🎄 December Global Holidays 2025: Complete Interactive Calendar for 195+ Countries
Explore 100+ December holidays from around the world with our free, interactive calendar. Search, compare, and export holiday data from 195+ countries in 10+ languages.
195+
Countries & Territories
Introduction to December Global Holidays
December is the most festive month of the year, filled with celebrations, traditions, and holidays from cultures around the world. From the joy of Christmas to the solemnity of religious observances, December brings people together in celebration and reflection.
Whether you're planning a holiday gathering, researching cultural traditions, or simply curious about how people celebrate around the globe, our comprehensive guide explores the 100+ holidays celebrated in December across 195+ countries and territories.
This interactive calendar helps you:
- ✅ Discover holidays from any country or culture
- ✅ Learn about holiday traditions and significance
- ✅ Plan celebrations with international friends and family
- ✅ Understand the diversity of global holiday traditions
- ✅ Export holiday data in multiple formats
Major December Holidays Around the World
December features some of the world's most significant holidays, celebrated by billions of people across different cultures, religions, and traditions:
Key December Holiday Categories:
🎅 Christmas: The World's Largest Celebration
Christmas, celebrated on December 25th, is the most widely celebrated holiday in the world, observed by over 2 billion Christians and secularly celebrated in many countries globally.
Christmas Facts
- Date: December 24-25 (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
- Significance: Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ
- Countries: Celebrated in 195+ countries worldwide
- Traditions: Christmas trees, gift-giving, family gatherings, religious services
- Economic Impact: Generates $1+ trillion in annual spending globally
Christmas Traditions by Region:
- North America: Decorated Christmas trees, Santa Claus, gift exchanges, holiday markets
- Europe: Advent calendars, Christmas markets, special foods, nativity scenes
- Latin America: Posadas celebrations, midnight masses, family feasts
- Asia: Shopping season, illuminations, commercial celebration
🕎 Hanukkah: The Jewish Festival of Lights
Hanukkah, also spelled Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish celebration that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It's one of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar.
Hanukkah Facts
- Duration: 8 days (dates vary, usually November-December)
- Significance: Celebrates religious freedom and the miracle of the oil
- Participants: 15+ million Jews and supporters worldwide
- Symbol: The Menorah (candelabrum with 9 branches)
- Traditions: Lighting candles, playing dreidel, eating latkes and donuts
🕯️ Kwanzaa: African-American Heritage Celebration
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African-American culture and heritage, observed from December 26 to January 1. Created in 1966, it emphasizes community, family, and cultural pride.
Kwanzaa Facts
- Duration: 7 days (Dec 26 - Jan 1)
- Participants: Millions of African-Americans and supporters
- Principles: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), and 5 more
- Traditions: Kinara lighting, Karamu feast, gift exchange
⛪ Other Religious Holidays in December
Beyond the major celebrations, December includes numerous religious holidays from faiths around the world:
December Religious Observances
- Bodhi Day (Dec 8): Buddhist celebration of Buddha's enlightenment
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec 8): Catholic celebration
- Yule (Dec 20-21): Pagan winter solstice celebration
- Festivus (Dec 23): Secular holiday for non-commercialism
- Omisoka (Dec 31): Japanese New Year's Eve preparations
🌍 National Holidays by Region
Beyond global celebrations, many countries observe unique national holidays in December:
- North America: Boxing Day (Canada), Kwanzaa (USA)
- Europe: St. Lucia Day (Sweden), Independence Day (Slovakia)
- South America: National holidays in various countries
- Africa: National independence days, cultural celebrations
- Asia: Various national observances
- Oceania: Boxing Day and regional holidays
🎉 Planning for December Holiday Season
With so many holidays in December, planning ahead is essential. Here's how to make the most of the season:
Holiday Planning Checklist
- ✅ Check which holidays are observed in your country
- ✅ Learn about holidays from other cultures
- ✅ Plan gatherings with international friends and family
- ✅ Understand holiday traditions before attending celebrations
- ✅ Schedule time off for major holidays
- ✅ Plan gift-giving and celebrations in advance
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About December Holidays
Q: What are the major holidays celebrated in December?
A: The major December holidays include Christmas (Dec 25), Hanukkah (8 days, varies), Kwanzaa (Dec 26-Jan 1), Boxing Day (Dec 26), Bodhi Day (Dec 8), and numerous national holidays. We track 100+ December holidays globally.
Q: How many countries have December holidays?
A: Our calendar tracks December holidays from 195+ countries and territories worldwide, representing every continent and culture.
Q: Can I search for holidays by country?
A: Yes! Our interactive calendar allows you to search and filter holidays by specific countries, regions, holiday types, and date ranges.
Q: What languages does the calendar support?
A: We support 10+ languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Korean, and Hebrew, with full RTL support.
Q: Can I export holiday data?
A: Absolutely! You can export data in JSON, CSV, ICS (for calendar applications), and XML formats for personal or professional use.
Q: Is there a mobile app version?
A: Our calendar is fully responsive and works perfectly on mobile devices, tablets, and desktops.
Q: Can I embed the calendar on my website?
A: Yes! We provide an embeddable widget that you can add to any website with a single line of code.
Q: Is there an API for developers?
A: Yes! We offer a comprehensive API that allows developers to access holiday data programmatically.