December is almost always recognized for the celebration of Christmas. This is due in part to the fact that the Western world was populated and is heavily composed of people who follow a Christian faith, although those numbers are steadily being matched by varying faiths, even here in Canada. What many people don’t realize is exactly how many important holidays are celebrated in December.
For example, even Buddhism has a day in early December in which we observe Bodhi Day, which is historically believed to be the day that the Buddha achieved enlightenment.
One of the most popularly known holidays is Hanukkah, which is a holiday of the Jewish faith. This holiday is also called the Festival of Lights and incorporates 8 days of gift-giving. However, this holiday doesn’t always fall in December and can be observed sometime in late November and as late as January.
There are a number of holidays in December that are also not necessarily attributed to any religious faith, such as Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, Human Rights Day and the Winter Solstice.
One of the most interesting non-religious holidays is Kwanzaa. This is a week-long celebration held by people of African descent, to honour the African heritage and is usually celebrated by way of a feast and gift giving.
December is a busy month, on top of last-minute shopping and travelling to see family! Take the time to enjoy all celebrations. Even someone who isn’t of a particular religious background will be invited to celebrate in most circles. And the opportunity to learn and better know your fellow man and woman is best taken when the opportunity knocks! ☯
The Blogging Buddhist 