A Complete Guide to Global Holidays in December 2021

December Global Holidays 2021: Known worldwide as the "World of Holidays," December is the most vibrant and festive month of the year. December Global Holidays is a month of celebration of major festivals including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year, Winter Solstice, and many others. These winter holidays are filled with diverse traditions, ranging from solemn religious observances to joyous cultural and corporate festivities. Below, we explore the significance of these prominent global celebrations.

December Global Holidays List

It is fascinating to note that many modern Santa Claus traditions have their roots in St. Nicholas Day. To learn more about the meaningful festive days falling this month, browse our complete list of December global holidays.

1. Krampusnacht
2. St. Nicholas Day
3. Feast of the Immaculate Conception
4. Hanukkah
5. St. Lucia Day
6. Santa Lucia
7. Las Posadas
8. Winter Solstice
9. Festivus
10. Christmas
11. Kwanzaa
12. Omisaka
13. New Year's Eve

December Global Holidays Around World

People around the world are preparing for the 2021 holiday season. We have compiled a list of the most widely celebrated winter holidays, detailing their dates and historical significance.

December Global Holidays 2021
Date	December Global Holidays	Significance
5th December 2021	Krampusnacht	Celebrated on 5th December by the people of Austria
06th December 2021	St. Nicholas Day	St. Nicholas Day is celebrated in many European countries on 06th December in honour of St. Nicholas of Myra who gave all of his money to the needy.
8th December 2021	Feast of the Immaculate Conception	Patronal feast day falling on 08th December to celebrate vital mainstay of Catholic education in America, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Korea, Nicaragua, Paraguay, the Philippines, Spain and Uruguay
28th Nov to 06th December 2021	Hanukkah	To remember an ancient miracle, people light up a menorah (a special candle holder) for eight straight days.
13th December 2021	St. Lucia Day	On this day, Girls in Sweden dress up like “Lucia brides” wearing long white gowns with red sashes, and a wreath of burning candles on their heads to honor a third-century saint.
13th December 2021	Santa Lucia	To give tribute to Lucia of Syracuse, the people of Scandinavia and Italy celebrate this religious festival on 13th December.
16 to 24 December 2021	Las Posadas	People throughout Mexico and Guatemala celebrate this festival from 16th to 24th December to give tribute to the Norse God Odin
21st December 2021	Winter Solstice	Comes around 21st December and is the shortest day of winter. People light up bonfires and candles to lure back the sun.
23rd December 2021	Festivus	This parody holiday is observed in the United States on 23rd December and the significance of this day is to advocate against Christmas industrialism
25th December 2021	Christmas	Christmas celebrations last from Christmas Eve to 6th January and people celebrate it differently in every country. Some celebrate it with traditions and some for gifts.
26th Dec 2021 to 01st Jan 2022	Kwanzaa	Kwanzaa is a spiritual holiday that is celebrated from 26th December to 1st January. During these holidays, African Americans dress up in special clothes, decorate their houses with fruits and vegetables, and light a kinara (candle holder).
31st December 2021	Omisaka	Omisaka is the Japanese tradition of welcoming the New Year
31st December 2021	New Year's Eve	New Year’s Eve is celebrated filled with fun and excitement throughout the world to mark the end of the year and welcome the upcoming year with charmness & happiness.

December Global Holidays 2021

To explore each festivity in detail, read through the sections below to learn about the history, traditions, and global customs associated with these December holidays.

St. Nicholas Day- 05th December 2021

St. Nicholas was renowned for his dedication to serving the needy, the sick, and the suffering. Many European countries celebrate St. Nicholas Day starting on the eve of the 5th of December, by exchanging candies, chocolate letters, and small gifts. Children often leave their shoes out with hay and carrots, hoping for treats in return—a tradition particularly beloved in parts of Russia and Greece.

Hanukkah- 28th November to 06th December 2021

This festival is an eight-day celebration that starts from the evening of 28th November 2021 and ends on 6th December 2021. Known as the Festival of Lights or the Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah is a cherished Jewish tradition. Families commemorate the miracle of the oil by lighting the menorah, adding one additional candle each night while reciting traditional blessings.

St. Lucia Day- 13th December 2021

St. Lucia’s Day, also known as the festival of lights, is primarily celebrated in Sweden, Norway, and Finland. This day falls on 13th December in honour of St. Lucia, an early Christian martyr. The festival is marked by processions of young girls dressed in white, wearing wreaths with candles to symbolize light during the darkest part of the Nordic winter.

Winter Soliscate- 20th to 23rd December 2021

The December solstice marks the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest in the Southern Hemisphere. The December Solstice can occur on the 20th, 21st, 22nd, or 23rd of December, though the 20th and 23rd are rare. On this day, traditions often involve lighting bonfires to celebrate the return of the sun and embracing the peaceful, quiet atmosphere of the winter season.

Christmas- 25th December 2021

Christmas is a Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ on 25th December 2021. Families and friends mark the occasion with grand meals, gift-giving, and festive gatherings. Whether it is an intimate family dinner or a larger community celebration, Christmas remains a public holiday and a time of great excitement in Australia, Canada, the UK, the US, and many other nations.

Kwanzaa- 26th December 2021

Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration of African-American culture and heritage beginning on 26th December 2021 and concluding on 1st January. This spiritual holiday encourages families to wear traditional attire, decorate their homes with symbolic fruits and vegetables, and light the kinara to honor their roots and values.

New Year Eve- 31st December 2021

The December Global Holidays conclude with New Year's Eve on 31st December 2021. Celebrated worldwide with fireworks, parties, and resolutions, this day marks the end of the Gregorian calendar. From the iconic fireworks in London to local gatherings, people everywhere bid farewell to the past year and welcome the future with hope.

Omisaka- 31st December 2021

The Omisaka Festival is celebrated on 31st December 2021 in Japanese culture, marking the traditional end of the year. This Japanese New Year celebration involves deep cleaning one's home to purify it for the coming year, followed by a large, traditional feast shared among family and friends.