December 15, 2025 by Olivia Howe(‘26)
The month of December introduces a long season of holidays that people around the world partake in. Celebrations around this time usually reflect themes of hope, light, family, and kindness during the cold winter months. While December is usually synonymous with Christmas for many, there are so many other wonderful holidays that we will explore here:
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that begins on the 25th day of the Kislev month (from the Jewish calendar). Also known as the Jewish Festival of Lights, it is an eight-night celebration that reflects on two miraculous events that happened in the second century BCE: King Maccabee’s victory over the Greek-Syrian army and their devoted commemoration of the light of a menorah that lasted for eight days. Today, festivities include the lighting of a menorah, prayer, games (like the dreidel for children), and small gift exchanges. To celebrate the miracle of the oil, fried foods like latkes, sufganiyot, or kugel are eaten.
Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday (December 26th to January 1st) that honors African American culture and heritage. Built upon the tradition from harvest festivals in Southern Africa, this holiday is celebrated among diasporic African communities that gather together in jubilation to light candles, exchange gifts, make music, and recall storytelling traditions. Each day during the week of revelry represents a different principle, and though Kwanzaa is more of a cultural holiday in contrast to a religious one, they symbolize basic values like self-determination, unity, responsibility, and creativity. Families usually gather around the end of Kwanzaa with a big feast known as the Karamu Ya Imani.
Diwali is a large festival of lights celebrated by Hindus that commemorates goodness overcoming evil and freedom or understanding. It is celebrated over five days that align with the Lunar calendar during the fall or winter season, but is remembered alongside other winter holidays due to its similar themes of overcoming adversity or darkness. The traditions of Diwali include lighting lamps or candles, eating sweets (like mithai or savory namkeens), and spending lots of time with family members.
Las Posadas is a celebration that many Latin American countries honor. It is a nine-day-long holiday that enacts the search for shelter of Joseph and Mary before the birth of Jesus and includes a long parade of paper lights, community songs and prayer. Communities will celebrate together before joining together to eat traditional Mexican foods like tamales,churros, or pozole. The December celebration usually ends with songs and the breaking of a piñata.
Christmas is a holiday celebrated on December 25th (for most countries) that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and is recognized by Christians around the world. Leading up to the holiday, families usually decorate their homes with a Christmas tree, bright lights, wreaths, and candles. Most attend a church service on the eve of Christmas and/or Christmas Day and join together with family or friends to feast or celebrate. The holiday includes the tradition of Santa Claus, who brings presents to all from the North Pole (he typically arrives by sleigh and reindeer, but in other countries, he arrives differently; in Australia, he arrives by boat, and in Ghana, he appears out of the jungle).
Adding to these well-known celebrations, many others occur around the same time, including St. Lucy’s Day (observes light in Scandinavian countries), Boxing Day (celebrated in the UK for rest and reciprocation), Three Kings Day (important in Hispanic culture to acknowledge the Magi), and New Year’s celebrations (to commend the start of a new year with gatherings and good fortune). Whatever you celebrate, this time of winter celebration highlights the bright spirit and diversity of celebration and good tidings for all!
Work Cited: Winter Celebrations from Around the World – BC Association of Community Response Networks 11 Holidays the World Celebrates in December | TIME Winter Celebrations & Winter Holidays Around The World