December Global Holidays 2022 – The Festive Guide

December is the month of celebrations and festivities indeed!

The extensive list of holidays explains why December is called the ‘World of Holidays’. 

That being said, December is loaded with holidays. People from all religions, cultures, and traditions have something to celebrate or commemorate. A lot of people worldwide plan their vacations around this time of the year. They visit their loved ones. The reason is the obvious and much-anticipated December global holidays. 

An appealing real image of the happy December is the one where all the workplaces and schools are closed. And then, we do nothing but enjoy the luxury of festivities and spend our time with our family and friends. 

December global holidays bring forth the time when we meet our beloved people and exchange gifts. With December being the last month of the year, people around the globe make great efforts to have a joyous blast. Might I add, they look up to spending the coming year with equal zeal and peace? 

The long list of holidays in December makes it a vacation month. There are tens of holidays and cultural events/festivals to observe and celebrate. As a result, it can be hard to keep a tab on the list of December global holidays. 

But there’s nothing to be worried about because we’ve got your back. Here’s a detailed December festive guide by Lemony Blog. This guide enlists some of the most popular December global holidays and festivals. 

So, grab your snacks and a drink, and sit back tight because we might have something that might interest you. Or even better, we might help you find your next destination this vacation season. 

December Global Holidays

While we are at it, ask yourselves a question!

What is a Holiday?

To me and I bet everyone else, a holiday is a special day (or days) when people come together to commemorate or celebrate an important day. It could be a day of religious significance like Christmas, the Feast of Immaculate Conception, or a period from our mythical history such as Krampusnacht. Holidays could be a religious or cultural period. Hanukkah, Bodhi Day, and Christmas can be categorized as religious holidays. However, Ōmisoka, Carnival, and Chinese New Year are cultural holidays. 

The December global holidays are often based on traditions, religious values, and cultural practices. These holidays bridge the gap between the contemporary world and the historical cultural and religious practices from our past. The celebration of almost all the December holidays involves good food, music, and traditional practices. 

Now that we have an idea of what December global holidays are, let’s move ahead and take a look at the upcoming December Global Festivities to be celebrated in 2022.

December Global Festivities to Celebrate in 2022

Interested in knowing how people celebrate their December holidays and festivals?

Whether you are choosing your vacation destination this December or you are simply curious to know about the December global holidays, you are at the right place. This Lemony Blog piece is an elaborate December festive guide for 2022. Here, we have discussed all the major December global holidays. We have also discussed how people celebrate each of these holidays or festivals.

Before taking a detailed look at the top December global holidays in 2022, let’s go through the list of holidays in December 2022. 

• King Bhumibol’s Birthday
• Krampusnacht 
• St. Nicholas Day
• Bodhi Day
• Feast of Immaculate
• Feast of Our Lady Guadalupe
• Lucia Day
• Asarah B’Tevet
• Las Posadas
• Hanukkah
• Winter Solstice/Yule
• Festivus
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas
• St. Stephen’s Day
• Boxing Day
• Kwanzaa
• Ōmisoka
• New Year’s Eve

The upcoming section of the blog summarizes the December global holidays alongside their significance. So, keep reading.

Most Celebrated December Global Holidays Across the Globe

Date of Celebration	Name – December Global Holidays	Significance
King Bhumibol’s Birthday	December 5	King Bhumibol Adulyadej, prominently known as ‘King Bhumibol the Great was the ninth monarch of Thailand. On December 5, the people of Thailand celebrate his birthday. King Bhumibol ruled for about 70 years.
Krampusnacht	December 5	The celebration of Krampusnacht marks the arrival of Krampus. He is a mythical demonic creature known to punish naughty and disobedient children.
St. Nicholas Day	December 6	St. Nicholas day is yet another famous international December Holiday. It celebrates the life of St. Nicholas, better known as Santa Claus. ST. Nicholas of Myra is widely known for his generosity and kindness.
Bodhi Day	December 8	Bodhi Day is a Buddhist holiday. It is the commemoration of the day when Gautam Buddha reached enlightenment.
Feast of Immaculate Conception	December 8	The feast of Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary is a solemn catholic feast. The celebration feast is organized in the honor of mother Mary and the conception of Jesus by Mary without sin.
Feast of Lady Guadalupe	December 12	Every December 12, the Mexicans come together to celebrate the Feast of our lady Guadalupe. The festivities commemorate the appearance of the Virgin Mary before the Mexican peasant, Juan Diego. It is also celebrated to express religious and cultural identity.
Lucia Day	December 13	While St. Lucia’s day is not exactly one of the very famous December global holidays, this religious holiday is reminiscent of the patron saint of light, St. Lucia. St. Lucia’s Day marks the advent of the Christmas season.
Asarah B’Tevet	December 14	Asarah B’Tevet is observed as the day of mourning. It is the day of fasting and repentance. The fasting is observed to mourn the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylonia.
Las Posadas	December 16 – December 24	Las Posadas is a part of the December global holidays and Christmas celebrations. It is primarily celebrated in Mexico and Latin America. the 9-day-long Las Posadas commemorates the pitiful journey of Mary and Joseph to find shelter.
Hanukkah	December 18 – December 26	Hanukkah, the 8-day-long Jewish festival is one of the most-awaited December global holidays. It celebrates the rededication of the second temple in Jerusalem.
Winter Solstice/Yule	December 21	Winter Solstice, interchangeably known as Yule, celebrates the shortest day of the year. It is one of the chilliest days of the December global holidays.
Festivus	December 23	Festivus is more of a parody holiday than a festival. It is prominently celebrated by people who oppose Christmas and over-expensive commercialism.
Christmas Eve	December 24	Marked by family gatherings and special church services, Christmas eve is celebrated a day before Christmas. People exchange gifts on Christmas eve.
Christmas	December 25	Christmas is undoubtedly one of the most important December global holidays. The Catholic festival commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.
St. Stephen’s Day	December 26	St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. St. Stephen day is an international holiday dedicated to honoring St. Stephen. It is usually celebrated with special church services, parades, and cookouts.
Boxing Day	December 26	Boxing day was primarily celebrated in the United Kingdom during the middle-ages. The traditional celebration involves giving boxes of food and money to servants, domestic helpers, and the poor.
Kwanzaa	December 26 – January 1	Kwanza is prominently celebrated in Afro-American culture and heritage.
Ōmisoka	December 31	Ōmisoka is technically the Japanese New Year’s Eve. It is the last day of the year and is celebrated to welcome the coming of the new year.
New Year’s Eve	December 31	People from all over the world celebrate New Year’s Eve on the last day of the year, i.e., December 31. The purpose is to welcome the coming year.

December Global Holidays List 2022

December is all about vacations, good food, family, and happy times.

Loaded with festivities and joy, the last month of the year synonymizes optimism, hope, and lots of celebrations. Recent studies suggest that December is the most popular month for traveling and vacations. People from every corner of the world travel to further parts of the globe around December.

What Are You Waiting For?

Read all about the December festivities and find your next vacation destination. If not anything, go visit your family or plan your dream trip with your best friends.

Because December is all about enjoyment and being happy.

1. King Bhumibol’s Birthday

King Bhumibol Adulyadej is one of the most loved monarchs of all time. He was the ninth monarch of Thailand. King Bhumibol is popularly known as ‘King Bhumibol the Great’. He is the third-longest verified reigning monarch.

King Bhumibol reigned in Thailand for more than 70 years. Despite being dead since 2016, he is still very popular in Thailand. People still love and adore him just as much.

In honor of their former king, many Thais wear yellow dresses on December 5, his birthday. Several parades are organized on his birthday to show respect for him.

Date of Celebration – December 5

Place of Celebration – Thailand

2. Krampusnacht

Krampus is a mythical demonic creature from German folktales. He is known to punish naughty and disobedient children. Krampusnacht is celebrated to mark the coming of Krampus in Germany. While the absolute origin of Krampusnacht is not known, here’s a common belief

People believe the story of Krampusnacht must have come up as a resort to scare and discipline children into behaving properly during the Christmas season.

This festival is primarily celebrated in Germany and several parts of Europe. The celebration involves groups of young men dressing and scary creatures. They go door-to-door and scare children. On this holiday, people do parades and parties.

Date of Celebration – December 5

Place of Celebration – Germany, Europe, Austria, and other Alpine countries

3. St. Nicholas Day

St. Nicholas may be a new name but I bet you know Santa Claus.

Well, Santa Claus was the Saint Nicholas of Myra. He was a Christian Bishop of Greek Descent. Santa’s generosity and kind behavior paved the way for the legends that narrate the stories of how he helped the poor and needy. 

Best known for his generosity and kindness, Saint Nicholas Day celebrates the life of Santa Claus. December 6 is Saint Nicholas’ death anniversary. On this day, people exchange gifts and donate food to the poor in honor of the saint. Children leave their socks/stockings out. They believe Saint Nicholas will fill them with presents. 

Date of Celebration – December 6

Place of Celebration – Russia, Greece, and parts of Europe and the USA 

4. Bodhi Day

Bodhi Day is a Buddhist holiday. 

It commemorates the day when Siddhartha Gautam, popularly known as Gautam Buddha or Buddha attained enlightenment. According to the Theravada calendar, Bodhi day is observed on the full moon of the 12^th month. 

Bodhi day is celebrated on December 8 in most countries. However, in several regions, Bodhi Day is celebrated on other dates. 

The term ‘Bodhi’ is a Sanskrit word that means awakening or enlightenment. Buddha was the founder of Buddhism. One of the famous legends about Bodhi Day narrates that Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree and vowed to meditate/contemplate until he reached Nirvana.

Bodhi day is celebrated with several religious ceremonies including pilgrimage, meditation, and helping the poor. 

Date of Celebration – December 8

Place of Celebration – East Asian Countries 

5. Feast of Immaculate

The Feast of Immaculate, also known as the Feast of Immaculate Conception is a Catholic feast day. It celebrates the conception of Jesus Christ by the Virgin Mary or Mother Mary. 

The Immaculate Conception is based on the religious belief that Mary was conceived by her mother without sin. As a result, she was born without any sin. Virgin Mary was pure throughout his life. 

Catholics celebrate the feast of the Immaculate by attending mass, praying, and thanking Mother Mary. They exchange gifts, enjoy special meals, and spend time with their families. 

Date of Celebration – December 8

Place of Celebration – Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Korea, Nicaragua, Paraguay, the Philippines, Spain, the United States, and Uruguay

6. Feast of Our Lady Guadalupe

The feast of our Lady Guadalupe is prominently celebrated by the Mexican Catholic Communities. On this day, the Mexicans come together to celebrate the feast of Lady Guadalupe. People make altars via the painting of Lady Guadalupe surrounded by flowers and candles. They erect altars in their homes during the celebration.

The feast of our lady Guadalupe marks the appearance of the Virgin Mary before the Mexican peasant, Juan Diego. This Mexican festival is celebrated to express religious and cultural identity.

Date of Celebration – December 12

Place of Celebration – Mexico

7. Lucia Day

Saint Lucia was one of the early Christian martyrs. She was said to be the figure of light in the hours of darkness. People celebrate Lucia Day by performing processions. The singers dress in white clothes and hold candles during the choir. Every year, the followers of Saint Lucia honor her by celebrating Lucia Day. 

On this day, the oldest daughter of the family dresses in a white gown with a red sash. She wears a wreath of burning candles on her head to honor Saint Lucia. In several countries, Lucia Day marks the start of the Christmas season.  

Date of Celebration – December 13

Place of Celebration – Scandinavia, Italy, Sweden, Norway, and the Swedish-speaking parts of Finland.

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8. Asarah B’Tevet

Asarah B’Tevet is the day of mourning and not celebration. 

On this day, people mourn the death of those whose place of death is not known. The members of the Jewish communities observe fasting to repent and mourn the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylonia. They fast from daybreak to nightfall. 

Date of Celebration – December 14

Place of Observation – Israel

9. Las Posadas

Las Posadas is one of the most anticipated December global holidays. It is celebrated in Mexico, Latin America, and several parts of the United States of America. With time, people from other states have started to celebrate Las Posadas as well.

Las Posadas commemorates the perilous journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. The term ‘Las Posadas’ refers to the places where they might have stayed/or stopped during their journey. It is celebrated with processions, music, and special foods. 

Las Posadas is indeed a great way to kick-start Christmas celebrations. 

Date of Celebration – December 16 – December 24

Place of Celebration – Mexico, Latin America, and parts of the United States of America

10. Hanukkah

Hanukkah is also known as Chanukah or Chanukkah. It is a Jewish festival.

This December global holiday commemorates the story of Maccabees. The Maccabees were a group of Jewish fighters who defeated the Syrian Greeks to regain control of a Temple in Jerusalem. 

To celebrate Hanukkah, the Jewish Communities light candles throughout the 8-days. It is done to remember the miracle of the oil lamp that lasted for eight days during the battle while it should have lasted for only one. During Hanukkah, people eat special foods like Latkes and Sufganiyot.  

Date of Celebration – December 18 – December 26

Place of Celebration – Afghanistan, Algeria, Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, England, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Morocco, Russia, USA, and more

11. Winter Solstice/Yule

Winter Solstice, also known as Yule, is an international December holiday. In most countries, Yule is celebrated on December 21. It is one of the chilliest December global holidays. Winter Solstice or Yule marks the shortest day and longest night of the year.

Following the Winter Solstice, the days start to get longer while the nights become shorter. Ancient people celebrated Yule by lighting a wooden log. Presently, Winter Solstice is celebrated by caroling, lighting candles, and exchanging gifts. 

Date of Celebration – December 21

Place of Celebration – Worldwide

12. Festivus

The parody Holiday Festivus was first created by Seinfeld writer Dan O’Keefe. This holiday is celebrated by people who are against Christmas consumerism and its non-religious aspects. Festivus is usually celebrated via a Festivus Dinner.

During the feast, the participants tell stories about their lives. Other traditional practices during Festivus include ‘Festivus Pole’ and ‘Airing of Grievances. Festivus is prominently celebrated in the United States of America. The objective of Festivus is to put a holt on the expensive Christmas shopping.

Date of Celebration – December 23

Place of Celebration – Pittsburgh, the United States of America, and other parts of the World.

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13. Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is yet another one of the most important December global holidays. It is a very auspicious and special day for the people following Christianity. Christmas eve is celebrated one day before Christmas. It often involves family gatherings and special church services. While some families eat dinner together, others exchange gifts too. 

In countries including Germany, Austria, Poland, and America, people attend church, sing carols, and spend time with their families on this day.

Date of Celebration – December 24

Place of Celebration – Worldwide

14. Christmas

The significance of Christmas hardly needs explanation. 

Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ. Christians and Non-Christians from all over the world celebrate Christmas with great zeal and festivity. It is one of the most important holidays of the year, not just December.

Many legends narrate the story of Santa Claus visiting door-to-door to give gifts to children. Traditional Christmas celebrations involve attending church services, singing carols, spending time with family and friends, exchanging gifts, and helping needy people. 

Date of Celebration – December 25

Place of Celebration – Worldwide

15. St. Stephen’s Day

As you read above, Saint Stephen was the first Christian Martyr. This day is celebrated in honor of Saint Stephen. People visit the churches to attend special services, organize parades and plan cookouts. In several countries, this day is celebrated as the start of Christmas. 

Following the true meaning of Christmas and other Catholic festivals, people exchange gifts, eat special foods, and spend time with their families on this day. This day emphasizes the joy of giving.

Date of Celebration – December 26

Place of Celebration – Ireland

16. Boxing Day

Boxing Day is yet another public holiday that occurs in December. Boxing Day was originally celebrated in the middle ages of the UK. Later, people from other countries started to celebrate Boxing Day as well. 

This day is celebrated by giving gifts. Many people around the world return and exchange presents from Christmas on Boxing Day. Families come together to share interesting stories and share memories on this day. It is a day of giving and spending time with your loved ones. 

Date of Celebration – December 26

Place of Celebration – Worldwide

17. Kwanzaa

Kwanza is a December holiday that celebrates the Afro-American culture and its rich heritage. It was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966. 

People celebrate Kwanzaa by celebrating African traditions and culture. They exchange gifts and eat special food. They participate in traditional African-American activities as well. Kwanza is the period of coming together and celebrating Afro-American history and culture. 

Date of Celebration – December 26 – January 1

Place of Celebration – Worldwide 

18. Ōmisoka

Ōmisoka marks the last day of the year according to the Japanese Calendar. Ōmisoka is celebrated to welcome the coming of the new year. On this day, the people eat traditional Japanese food and participate in traditional ceremonies. 

This is the day when people think about the passing year and hope to start the new year with happiness and optimism. They eat the traditional long noodles of Japan, Toshi Koshi-Soba or Toshi Koshi-Udon. 

People also visit temples and pray to God. 

Date of Celebration – December 31

Place of Celebration – Japan 

19. New Year’s Eve

People from all over the world celebrate the coming of the new year on New Year’s Eve. While most countries have their unique traditions to welcome the coming year, most of them involve fireworks, praying, parties and countdowns.

December 31^st is also known as Old Year’s Day or Saint Sylvester’s Day. 

Date of Celebration – December 31

Place of Celebration – Worldwide

Takeaway

December!

Celebrations are in the air. As a result, people are friendlier and more zealous. Around this time of the year, the atmosphere is optimistic and joyous. So, grab your passports and get going. Go out and enjoy all the December global holidays. Live them up and enjoy yourselves and be happy. 

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Frequently Asked Questions | December Global Holidays 2022

1. Which Month Is Known As The ‘World Of Holidays’?

December, the last month of the year, is the month of celebration and festivities! 

There are tens of religious and non-religious celebrations due on the calendar in December. That being said, over 6-Billion people look up to celebrating religious festivals and December Global Holidays worldwide. 

As a result, December is popularly known as the ‘World of Holidays’. Most popular global holidays including Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza fall in December.

2. What are December Global Holidays?

According to December Global Holidays 2022, about 14 International holidays are falling in December. 

These holidays include –

• Christmas Eve
• Christmas
• Winter Solstice
• Hanukkah
• Kwanzaa
• New Year’s Eve and more

3. What are the main December Holidays?

The main cultural December global holidays in 2022 are –

• Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah
• Kwanzaa
• Feast of Immaculate
• Yule
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas 
• And New Year’s Eve 

4. Is December 25 a Global Holiday?

December 25 is often interchangeably used to denote Christmas!

And Christmas, best known for the birthday of Jesus Christ, falls on December 25 every year. It is the biggest festival for people following Christianity. According to the Christian calendar, it is a day of major celebration. As a result, December 25 is one of the world’s most popular December global holidays. 

5. How Many Holidays Occur in December?

According to December Global Holidays 2022 and Google, there are 14 international holidays in December 2022. 

While the majority of these holidays are due to some cultural or religious festivals across the globe, several of them are for social education and awareness causes. For instance, World AIDS Day and International Human Solidarity Day. The religious and cultural festivals and December global holidays include – Kwanza, Feast of Immaculate Conception, Hanukkah, Christmas Eve, and Christmas.

6. What is Festivus?

Festivus is not an actual global festival. It is rather a secular holiday celebrated worldwide as an alternative to Christmas consumerism and commercialism. 

Festivus is celebrated on December 23 every year in the United States of America. The objective behind the Festivus celebration is to end the big-budget shopping done during the Christmas season. 

7. Why is the Feast of Immaculate Conception Celebrated?

The feast of the immaculate conception is a traditional catholic feast. It celebrates Mother Mary’s conception without sin. 

While the feast of the Immaculate is celebrated on December 8, the day Virgin Mary conceived Lord Jesus Christ, the feast also signifies the conception of Mary in her mother’s womb.   

8. Are December Global Holidays Paid Holidays?

The majority of the December global holidays fall under the universal holidays category. Holidays including Christmas, Winter Solstice, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Eve are international Holidays.

As a result, they are usually paid holidays. However, the rules of paid leaves might vary from one country to another.