8 Dec
(Tue)
Bodhi Day
Mahayana Buddhist festival. Bodhi Day, observed on December 8, or the Sunday immediately preceding this date, commemorates the day, according to the Mahayana tradition, on which Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) was enlightened by the realization of the Four Noble Truths:
- All beings are subject to suffering.
- No one escapes... suffering is universal.
- The cause of suffering is Ignorance.
- And Ignorance of oneself is the greatest Ignorance.
12 –
19 Dec
(8 days)
Hanukkah
(Alternatively spelt Hanukah, Chanukah, and Chanukkah). Also known as the Festival of Lights or Festival of Rededication, this eight-day Jewish festival starts on the 25th day of Kislev, which may be in December, late November, or, very occasionally, early January. The festival is observed in Jewish homes by the lighting of candles — one each day — housed in a special menorah called a hanukkiah, consisting of nine candles, with the centre one being used to light the others. The festival celebrates the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem following the victory of the Maccabees over King Antiochus IV, specifically the Miracle of the Oil, when one day's consecrated olive oil, needed to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple, lasted for eight days. Traditionally, foods cooked in oil, such as doughnuts and latkes (potato cakes), are eaten and the game of dreidel is played by children.
18 Dec
(Fri)
Al-Hijra (New Year's Day)
New Year’s Day in Islam, commemorating the migration (known as the Hijra) of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in AD 622. This event led to the establishment of the Muslim community there. Muslims calculate all dates from this starting point in history and such dates are given the suffix AH, meaning After the Hijra. The day itself is celebrated in mosques by the reading of stories about the Prophet and his companions.
21 Dec
(Mon)
Yule (Pagan)
Yule was the winter solstice celebration of the Germanic pagans. In Germanic Neopaganism it is one of the eight solar holidays, or sabbats, where Yule is celebrated on the winter solstice: in the northern hemisphere December 21 and in the southern hemisphere June 21. "Yule" and "Yuletide" are also archaic terms for Christmas.
26 Dec
(Sat)
Zartusht-No-Diso (Fasli)
Festival commemorating the death (according to the Fasli calendar) of the prophet Zarathustra. On this day religious services are devoted to him and to the Fravashis (the spirits of the dead).
26 Dec –
1 Jan
(1 week)
Kwanzaa (African-American/Pan-African)
Week-long Pan-African secular holiday, primarily honoring African-American heritage. It is observed annually from December 26 to January 1, almost exclusively in the USA. Kwanzaa consists of seven days of celebration, featuring activities such as candle-lighting and pouring of libations, and culminating in a feast and gift-giving. It was founded by Ron Karenga, and first celebrated in 1966. Karenga calls Kwanzaa the African-American branch of "first fruits" celebrations of classical African cultures.
27 Dec
(Sun)
Ashura
This day commemorates several important events, each having its own importance to different sects of Islam. For Shi'a Muslims, it commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (AD 680), and is a day for mourning. Ashura is also commemorated by Muslims as the date on which Noah's ark came to rest, the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) was born and the Ka'ba was built in Mecca.
31 Dec
(Thu)
Omisoka
Omisoka, or New Year's Eve, is the second-most important day in the Japanese tradition because it is the final day of the old year and the eve of New Year's Day, the most important day of the year. The festival prepares for the new year by cleansing Shinto home shrines and Buddhist altars. The bells of Buddhist temples are struck 108 times to warn against the 108 evils to be overcome.
31 Dec
(Thu)
Hogmany
Hogmanay is the Scottish word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year in the Scottish manner. The most widespread custom associated with Hogmany is the tradition of first-footing, which starts immediately after midnight. This involves being the first person to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbour and often involves the giving of symbolic gifts such as salt (less common today), coal, shortbread, whisky, and black bun (a fruit pudding) intended to bring different kinds of luck to the householder. The first-foot is supposed to set the luck for the rest of the year, so it is important that a suitable person does the job.
