Top 10 December religious celebrations besides Christmas (Pulse Picks)

Santa Claus is a favourite festive season figure known for his lists and gifts. But Claus was only 18 days when he started gift giving. At least that is what his birthday suggests. Which brings us to the first celebration.

1. Dec. 6: Saint Nicholas Day (Christian)

A section of the Christian family celebrates this day in honour of the birth of Saint Nicholas, commonly known as Santa Claus. The saint serves as a role model of good cheer and giving of gifts.

2. Dec. 8: Rohatsu (Bodhi Day) (Buddhist)

On this day, Buddhists celebrate the historical decision of Siddhartha Gautama to sit under the Bodhi tree at a place now known as Bodh Gaya (“enlightenment place”). They celebrate it as Christians celebrate Christmas but through meditation to honor Buddha.

3. Dec. 8: Immaculate Conception (Catholic)

Leading up to Jesus' birthday celebrations on Christmas, Catholics hold celebrations to honor his mother Mary's Immaculate Conception. The day is considered as the day she was preserved from the original sin for life.

4. Dec. 12: Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Catholic)

This holiday is primarily of the Catholic faith, most especially by Mexicans and Americans of Mexican descent. They honor the alleged appearance of the Virgin Mary in Mexico City.

5. Dec. 16-25: Posadas Navidenas (Christian)

Hispanic Christians celebrate this holiday in commendation of the journey Mary and Joseph's made to Bethlehem to give birth to Jesus.

6. Dec. 18-26: Hanukkah (Judaism)

This is a Jewish holiday that lasts eights days. It is called the festival of lights celebrating the Maccabean revolt in Egypt. A menorahs (an even-branched candelabrum) is used to light eight candles to honor the day.

7. Dec. 21: Winter Solstice (Wicca/Neo Pagan)

The solstice is when the earth is most tilted away from the sun either in the south hemisphere (most southern point) ot the north hemisphere (most northern point). Pagans and Wicca believers celebrate the event in which they also recognise "the winter-born king, symbolized by the rebirth of the sun."

8. Dec. 26: Zarathosht Diso (Death of Prophet Zarathustra) (Zoroastrian)

Unlike the rest of the holidays which have merriment, Zoroastrians honor the death of their prohpet, Zarathustra. Zarathustra was the founder of Zoroastrianism. It is one of the oldest monotheistic religions of the world.

9. Dec. 28: Holy Innocents Day (Christian)

On this day, Christians gravely honor the deaths of the children King Herod killed in his pursuit to kill Jesus.

10. Dec. 31: Watch Night (Christian)

Christians express gratitude to God for getting through the year safely. In Uganda, churches hold end of year national prayers to close the year and usher in a new one.

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