Reasons to Celebrate: December is…

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Of all the months, December is perhaps most packed to the rafters with celebrations, holidays, and memorial observances. There’s something for us all — merry, bright, and everything in between!

Hanukkah

This year, Hanukkah began on November 28 and runs through December 6. Hanukkah is the Jewish eight-day “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting and plenty of food. Learn more about Hanukkah here.

Winter Solstice

The longest night of the year is on Tuesday, December 21. The winter solstice — or hibernal solstice — has long been associated with festivals and gatherings celebrating death and rebirth during the darkest time of the year. Until fairly recently (historically speaking), this time of year was celebrated with spooky stories and characters (akin to the ghosts in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” published in 1843).

The day also marks the official start of winter. If you’re really not into winter, and the idea of starting another one depresses you, take heart: From here on out, the days begin to grow longer, culminating in the official beginning of spring on March 20, 2022 (at 11:33 a.m. EDT to be exact). So there’s that. Optimism!

Festivus

If you’re a Seinfeld fan, you know all about Festivus, which falls on December 23. Let the Airing of Grievances begin!

Christmas

Aside from being a religious holiday for Christians around the world, December 25 marks the day when kids who didn’t get any sleep the night before will tear into brightly colored packages brought to them by a rather large fellow with a penchant for red robes and reindeer. It’s an enduring mystery how this guy manages to squeeze down chimneys.

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a week-long African American and pan-African holiday observed December 26 – January 1. The holiday celebrates family, community, and culture through music, dance, poetry, feasts, and charitable works. Learn more about Kwanzaa here.

Bacon Day and New Year’s Eve

And, of course, we wrap up the month with two of the most celebratory days of the year — Bacon Day on December 30 (alright, maybe that’s only a big deal for a few of us afflicted with bacon mania), and New Year’s Eve on December 31. The latter is when we commemorate the closing of one year and welcome a new one, whether it’s by watching a large ball make its descent in New York’s Times Square (or a large, odd-looking potato in Boise, Idaho), or by toasting the occasion with a glass of bubbly, it’s a momentous occasion, provided you can stay awake until midnight.