December Holidays

Around the World

St. Nicholas DaySt. Nicholas Day

December

St. Nicholas Day FactsSt. Nicholas Day Facts

Originated in:Originated in: Catholic European countries

Associated with:Associated with: the patron St. Nicholas

Celebrated to:Celebrated to: award children with sweets and gifts

Traditions: Traditions: feast, poems, small gifts, candies, nuts, and fruit placed in shoes or stockings

Bodhi DayBodhi Day

December

Bodhi Day FactsBodhi Day Facts

Originated in:Originated in: East Asia

Associated with:Associated with: Buddha

Celebrates:Celebrates: anniversary of Buddha’s enlightenment

Traditions:Traditions: A meal of rice and milk; a cultural, personal observance

St. Lucia DaySt. Lucia Day

December

St. Lucia Day FactsSt. Lucia Day Facts

Originated in:Originated in: Sweden

Associated with:Associated with: patron St. Lucia

Celebrates:Celebrates: church feast holiday dedicated to St. Lucia

Traditions:Traditions: a girl portrays St. Lucia in a procession; eating gingersnap cookies; eating Lussekat buns; singing carols

Eid ul-AdhaEid ul-Adha

December

Eid ul-Adha FactsEid ul-Adha FactsOriginated in: Originated in: Middle East

Associated with: Associated with: Muslim religion

Celebrates: Celebrates: Abraham’s willingness to obey God by sacrificing his son

Traditions:Traditions: re-enactments of Abraham’s obedience by sacrificing a cow or ram, donating a large portion of the meal to the poor, exchange of presents and cards, praying

Tohji-taisaiTohji-taisai

December

Tohji-taisai FactsTohji-taisai Facts

Originated in: Originated in: Japan

Associated with: Associated with: Shinto religion

Celebrates: Celebrates: Sun Goddess Amaterasu

Traditions: Traditions: bonfires, eating pumpkin, honoring the dead

ChristmasChristmas

December

Christmas FactsChristmas Facts

Originated in: Originated in: Rome

Associated with: Associated with: Christianity

Celebrates: Celebrates: the birth of Jesus

Traditions: Traditions: giving gifts, church services, spending time with family, putting up Christmas tree

Boxing DayBoxing Day

December

Boxing Day FactsBoxing Day Facts

Originated in: Originated in: England

Associated with: Associated with: Queen Victoria

Celebrates: Celebrates: Charity

Traditions: Traditions: Donating time or money, giving gifts to poor children, helping a family in need, shopping

JunkanooJunkanoo

December

Junkanoo FactsJunkanoo Facts

Originated in: Originated in: the Bahamas

Associated with: Associated with: African culture

Celebrates: Celebrates: the Bahamian culture through a street festival of singing and dancing

Traditions: Traditions: intricate costumes, ringing cow bells, beating drums, group competitions

SourcesSources http://home.att.net/~dittydum/december10.htm http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=76 http://en.wikipedia.org/ http://www.netglimse.com/holidays/boxing_day/

boxing_day_facts.shtml http://www.interknowledge.com/grandbahama/

junkanoo.htm http://www.history.com/minisite.do?

content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=1253&display_order=1&sub_display_order=2&mini_id=1290