Besides the ones we hear the most about, there is a wide variety of celebrations and observances celebrated throughout wintertime. Here are some you might want to know about!
ST. NICHOLAS DAY, DECEMBER 5/6
St. Nicholas Day, December 5/6: observed December 5/6 in Western Christian countries (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg) and December 18/19 in Eastern Christian countries (Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Romania)
Children place shoes or socks out before bedtime and wake up to small presents from St. Nicholas. Some write letters to St. Nicholas or leave snacks for his horse/donkey. The Dutch pronunciation, “Sinterklaas,” is thought to have inspired the American Santa Claus.
ST. LUCIA’S DAY, DECEMBER 13
Observed in Sweden, Denmark, and parts of Finland
This holiday commemorates a Swedish woman who would wear candles on a wreath on her head as she delivered food to Christians in hiding. It is remembered with many candles and a procession of “St. Lucia” wearing a white gown and candle wreath followed by handmaidens, “star boys,” and “gingerbread men.” Lussekatter (saffron-raisin buns) and gingerbread are enjoyed with coffee.
LAS POSADAS, DECEMBER 16–24
Observed in Latin America, including Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and by Latin Americans
Families remember Mary and Joseph’s pilgrimage by singing songs and walking between homes. Afterwards, prayers are shared along with tortas (sausage bread), atoles (corn/masa drinks), and salads. Kids often get to enjoy a special piñata.
DONGZHI FESTIVAL, THE WINTER SOLSTICE, DECEMBER 21, 2024
Observed in China and Taiwan
Celebrating the longest night of the year, the name literally means “winter’s extreme.” It has ties to yin and yang, honoring ancestors, and luck. Traditionally, families eat together to celebrate. One item commonly enjoyed is making and eating tang yuan, balls of glutinous rice, in a broth. In Taiwan, they also offer nine-layer glutinous rice flour cakes shaped as a chicken, duck, tortoise, pig, cow, or sheep as a ceremonial sacrifice to ancestors.
BOXING DAY, DECEMBER 26
Observed in the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Northern Ireland), some other Commonwealth countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and South Africa; and Hungary, Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands
It has nothing to do with the sport, but rather historically refers to boxes given from masters to servants or money collected in boxes and then shared with the poor. Today, many people relax, eat, watch sports, or shop to enjoy a day off of work. Some Europeans consider it a second Christmas Day, as well as the Day of St. Stephen, patron saint of horses.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY, JANUARY 20, 2025
Observed across the United States
Community service and marches/parades are great ways to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of equality and nonviolence. Consider “a day on, not a day off” by participating in events like community book drives—find your way to give back through VolunteerMatch.org. The Monterey County Black Caucus hosts an annual march in Seaside or you can check out Marina’s Martin Luther King Jr. Sculpture Garden.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF EDUCATION, JANUARY 24
Observed globally
First celebrated in 2019, the United Nations General Assembly declared this day to honor education’s importance in reducing poverty and gender inequality, plus supporting all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Take a moment to thank an educator!
“Education is a human right, a public good and a public responsibility.” —The United Nations
LUNAR NEW YEAR/CHINESE NEW YEAR, JANUARY 29–FEBRUARY 12, 2025
Observed by many Asian cultures, including China, South Korea, and Vietnam
A 15-day celebration that welcomes spring, starting with a reunion dinner of many traditional foods, such as an entire fish, and ending with the lantern festival. Lunar New Year is celebrated by decorating windows with red paper or exchanging red envelopes containing small amounts of money. Cleaning the house to remove bad luck and shopping are common activities. The year 2025 is the year of the snake.
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