Calendar of Events

December 2024

In 2024, December has numerous holidays of religious and historical significance.

Winter Solstice (21 December), when the northern hemisphere’s daylight is at its shortest length, has evidence indicating it was considered a significant day as far back 10,000 years ago and across many different locations on earth. Today, while largely recognized simply as the first day of the winter season, different neopagan movements based on pre-Christian European paganism do incorporate the date into their list of observances.

Hanukkah (25 December – 2 January 2025) is a Jewish festival of lights in recognition of the victory of the Maccabees in recapturing the second temple in Jerusalem, which had been turned into an idol shrine by Greek occupiers. Having reclaimed the temple but low on resources, the temple menorah could only be lit for one night with the oil on hand. The oil lasted eight nights until more oil could be delivered to the temple. It is considered a miraculous event and is celebrated beginning on 25 Kislev annually on the Hebrew calendar.

Kwanzaa (26 December – 1 January) is cultural celebration lasting a week which recognizes the African diaspora. Created by activist Dr Maulana Karenga in response to race riots in the United States, the first Kwanzaa was celebrated in 1966 for African Americans before spreading into Canada and across the globe by the beginning of the 21^st century.

Zarosht No-Diso (26 December) is recognized in Zoroastrianism as the date of the death of the prophet Zoroaster. A day of ritual and prayer, followers reflect on the life of Zoroaster and their own.

Perhaps the most recognizable religious holiday on Earth is Christmas, celebrated in Western (Catholic and Protestant) Christianity on 25 December, joined by many more non-Christians who partake in secularized celebrations. Eastern Orthodox Christians also celebrate Christmas on 25 December, but with the ancient Julian calendar, which is 7 January 2025 on the Gregorian calendar. The historical differences of two dates for the same celebration is owed to both scientific and traditionalistic reasons. These differences continue to evolve to this day: in 2023 the Orthodox Church of Ukraine started celebrating the Western date after a split with the Russian Orthodox Church. 

December is also Universal Human Rights Month, with an array of days covering numerous human rights and social justice causes. They are: