As 2024 comes to an end, the month of December is full of rich cultural celebrations. This month, people of all walks of life come together to celebrate traditions, honor their heritage and pay homage to their religious beliefs.
The month begins with a Christian holiday known as St. Nicholas Day and is celebrated on December sixth. Christians commemorate the life and legacy of the bishop while two days later, Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day. Bodhi Day marks the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama under the Bodhi Tree.
Catholic Christians partake in multiple holidays this month, including the Immaculate Conception of Mary on December eighth. This celebration honors the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days in a temple located in Jerusalem.
While Christians observe Yule on December 21, Wiccans and Neo-Pagans celebrate the Winter Solstice, which marks the longest night of the year and the beginning of the sun’s journey back towards the equator.
Christmas, one of the most widely celebrated holidays, is on December 25 and is celebrated by Christians. The holiday is meant to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ while Orthodox Christians mark the Feast of the Nativity.
As the month comes to a close, December 26 is meant to commemorate the death of Prophet Zarathustra in the Zoroastrian faith as well as St. Stephen’s Day, which involves Christians.
Hanukkah, another widely celebrated holiday, also comes to a close after a long 8 nights and days.
During the final days of December, there are many religious celebrations taking place like Holy Innocents, Holy Family and Watch Night which falls on the last day of the year.
As our community comes together to celebrate these rich cultures and religions, we are reminded of the importance of family, faith and kindness towards each other.
