When December comes to mind, usually images of a jolly Santa Claus and Christmas trees follow along with it. However, December is a month of many diverse cultures celebrating many different beliefs. In America, we are built off a mixture of traditions and backgrounds. Therefore, it is beneficial to be aware of what others recognize as important in this holiday season.
December is a time of various widely celebrated holidays. While you may mostly think of Christmas, the first major holiday to kick off December is St. Nicholas Day. Celebrated on December 6th, it celebrates the birthday of St. Nicholas. Christians honor this holiday to commemorate St. Nicholas, the inspiration behind Santa Claus. St. Nicholas was a bishop who was known for his kind and generous actions. Some traditions tied to this day include gifting cookies, candies, and small gifts. Some popular treats on this day are oranges and chocolate coins.
Hanukkah, also called the Jewish Festival of Lights, is another major holiday in December. Taking place on December 18-26, it is important to the Jewish faith for a variety of reasons. Hanukkah celebrates the recovery of Jerusalem and rededication of the Second Temple. Some main traditions that people practice during this holiday are lighting the candles of a menorah, playing the game of dreidel, eating foods with oil, and opening gifts nightly.
Moving further into the month, Yule is celebrated. On December 21st through January 1st, Germanic people and Pagans celebrate Yule. Yule coincides with the winter solstice, often associated with Christmas due to the shared traditions between Christmas and Yule. During Yule, festivals and feasts celebrate the winter months. Some popular traditions include burning a yule log, creating evergreen wreaths and decorations, and more.
On the 25th, Christmas is celebrated. In the Christian faith, Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. To many people it is also a time to celebrate family and friends. People of many faiths celebrate Christmas. Santa Claus comes from St. Nicholas. To celebrate this, people exchange gifts on Christmas day. Other traditions include stockings, yule logs, decorating Christmas trees, and eating a large dinner.
Lastly, Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26th – January 1st. People celebrate Kwanzaa by lighting candles, storytelling, songs and dances, and large meals. On each of the seven nights of Kwanzaa, family gathers to light candles of a Kinara (candleholder). Families also celebrate the 7 principles of Swahili, which are values of African culture. A feast called Karamu is also held on December 31st.
December, being the end of the year, celebrates many different beliefs from around the world. Diversity fills this month with warmth, meaning many different things to different groups. With the closing month of the year, we acknowledge our diverse beliefs and traditions.
Sources:
St. Nicholas Day | Description, History, & Traditions | Britannica
11 Holidays the World Celebrates in December | TIME
Kwanzaa – Meaning, Candles & Principles | HISTORY
The Fall Religious Holidays You Need to Know in November and December
Written by: Evelyn Johns
Edited by: Mathias Munoz Gonzalez, Harrison Davies
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