Advent 

Christian

Advent is the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The word advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning coming. Traditionally, it is a penitential season but is no longer kept with the strictness of Lent, and Christians are no longer required to fast.

General Practices: Practices associated with Advent include keeping an Advent calendar, praying an Advent daily devotional, lighting a candle each Sunday, and setting up Christmas decorations.

December 2, 2024 - December 24, 2024 | Sunday, December 3, 2023 | November 30, 2025 - December 24, 2025 

Saint Nicholas Day 

Christian celebration of the birth of Saint Nicolas, patron saint of children and role model for gift giving. Many churches named for this saint who is also the Dutch version of Santa Claus. 

Friday, December 6, 2024 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Saturday, December 6, 2025 

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

A Catholic feast day of celebrating the belief that Mary, mother of Jesus, was preserved from original sin all of her life.

Monday, December 8, 2025 | Friday, December 8, 2023 | Monday, December 8, 2025 

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 

Serves as a tribute to Jesus' mother Mary and is particularly celebrated by those of Mexican descent. The day is particularly special for Mexicans and Mexican Americans, as it honors the belief that Jesus' mother Mary, who is Mexico's patron saint, appeared to a man in Mexico City twice in 1531. 

Thursday, December 12, 2024 | Tuesday, December 12, 2023 | Friday, December 12, 2025 

Salgirah

Observation of the birth of the Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims 

Friday, December 13, 2024 | Tuesday, December 12, 2023 | Saturday, December 13, 2025 

Posadas Navideñas

Christian

Hispanic Christian feast of The Lodgings commemorating the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem in preparation for the birth of Jesus. 

Monday, December 16, 2024 | Saturday, December 16, 2023 | Tuesday, December 16, 2025 

Yalda Night / Shab-e Yalda / Shab-e Chelleh 

Iranian winter solstice celebrated on the longest and darkest night of the year. This is a time when friends and family gather together to eat, drink, and read poetry (especially the poems of poems of Divan-e Hafez) until well after midnight. In Zoroastrian tradition the longest and darkest night of the year was a particularly inauspicious day, and the practices of what is now known as "Shab-e Chelleh/Yalda" were originally customs intended to protect people from evil during that long night. People were advised to stay awake most of the night, lest misfortune should befall them, and people would then gather in the safety of groups of friends and relatives, share the last remaining fruits from the summer, and find ways to pass the long night together in good company. Fruits and nuts are eaten, and pomegranates and watermelons are particularly significant. The red color in these fruits symbolizes the crimson hues of dawn and glow of life. 

Date Details: Begins at sundown on the first day

Friday, December 20, 2024 | Thursday, December 21, 2023 | Sunday, December 21, 2025 

Christmas 

Christmas is an annual celebration commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah whose message and self-sacrifice began the Christian religion.

General Practices: Many celebrate this holiday by giving gifts, attending church services, decorating Christmas trees, and visiting family.

Date Details: Begins at sundown on the first day and continues with an all-day celebration on the second day.

Tuesday, December 24, 2024 | Sunday, December 24, 2023 | Wednesday, December 24, 2025 

Hanukkah / Chanukah 

Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of lights, and lasts for eight days. Hanukkah commemorates the Jewish struggle for religious freedom. The history of the holiday involves a historic military victory in which a Jewish sect called the Maccabees defeated the Syrian Greeks. The celebration commemorates a miracle in which a sacred temple flame burned for eight days on only one day's worth of oil.

On each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, families light an additional candle of the menorah candelabrum until all eight candles are lit. Jews celebrate with food and song, as well as exchanging gifts for eight days.

Date Details: Begins at sundown on the first day.

December 25, 2024 - January 2, 2025 | Thursday, December 7, 2023 | December 14, 2025 - December 22, 2025 

Holy Innocents Day 

Christian day of solemn memory of male children killed by King Herod in the attempt to destroy Jesus. 

Sunday, December 29, 2024 | Thursday, December 28, 2023 | Tuesday, December 30, 2025 

Feast of the Holy Family 

The Feast of the Holy Family is a liturgical celebration in the Catholic Church in honor of Jesus of Nazareth, his mother the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his father Saint Joseph as a family. The primary purpose of this feast is to present the Holy Family as a model for Christian families. 

Sunday, December 29, 2024 | Sunday, December 31, 2023 | Monday, December 29, 2025 

Feast of the Holy Family 

The Feast of the Holy Family is a liturgical celebration in the Catholic Church in honor of Jesus of Nazareth, his mother the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his father Saint Joseph as a family. The primary purpose of this feast is to present the Holy Family as a model for Christian families. 

Monday, December 30, 2024 | Sunday, December 31, 2023 | Tuesday, December 30, 2025 

Watch Night 

Christian

Christian occasion to thank God for bringing people safely through another year. It has a controversial history. Some sources link the observance to the Black Christian celebration of Emancipation in 1862. 

Tuesday, December 31, 2024 | Sunday, December 31, 2023 | Wednesday, December 31, 2025