December is indeed a busy month with people worldwide observing many seasonal days of celebration. Most are religious holy days, with many of the most important days of the world's main religions occurring during this month. Many people value the variety of December celebrations, respecting both their own religious traditions and those of other faiths.
In case you're not aware of many of the celebrations occurring this December here's a rundown:
December 1st Jainism celebrated Maunajiyaras, a day of fasting, silence, and meditation. Advent, the liturgical period preceding Christmas, began on December 3rd. St. Nicholas Day, (Orthodox Christian) is December 6th. Bodhi Day, December 8th, is when Buddhists celebrate the enlightenment of the Buddha in 596 B.C.E. Dec 8th is also the Catholic Feast of the Immaculate Conception. December 12th is the Catholic Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The eight-day celebration of Hanukkah, commemorating the victory in 165 B.C.E. of the Maccabees over Antiochus Epiphanes, and the rededication of the Temple at Jerusalem begins on Saturday December 16th this year. December 16-24 is Posadas Navidenas, a traditional Mexican Christian festival which re-enacts Joseph's search for room at the inn. December 21st is Yule/Winter Solstice, and also St. Thomas the Apostle Day. December 24th is Christmas Eve. December 25th is, of course, Christmas.
Kwanzaa, a Swahili word for the first fruits of the harvest, is a cultural holiday celebrating African-American heritage, which begins on December 26th. The date also marks the death of the Prophet Zarathushtra (Zoroastrian) and the Zoroastrian festival of Ghambar Maidyarem, a five-day event celebrating the creation of animals and a time of sharing food with those less fortunate. Boxing Day, also known as the Feast of St. Stephen (after the first Christian martyr), originated in England and is related to an old custom where servants and tradesmen received Christmas gifts from their employers on the first weekday after Christmas, the day after the family celebrations. These were generally called their "Christmas boxes." Also on this day it is believed that priests broke open the collection boxes and distributed the money to the poor. Holy Innocents is December 28th, a Christian day of solemn memory of male children killed by King Herod in the attempt to destroy Jesus. Also on this day is Holy Family Day, a Catholic celebration of the love between Jesus, Joseph, and Mary.
And of course there New Year's Eve, a generally secular celebration.
Regardless of which Holidays you choose to celebrate and what faith traditions you honor, I affirm for you and your loved ones a peaceful, joyous, healthy and prosperous Holiday Season and New Year.
