1998 December 1
Kalends of December
Poseidon

Festival of Poseidon, Greek god of sea and rebirth.

December 2

December 3
Bona Dea

Roman festival for the Good Goddess.

December 4

December 5
Eve of St. Nicholas

Children put out carrots, hay, and straw for St. Nicholas' horse to be exchanged for presents in the night.  It is also celebrated by putting out shoes/stockings which are filled with apples, oranges, and ribbon candies.

December 6
St. Nicholas Day

December 7
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

December 8

December 9

December 10
Lux Mundi

French festival, also old Roman festival.  It celebrates the Light of the World, and epithet of goddess Liberty.  Her statue graces New York Harbor.

December 11

December 12

December 13
Ides of December
Little Yule
Hanukkah Begins at Sundown

Little Yule is a Festival of Lights.  Also known as St. Lucy's Day. The Jewish Festival of Hanukkah begins at sundown.

To learn more about Hanukkah, click here.

December 14

December 15
Halcyon Days

Greek goddess Alcyone feast begins today, and marks the beginning of the halycon days--7 before and 7 after the winter solstice.

December 16
Sapientia

Festival for the goddess of wisdom.

December 17
Saturnalia

Roman festival of Saturnalia, which ran 7 days.  During this time it was a period of extravagant decadence.  Slaves met their masters on equal terms.  It was a time of goodwil to all.  The modern celebration of Christmas is a continuation of this midwinter festival.

December 18

December 19

December 20
The Mother Night

Odinist festival of midwinter.  If you dream on this night, it is said to foretell the events of the coming year.

December 21
Winter Solstice
Hanukkah Ends
Yule

It is on this day that the poor were traditionally given money and/or presents.  In former times, they asked for money.  That was called 'thomasing' or 'mumphing'.  It is the fourth station of the year, and signifies enlightenment, when light is reborn within the darkness.

To learn more about Winter Solstice, click here.

December 22

December 23

December 24
Christmas Eve

It is believed that Santa Claus visits children around the world to leave presents under their trees.  Mr. Claus is a derivitive of St. Nicholas.

December 25
Christmas Day

One of the most important and celebrated festivals of the year, it is said that Christ, the Christian savior was born on this day.  It is a time of gift exchanging, and celebrations.  A time of goodwill toward fellow humankind, as well as joy and happiness.  Perhaps, this holiday should be celebrated every day, instead of just once a year.

To learn more about Christmas, click here.

December 26
Boxing Day

Kwanza

To learn more about Kwanza, click here.

Wren hunting was once observed on this day.  The tiny bird (whose killing was prohibited on any other day), was put in a lantern (wren house) and paraded around the village.  Then, it was hung on a holly bracnh and taken to its funeral by the wren boys.

December 27

December 28
Bairns' Day
Holy Innocents' Day

This day commomerates Herold's slaugher of infant boys under the age of two.  It is said that it is the unluckiest day of the year, and no work should be started on this day.

December 29

Ramadan/Eid al Fitr

To learn more about Ramadan, click here

December 30

December 31
New Year's Eve
Hogmanay
Asatru Twelfth Night

Commemorates the solar divinity Hogmagog.  Traditional festivities are dressing in hides and horns of animals, burning smoking sticks (Hogmanays) to ward of evil sprites and eating special cakes.  At midnight, doors are opened and utensils rttled to drive away the psychic vestiges of the old year, and welcome in the new year.

Get up, good wife, and shake your feathers,
And dinna think that we are beggars;
For we ar bairns come out to play,
Get up and gie' us our Hogmanay.

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