December Diversity Holidays

NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 24

• Advent, a Christian season of celebration leading up to the birth of Christ.

DECEMBER 1

• World AIDS Day, commemorates those who have died of AIDS and acknowledges the need for continued commitment to all those affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

DECEMBER 3

• International Day of Persons with Disabilities, raises awareness in regard to persons with disabilities in order to improve their lives and provide them with equal opportunity.

DECEMBER 8

• Bodhi Day, a Buddhist holiday commemorating the day the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment; also known as Bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali.
• Immaculate Conception of Mary, celebrates the solemn celebration by various Christian denominations of belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

DECEMBER 10

• International Human Rights Day, established by the United Nations in 1948, commemorates the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

DECEMBER 12

• Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a religious holiday in Mexico commemorating the appearance of the Virgin Mary near Mexico City in 1531.

DECEMBER 13

• St. Lucia’s Day, a religious festival of light in Scandinavia and Italy commemorating the martyrdom of St. Lucia, a young Christian girl who was killed for her faith in 304 CE. She secretly took food to persecuted Christians in Rome while wearing a wreath of candles on her head so both her hands would be free.

DECEMBER 14 - DECEMBER 22

• Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday that is celebrated for eight days and nights. Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees, or Israelites, over the Greek-Syrian ruler, Antiochus, approximately 2,200 years ago.

DECEMBER 16 - 24

• Las Posadas, a nine-day celebration in Mexico commemorating the trials Mary and Joseph endured during their journey to Bethlehem.

DECEMBER 21

• Winter Solstice, marks the official beginning of winter.

DECEMBER 25

• Christmas Day, widely celebrated by Christians around the world, is observed with festive traditions and religious practices, and celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The name 'Christmas' comes from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus).

DECEMBER 26

• Boxing Day, a secular holiday celebrated in the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and South Africa.
• Zartosht No-Diso, a day of remembrance in the Zoroastrian religion. It commemorates the anniversary of the death of the prophet Zoroaster, or Zarathushtra.
• St. Stephen’s Day, commemorates St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, or protomartyr.

DECEMBER 26 - JANUARY 1

• Kwanzaa, an African-American holiday started by Maulana Karenga in 1966 to celebrate universal African-American heritage.

DECEMBER 28

• Feast of the Holy Innocents, a Christian feast in remembrance of the massacre of young children in Bethlehem by King Herod the Great in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus.

DECEMBER 31

• New Year's Eve, the last day of the year, celebrated with festivities throughout the world.
• Watch Night, a day for Christians to review the year that has passed, make confessions, and then prepare for the year ahead by praying and resolving.