December observances

celebration honoring mothers

celebration honoring fathers

A solstice is the time when the Sun reaches its most northerly or southerly excursion relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere. Two solstices occur annually, around 20–22 June and 20–22 December. In many countries, the seasons of the year are defined by reference to the solstices and the equinoxes.

Advent is a season observed in most Christian denominations as a time of waiting and preparation for both the celebration of Jesus's birth at Christmas and Jesus's return at the Second Coming. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, often referred to as Advent Sunday. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity. The name comes from Latin ('coming; arrival'), translating the Greek from the New Testament, originally referring to the Second Coming.

one of many public observances in honor of children

evening or entire day before Christmas Day

New Year's Eve in the Gregorian calendar refers to the evening—or commonly the entire day—of the last day of the year: 31 December. In many countries, New Year's Eve is celebrated with dancing, eating, drinking, and watching or lighting fireworks. Many Christians attend a watchnight service to mark the occasion. New Year's Eve celebrations generally continue into New Year's Day, 1 January, past midnight.

international annual celebration of human rights

world day

designated date on which celebrations mark the nationhood of a nation

astronomical phenomenon that occurs in December in Northern Hemisphere and in June in Southern Hemisphere

world day

Saturnalia is an ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of the god Saturn, held on 17 December in the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities until 19 December. By the 1st century BC, the celebration had been extended until 23 December, for a total of seven days of festivities. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn, in the Roman Forum, and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was permitted, and masters provided table service for their slaves a

Yule (, ) is a winter festival and time of the year historically observed by heathen Germanic peoples that was later merged with the festival of Christmas during the process of Christianisation. The oldest accounts describe two Yule-months around the winter solstice in early, and sometimes explicitly heathen, Germanic calendars.

Solar deity of the later Roman Empire

narrative from the Gospel of Matthew

Jesus, Mary and Saint Joseph

astronomical phenomenon that occurs in June in Northern Hemisphere and in December in Southern Hemisphere

commemoration in Esperanto culture

Boxing Day, also known as Offering Day, is a holiday celebrated on 26 December, the day after Christmas Day. Boxing Day was once a day to donate gifts to those in need, but it has evolved to become a part of Christmas festivities. It originated in the United Kingdom and is celebrated in several Commonwealth nations. The attached bank holiday or public holiday may take place on 27 or 28 December if necessary to ensure it falls on a weekday. Boxing Day is usually concurrent with the Christian festival Saint Stephen's Day.

day of international observance since 1985, offers opportunity to bring focus to volunteers and volunteer organisations

Persian festival

annual event of the UN on 9.12.

Kwanzaa () is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. It was created by activist Maulana Karenga based on Karenga's research of African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West, East, and Southeast Africa. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966. A 2009 estimate placed the number of Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa between 500,000 and 2,000,000.

Christian feast day dedicated to Lucy of Syracuse and observed on 13 December

Roman deity of chastity, fertility, and healing; brought from Magna Græcia during the early/middle Republic; her rites let women use strong wine and do blood-sacrifice (things otherwise forbidden to women); men were barred from her mysteries

thumb|400px|A Hellenistic art|Hellenistic Greek [[mosaic depicting the god Dionysos as a winged daimon riding on a tiger, from the House of Dionysos at Delos (which was once controlled by Athens) in the South Aegean region of Greece, late 2nd century BC, Archaeological Museum of Delos]]

world day

traditional Christian feast day in Europe

Sinterklaas () or Sint-Nicolaas () is a legendary figure based on Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children. Other Dutch names for the figure include De Sint ("The Saint"), De Goede Sint ("The Good Saint") and De Goedheiligman (derived from goed hylickman meaning "good marriage man", alluding to his historical reputation as a Saint who can help you find a good life partner). Many descendants and cognates of "Sinterklaas" or "Saint Nicholas" in other languages are also used in the Low Countries, nearby regions, and former Dutch colonies.

holiday occurring on 26 December

7 December annual recognition day

Christmas period with related and unrelated holidays between the end of November until the first days of January

is celebrated every December 18

public holiday in Finland held on 6 December to celebrate the country's independence

International day

Hogmanay ( , ) is the Scots word for the last day of the old year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year in the Scottish manner. It is normally followed by further celebration on the morning of New Year's Day (1 January) and, in some cases, 2 January—a Scottish bank holiday. In a few contexts, the word Hogmanay is used more loosely to describe the entire period consisting of the last few days of the old year and the first few days of the new year. For instance, not all events held under the banner of Edinburgh's Hogmanay take place on 31st of December.

name for various local and national holidays

UNO international day

Wikimedia disambiguation page

November 29; day established by UN GA Resolution № 32/40 of 12/22/1977; goal is to achieve the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people; holding is accompanied by cultural events

period of abstinence and penance practiced by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches

holiday spanning December 25th to January 5th

among the Western Christian Churches, the third Sundday of the liturgical calendar

feast day in the Roman Catholic Church

Christian observance that commemorates the execution of the male children in Bethlehem as told in Matthew 2:16

Festivus () is a secular holiday celebrated on December 23 as an alternative to the perceived pressures and commercialism of the Christmas season. Originally created by author Daniel O'Keefe, Festivus entered popular culture after it was made the focus of the 1997 Seinfeld episode "The Strike", which O'Keefe's son, Dan O'Keefe, co-wrote.

or is a Japanese traditional celebration on the last day of the year. Traditionally, it was held on the final day of the 12th lunar month. With Japan's switch to using the Gregorian calendar at the beginning of the Meiji era, it is now used on New Year's Eve to celebrate the new year.

Christian feast on December 8 and public holiday in some countries

national day to appreciate physicians

holiday

thumb|Dongzhi Festival dumplings

public holiday in Bangladesh

An Agonalia or Agonia was an obscure archaic religious observance celebrated in ancient Rome several times a year, in honor of various divinities. Its institution, like that of other religious rites and ceremonies, was attributed to Numa Pompilius, the semi-legendary second king of Rome. Ancient calendars indicate that it was celebrated regularly on January 9, May 21, and December 11.

Hindu holy day

Engineers Day all over the world

Buddhist holiday

day dedicated to the youths of a country

The Compitalia (; ) was an annual festival in ancient Roman religion held in honor of the Lares Compitales, household deities of the crossroads, to whom sacrifices were offered at the places where two or more ways met.