Just like we need a weekend at the end of the week similarly we need a month-end at the end of the year, and December never disappoints to fulfil this role every year all over the world. The count of December Global Holidays is the most, and thus it is the best month to enjoy with friends and family.
The chilly evenings and the cozy weather excite people to spend time with family and enjoy the delicious food that the season brings. People also like to travel a lot during December for many reasons. They have the holidays so many of them tend to visit their home and spend time with family, some likes to experience distinct cultures and festivals of the countries worldwide.
List of December Global Holidays Date Wise given below –
1. Krampusnacht – 5th December
A festival most commonly celebrated in Germany on 5th December. The legend of Krampus who is the evil version of Santa Claus is celebrated in German-speaking countries and mainly in Europe.
The evil of Krampus is also called “Horned God”. The most amazing thing about this festival is the costume that people wear. People in modern times wear a wooden mask with a scary face on it and a suit full of furs to represent the Krampus.
2. St. Nicholas Day – 6th December
Also called the Feast of Saint Nicholas, is celebrated on 6th December. It is celebrated as the feast day of Saint Nicholas of Myra, as she is believed to be the bringer of gifts so in many countries children are presented with gifts depending on their behavior.
3. Hanukkah – 28th November to 6th December
One of the very important festivals of the Jews. The celebration starts on 28th November and continues for straight 8 days. The history of this festival is based on a miracle, when Jews were fighting Greeks and were stuck in a place, they found a jug of oil which was supposed to last for 1 day but miraculously lasted for 8 days. The festival is full of family and friends reunions and delicious food like potato pancakes and doughnuts.
4. St. Lucia Day – 13th December
This festival is majorly celebrated in Sweden and Norway, so if you are planning to watch the northern lights anytime soon then must visit in December. It is celebrated to pay respect to the emergence of a bright star which influenced the three kings to visit the newborn baby “Jesus”. Another belief is, that Saint Lucia use to bring food on her head with candles lit to help the poor who were being oppressed at that time.
5. Christmas – 25th December
It is considered to be the most celebrated festival all around the globe. It is a Christian festival that is celebrated on the birth of Jesus Christ i.e., 25th December. Jesus is believed to be the son of God by the Christians and hence they have been celebrating this day.
People go to church, have family dinner, and decorate Christmas trees. The day is all about sharing food, gifts, and love with friends and family. Usually, children wait for a long time to get their gifts would be placed under the Christmas tree.
6. Kwanzaa – 26th December to 1st January
Kwanzaa is created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 when he was only 25 years old. He started researching different aspects of harvest celebrations and combined all the harvest to form the 7-day holiday called Kwanzaa.
“First Fruits” the real meaning of Kwanzaa, is celebrated from 26th December till 1st January. The celebrations are quite similar to the African culture where playing songs, dancing, storytelling, and poetry are some of the events that take place.
7. Omisaka – 31st December
The new year of Japan is also celebrated on 31st December. It is considered one of the most important festivals in Japanese Culture. To mark the beginning of the new year people gather with their families for the one last time in the old year and eat “Noodles” to mark the entrance of the new year.
Many people visit shrines and temples and ring bells 108 times for the 108 earthly desires that are believed to cause human suffering.
8. New Year’s Eve – 31st December
No better festival could mark the end of a month full of happiness. New year’s eve is regarded as the best December Global Holiday and is celebrated throughout the world to mark the end of the old year and start anew with the new year.
People celebrate it by throwing parties, going to clubs and concerts. Some spend quality time with their families. Making “Resolutions” is the most fun thing around this time.
Tips when traveling in December
- Citizens of Europe must visit Germany to experience the unique style of KrampusNacht and the night full of life
- If you are anytime planning to visit Israel or Jordan then must go around the end of November to enjoy the festival vibe and delicious food all around
- One of the best places to enjoy Christmas on Earth are Bethlehem on West Bank, Lapland in Finland, and New York in the USA
- Believers of Buddhism must visit Japan during the new year to experience the subtleness of the environment. The traditions are amazing and temples are all lit up and echoes with the prayers all the time
- New Year is celebrated all around the world, so you can visit any place near your native town and have fun
- Book tickets much before you have planned to visit the place to save a huge amount of money
- If you are not able to build your itinerary on your own, then it is best to buy the holiday package from a well-renowned site like MakeMyTrip
- Must follow the guidelines of the country that you are visiting to avoid any implications
Overall, December Global Holidays bring joy, laughter, friendliness, delicious food, snow & chilly eves, and most importantly happy times.
FAQ on December Global Holidays
Omisaka is celebrated in Japan on 31st December
To mark the day of the miracle which helped the Jews to use the jug of oil for 8 days instead of only 1 day.
Krampusnacht means “Krampus Night” and is celebrated to pay homage to the evil Krampus
Dr. Maulana Karenga, an American professor, and author created Kwanzaa
In total, there are 13 Global Holidays in December
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