6 Ways to Manage Holiday Stress and Celebrate with Family & Friends (keywords: holiday stress, december month of celebration, december celebrations)
A Guide to December Traditions Around the World
Every month, there are hundreds of national and international celebrations dedicated to raising awareness and support for meaningful causes.
For those working to bring attention to important topics, it can be challenging to keep track of the next relevant awareness event. We’re here to help.
At Good Good Good, we aim to help people feel more hopeful and do more good. For years we’ve privately curated a comprehensive list of important cause-themed holidays that we’ve used for creating content on our good news Instagram, our Goodnewsletter, our Goodnewspaper, and on this very website.
We’ve organized this list of observances and events by month — and are making them public for the first time. Our hope is that this list of December awareness days and months will help you or your organization bring attention to important issues.
We should note that December is among the most sparse months for awareness days and months — likely because traditional winter holidays tend to overshadow any awareness holidays.
There are several awareness months celebrated in December — though the five that often get the most attention include HIV/AIDS Awareness Month, Universal Human Rights Month, Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness Month, and Dressember.
International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers - December 17
International Migrants Day - December 18
International Day of Epidemic Preparedness - December 27
Visit the Zoo Day - December 27
Trans Youth Day - December 28
New Year’s Eve - December 31
December 26-January 01: Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday celebrating black heritage. It was founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga (born Ronald McKinley Everett) with the hope to educate his people about African-American struggles and their rich cultural heritage.
The holiday lasts for seven days beginning on December 26th. It binds the African harvest customs and the social history of African-Americans. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the East African Swahili phrase “Mantunde ya kwanza” which translates as “the first fruits”. The second “a” was added to give the name seven letters which corresponds to the seven symbols, the seven principles, and the seven days of Kwanzaa.
Families and friends gather at meal time. The unity cup is passed from person to person with each one saying something positive about the African-American community. Next, the candles of the kinara are lit and the principles are recited. Everyone talks and dances as the family joins together to rejoice in their heritage.
Kwanzm Yenu Iwe Na Heri!
“May your Kwanzaa be happy!”
The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa
Each day of Kwanzaa concentrates on one of these principles.
umoha (oo-MO-jah): unity “a commitment to the practice of togetherness both within the family and in our communities”
kujichagulia (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah): self determination “the interest of developing and patterning our lives and images after ourselves instead of having it done for us”
ujima (oo-JEE-mah): collective work and responsibility “working together on matters of common interest”
ujamma (oo-JAH-mah): cooperative economics “the habit of sharing our wealth and resources”
nia (NEE-ah): purpose “building and developing our national community”
kuumba (koo-OOM-bah): creativity “to inspire ourselves to keep developing new ways of expressing our music and art as well as being creative in our work and industrial pursuits”
imani (ee-MAH-nee): faith “believing in ourselves as a people”
The Seven Symbols of Kwanzaa
Each day of Kwanzaa concentrates on one of these principles.
mkeka (mm-KEH-ah) a woven mat, symbolic of black history, typically the other symbols are place upon the mkeka
mazao (mah-ZAH-oh) fruits and vegetables symbolic of the harvest
kinara (kee-NAH-rah) a candleholder, symbolic of the history and people who died in Africa many years ago
mishumaa saba (mee-SHOO-mah SAH-bah) the seven candles, representing the seven principles of Kwanzaa
Three red candles are place on the left of the kinara representing the struggle;
the middle candle is black, representing the people (all people);
and three green candles on the right represent the future.
muhindi (moo-HIN-dee) ears of corn, representing children, one ear of corn for each child in the family
kikombe cha umoja (kee-KOH-beh chah oo-MOH-jah) the unity cup, symbolic of staying together
zawadi (zah-WAH-dee) gifts, given to children as rewards for promises kept during the year, these are not mandatory and are only given if deserved
December 26: Boxing Day
Boxing Day is on December 26. It originated in the United Kingdom back in the Middle Ages. Servants were required to work on Christmas. They were responsible for making the holiday run smoothly for wealthy landowners. The day after Christmas, they had the day off so they could visit their families. Employers gave each servant a box containing gifts and bonuses.
There was also tradition in the Middle Ages of the churches opened their alms boxes (boxes where people place monetary donations) and distributing the contents to poor.
Today, few people have servants but the custom of giving gifts or money to those who provide service continues. It’s also popular to visit grandparents and shop (when the Christmas discounts begin). Many people get the day off from work.
Boxing Day is celebrated in places where the English have settled like Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. It’s also celebrated in Scotland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Nigeria, and South Africa.
Some places observe Boxing Day on December 26th and some celebrate it on the first weekday following Christmas, so, if Christmas falls on Friday or Saturday, Boxing Day is on the following Monday.
December 27: National Fruitcake Day
December 27 is National Fruitcake Day. Fruitcake (or fruit cake) is cake made with chopped candied fruit and/or dried fruit, nuts, and spices, and often soaked in spirits. Fruitcakes are served at weddings (as Groomscake) and Christmas.
They’ve been around a long time. In fact, the earliest recipe is from ancient Rome. It includes pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins. In the Middle Ages, honey, spices, and preserved fruits were added. In the 16th century, sugar and the discovery that high concentrations of sugar could preserve fruits made fruitcake more affordable and popular.
Fruit cakes may be found worldwide with each country having it’s own unique take. For example in the Bahamas, fruitcake is soaked in dark rum for weeks to months before consuming.
Fruitcake has many names:
Canada: Christmas cake
Germany: stollen
Ireland: barmbrack
Italy: panforte
Portugal: bolo rei
Romania: cozonac
Spain: bollo de higo
Switzerland: birnenbrot
Trinidad and Tobago: black cake
Poor ol’ fruitcake has a bad rap in the US. Some say it started with jokes told by Johnny Carson, host of The Tonight Show, even though fruitcake had been maligned on television shows previously. Many younger folks have never even tried fruitcake and simply toss it when they receive it. This year give it a try. Remember there’s a huge variety of ingredients so search for one that suits you.
December 28: Eat Vegetarian Day
stuffed peppers
December 28 is Eat Vegetarian Day. Eat Vegetarian Day is an odd title, but I interpret it as “eat like a vegetarian” day. A vegetarian diet is one that abstains from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood and the flesh of any other animal), and may also—but not necessarily—include animal by-products.
There are many types of vegetarians:
Ovo-vegetarianism includes eggs but not dairy products
Lacto-vegetarianism includes dairy products but not eggs
Ovo-lacto vegetarianism (or lacto-ovo vegetarianism) includes dairy products, eggs, and honey
Jain vegetarianism includes dairy but excludes eggs and honey, as well as root vegetablesVeganism excludes all animal-related products including honey
Raw veganism includes only fresh and uncooked fruit, nuts, seeds, and vegetables (or partially cooked vegetables)
Fruitarianism permits only fruit, nuts, seeds, and other plant matter that can be gathered without harming the plant
Sattvic diet (also known as yogic diet), a plant based diet which may also include dairy (not eggs) and honey, but excludes anything from the onion or leek family, red lentils, durian fruit, mushrooms, blue cheeses, fermented foods or sauces, alcoholic drinks and often also excludes coffee, black or green tea, chocolate, nutmeg or any other type of stimulant such as excess sharp spices
Macrobiotic diets consist mostly of whole grains and beans.
Stuffed Peppers fit the bill! And they’re a great winter dish.
Stuffed Peppers
serves 4
1 cup brown rice
4 orange or yellow bell peppers, halved and seeded
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup diced onions
1 clove garlic
2 tomatoes, diced
1 to 1-1/2 cup broccoli florets
1 cup red beans, rinsed and drained
1-1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 to 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil
Preheat oven to 400F and lightly grease a baking sheet. Cook rice according to package directions. Set aside. Place peppers cut-side down on the baking sheet. Roast 25 to 30 minutes or until tender and skin starts to brown. Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and saute 2-3 minutes. Stir in garlic, then add tomato, broccoli, beans, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cooked rice until heated through. Remove from heat. Mix in feta cheese and basil, then spoon the mixture into the pepper halves. Return to the oven, stuffed side up, and bake 5 minutes.
December 29: National Get on the Scales Day
National Get on the Scales Day seems cruel to have right after all the food holidays and parties of the season. However, stepping on the scales is a good way to stop the cycle of huge meals with all the sides and desserts. It’s a great reminder of moderation. I suspect it’s on the 29th so, as we make resolutions to eat better and shed a pound, we have something to motivate us.
It’s been estimated the “average American” gains five pounds (2.27 kg) or more over the holidays (Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day). But according to The New England Journal of Medicine the average holiday weight gain is just under a pound (.37 kilograms). And Brigitte Zeitlin, MPH, RD, owner of BZ Nutrition in New York City noticed that over the holidays people eat more out, drink more alcohol, and sleep less, which typically contributes to weight gain, more water weight than fat gain. So, fear not my friends, it’s not undoable, though it may be tough—we all know once we start eating sugar, we just want more.
December 30: Bacon Day
December 30 is Bacon Day. Created in 1997 by two Jewish gals, Danya “D” Goodman and Meff “Human Cannonball” Leonard, as a means to bring the world together, give a nod the The Simpsons (an animated comedy television program), and break “sacred cultural laws that have been upheld” for thousands of years.
To celebrate, one must eat bacon, give bacon as gifts (give bacon roses), watch movies starring anything in anyway related to bacon (including Kevin Bacon), and dressing up as pork products.
December 31, January 13: Silvesterchlausen
Silvesterchlausen is celebrated in Appenzell, Switzerland. It actually takes place twice, once on New Years Eve (December 31) and on the Old New Year–January 13. It’s believe to date back to the 15th century. It’s part of Saint Sylvester’s Day and New Year’s Mummer tradition.
In the early hours of the morning, men gather at the town square for quite meditation. Then they dress in elaborate costumes and walk from house to house singing a special, slow yodel called Zäuerli. They wish people a happy and prosperous New Year, shake hands and ring bells.
There are three different costumes or Silvesterchläuse.
The Schöne (Beautiful): costumes resembles traditional dress, ornate embroidered headgear with scenes of peasant life, domestic customs and crafts, special buildings, sports, or family life
The Schö-Wüeschte (Pretty-Ugly): costumes made of fir twigs, ivy, moss and other natural materials, and a headgear similar in shape to those of the Beautiful, but decorated with natural materials
The Wüeschte (Ugly): costumes made from the same materials as the Schö-Wüeschte, but coarser and more massive in appearance, they wear a hat or a helmet that has a wild appearance
They all wear face masks. The also have very large, and heavy, bells on the chest and back. Each group consists of six men: two wearing women’s clothes. The leading Klaus has a white flower in his mouth, his follower, a blue one.
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Blog Topic:
6 Ways to Manage Holiday Stress and Celebrate with Family & Friends (keywords: holiday stress, december month of celebration, december celebrations)
A Guide to December Traditions Around the World
keywords: christmas traditions around the world, new year traditions around the world, maya culture traditions
