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December 21
Yule (WI)
Yule, which marks the New Year in the Anglo-Saxon and northern traditions of Wicca, is the celebration of the birth of the God of the Winter-born King, symbolized by the rebirth of the life-generating and life-sustaining sun. It is a time for ritually shedding the impurities of the past year and for contemplating avenues of spiritual development in the year ahead.

Tohji-taisai (SH)
The Grand Ceremony of the Winter Solstice celebrates the joy of the ending of the yin period of the sun, when it declines in strength, and the beginning of its growing power of yang period. The sun is of central importance in Japan, expressing the presence of Amaterasu Omikami, the Kami of the Sun.

December 24 – January 1
Hanukkah (JU)
Hanukkah also known as the Festival of Lights is celebrated for eight days commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights, starting on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar. The Maccabees, a small group of Jews fighting for religious freedom, won victory over the Syrians. The legend goes that to rededicate the Temple they found only one jar of holy oil and miraculously the candelabra remained lit for eight days. The eighth candle menorah is lit. Special readings and songs of praise focus on liberty and freedom.

December 25
Christmas (CH)
Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. It refers to both the day commemorating the birth, and also the Christmastide season which that day inaugurates, concluding with the Feast of the Epiphany. The date of the celebration is traditional and is not considered to be Jesus’ actual date of birth. Christmas festivities often combine the observation of the Nativity with various cultural customs, many of which have been influenced by earlier winter festivals. Although nominally a Christian holiday, it is also observed as a cultural holiday by many non-Christians.

December 26
Death Anniversary of Zarathustra (ZO)
The anniversary of the death of Zarathustra, the founder of Zoroastrianism, once the dominant religion of Persia, was killed just three hundred miles to the northwest in Balkh, Afghanistan.

Boxing Day/Lendemain de Noel
Boxing Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, as well as many other members of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is based on the tradition of giving gifts to the less fortunate members of society. It is usually celebrated on December 26, the day after Christmas Day, but its associated public holiday can be moved to the next weekday if December 26 is a Saturday or Sunday.

December 26 – January 1
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in the United States and also celebrated in the Western African Diaspora in other nations of the Americas. The Kwanzaa celebration is based on African harvest traditions. Kwanzaa means first fruits in Swahili. The celebration starts on December 26 and lasts for seven days. Created by Dr. Karenga in 1966, Kwanzaa is a celebration of family, community, and culture. The seven-day celebration is based on seven basic values of African culture. The seven principles in Swahili are Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith). Although the holiday is designed for the African-American community, Kwanzaa is a holiday for all.