Many people grew up practicing the same religion as their families while others discovered new religions and practiced those. No matter the religion, December is an incredibly joyful month and a time of celebration for all. Many people think the holiday season just consists of Christmas and Hanukkah. These two holidays are the most celebrated in the US, however, there are many more.

December has many religious celebrations throughout the month. One of the first holidays of the month is Saint Nicholas Day which takes place on December sixth. This Holiday is celebrated by Christians honoring the birth of Saint Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus. Nicholas was given the role of a saint for his gift-giving.

The next is a Jewish holiday that is eight days long that starts on December seventh and ends on the fourteenth. Each night a candle on the menorah is lit. This holiday is called Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. This celebration remembers and honors the Maccabean revolt that had taken place in Egypt.

On December eighth, there are two different holidays. One is celebrated by Catholics, the other by Buddhists. The Christian holiday that takes place on this day is called Immaculate Conception. On this day they honor Jesus’ mother, Mary, who was preserved from original sin. The Buddhist holiday is called Rohatsu or Bodhi Day, a day that celebrates history. The history of Buddha’s decision of sitting under the Bodhi tree until reaching spiritual enlightenment. A common way Buddhists celebrate this day is by meditating.

The twelfth of December also has two holidays. On this day the Orthodox Catholics celebrate the beginning of the Advent Fast which is two weeks before Christmas. During this holiday, they light advent candles, hang wreaths and attend church ceremonies. The other holiday that is celebrated on December twelfth is called the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, also celebrated by Christians. This holiday is commonly celebrated throughout Mexico, but is also passed on through generations and is celebrated by Mexican Americans. This holiday honors the appearance of the Virgin Mary in Mexico City.
On the sixteenth of December Christians celebrate the journey Mary and Joseph took to Bethlehem to give birth to Jesus.

Wicca, or the Pagan religion, celebrates holidays during December as well. They celebrate a day called Solstice that takes place on December twenty-first, the day when the earth is the farthest away from the sun. On this day, Pagans will create a Yule which honors the winter-born king and symbolizes the rebirth of the sun.

On December twenty-fifth, Jesus was born. Many Christians will attend Church and parties. They’ll often even exchange presents.

The world’s oldest monotheistic religion, Zoroastrianism worships the Persian prophet Zarathushtra, or as the Greeks called him, Zoroaster. This religion originated in Iran around the 6th century BCE. The most common way Zoroastrians pray is by facing a source of light such as the sun or fire, representing Ahura Mazda’s divine light and energy. Zarathosht Diso, also known as the Death of Prophet Zarathustra, is celebrated on December twenty-sixth by Zoroastrians. While most holidays celebrate birth or rebirth and growth, Zarathosht Diso honors the death of their prophet, Zarathustra.

On December twenty-seventh, Catholics will celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, honoring Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

The next day, Christians will be honoring the deaths of children. These children were killed by a man that was trying to also kill Jesus, King Herod.

And finally, on the last day of December, many Christians will be praying to and thanking their God for the safety they have received throughout the year.