Mark These December Holidays and National Days on Your Calendar
You probably flip your calendar from November to December with extra excitement as you polish up your wish list and bookmark the best holiday shopping guides. The last month of the year is full of big holidays including Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, which bring families together to celebrate their faith and culture. Throughout these weeks are also plenty of other important and fun observances that make December a truly special month. December holidays are all about recognizing what we have now, and what we can look forward to in the new year.
While December is home to wonderful holidays and observances from the quirky to the specific, it is also National Human Rights Month, National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month, and Worldwide Food Service Safety month. It only makes sense that a month dedicated to giving and to helping others brings attention to important causes. So, while you get ready to set up your Christmas village with the family, also consider holiday activities that give back.
And speaking of holiday traditions, there are plenty throughout the month. Whether you will be decorating your home for Kwanzaa, lighting candles for Hanukkah, or trimming the Christmas tree, December can be a busy time of year. But taking note of the sillier national days — whether it's one dedicated to holiday treats like Peppermint Bark Day, or even Bathtub Party Day — can help make the month feel less stressful.
There are also historical observances including International Day for the Abolition of Slavery and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, as well as National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Lighter holidays include Boxing Day and Festivus (for all the Seinfeld fans out there).
Without a further ado, here is a complete list of December holidays to make the most of the final month of the year as we approach New Year's Eve. We recommend sipping on a candy cane sparkler as you mark your calendar.
Thursday, Dec. 1
World AIDS Day
National Christmas Lights Day
Peppermint Bark Day
National Package Protection Day
Bifocals at the Monitor Liberation Day
Eat a Red Apple Day
Friday, Dec. 2
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
Ghana Farmer’s Day
Faux Fur Friday
National Mutt Day
National Fritters Day
Safety Razor Day
Business of Popping Corn Day
National Bartender Day
Saturday, Dec. 3
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Make a Gift Day
National Roof Over Your Head Day
National Green Bean Casserole Day
Let's Hug Day
International Sweater Festival
Sunday, Dec. 4
Candle Day
World Wildlife Conservation Day
International Day of Banks
World Pear Day
National Cookie Day
National Sock Day
Wear Brown Shoes Day
Tree Dressing Day
Skywarn Recognition Day
Santa’s List Day
International Cheetah Day
National Dice Day
Global Fat Bike Day
Earmuff Day
Cabernet Franc Day
Monday, Dec. 5
International Ninja Day
International Volunteer Day
National Repeal Day
World Soil Day
Sacher-Torte Day
Bathtub Party Day
Tuesday, Dec. 6
National Gazpacho Day
National Miners Day
St. Nicholas Day
Walt Disney Day
Put on Your Own Shoes Day
National Pawnbrokers Day
Mitten Tree Day
National Microwave Oven Day
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
Wednesday, Dec. 7
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
International Civil Aviation Day
National Letter Writing Day
World Trick Shot Day
National Cotton Candy Day
Thursday, Dec. 8
Latina Equal Pay Day
National Brownie Day
Christmas Jumper Day
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day
Bodhi Day
Friday, Dec. 9
National Llama Day
International Anti-Corruption Day
International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide
International Day of Veterinary Medicine
National Pastry Day
Techno Day
Weary Willie Day
Saturday, Dec. 10
Human Rights Day
Dewey Decimal System Day
National Salesperson Day
Nobel Prize Day
International Animal Rights Day
Jane Addams Day
National Lager Day
Sunday, Dec. 11
UNICEF Birthday
International Shareware Day
National App Day
Noodle Ring Day
International Mountain Day
Monday, Dec. 12
Gingerbread House Day
Green Monday
Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe
National Poinsettia Day
International Day of Neutrality
International Universal Health Coverage Day
National Ding-A-Ling Day
National Ambrosia Day
Worldwide Candle Lighting Day
Tuesday, Dec. 13
National Day of the Horse
National Guard Birthday
National Violin Day
National Cocoa Day
Pick a Pathologist Pal Day
National Ice Cream Day
Wednesday, Dec. 14
Monkey Day
National Free Shipping Day
Roast Chestnuts Day
Halcyon Days
National Energy Conservation Day
National Bouillabaisse Day
Martyred Intellectuals Day
Thursday, Dec. 15
Bill of Rights Day
National Wear Your Pearls Day
International Tea Day
Lemon Cupcake Day
National Cat Herders Day
National Cupcake Day
Friday, Dec. 16
National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
National Underdog Day
Las Posadas
Saturday, Dec. 17
Wright Brothers Day
Pan American Aviation Day
National Maple Syrup Day
National Device Appreciation Day
National Wreaths Across America Day
Sunday, Dec. 18
Hanukkah Begins
Arabic Language Day
Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day
National Twin Day
International Migrants Day
Bake Cookies Day
National Roast Suckling Pig Day
Monday, Dec. 19
National Emo Day
National Hard Candy Day
National Oatmeal Muffin Day
Look for an Evergreen Day
Tuesday, Dec. 20
International Human Solidarity Day
Games Day
National Sangria Day
Go Caroling Day
Wednesday, Dec. 21
Winter Solstice
National Crossword Puzzle Day
National Short Girl Appreciation Day
National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day
Look on the Bright Side Day
National French Fried Shrimp Day
Phileas Fogg Win a Wager Day
Humbug Day
National Flashlight Day
International Dalek Remembrance Day
Blue Christmas
National Coquito Day
Thursday, Dec. 22
National Cookie Exchange Day
National Short Person Day
Forefathers’ Day
Mathematics Day
National Date Nut Bread Day
Friday, Dec. 23
National Roots Day
Festivus
National Pfeffernusse Day
Kisan Diwas
National Christmas Movie Marathon Day
Saturday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve
The Feast of the Seven Fishes
National Consumer Rights Day
National Eggnog Day
Sunday, Dec. 25
Christmas Day
National Pumpkin Pie Day
Quaid-e-Azam Day
Monday, Dec. 26
Kwanzaa
Boxing Day
National Thank You Note Day
National Whiners Day
Day of Goodwill
National Candy Cane Day
Tuesday, Dec. 27
International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day
National Fruitcake Day
Wednesday, Dec. 28
National Playing Card Day
National Short Film Day
Pledge of Allegiance Day
National Call a Friend Day
National Download Day
Proclamation Day
National Chocolate Candy Day
Holy Innocents Day
Thursday, Dec. 29
Still Need to Do Day
National Pepper Pot Day
Tick Tock Day
Friday, Dec. 30
National Bacon Day
Falling Needles Family Fest Day
National Resolution Planning Day
Saturday, Dec. 31
New Year's Eve
No Interruptions Day
Make Up Your Mind Day
National Champagne Day
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