celebrate this one of the most sought-after December Global Holidays by leaving mince pies and brandy for Father Christmas.
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