100+ Holidays and Observances You Can Celebrate in December

December Calendar and Christmas trees to celebrate the season.

December is a month that can be summarized easily into one word: Christmas. With all of the parties, preparation and countdown, for many of us, the month is pretty much dedicated to all of the events surrounding this specific holiday. However, there are other holidays and observances in December that are fun to know about as well.

For instance, did you know that there is a National Cookie Day? This may not seem out of the ordinary with all of the baking and cookie exchanges that go on in December! If you prefer brownies, there is a day for that too!

Besides special food days, other December holidays include remembrances or certain recognitions. It's nice to have days to recognize important things like the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, which also fall in December. During this final month of the year, we also recognize Rosa Parks, Jane Addams and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

A lot of the observances in December conveniently coincide with activities that we like to do during the month that are related to Christmas. There is Christmas Lights Day, Build Joy Day and Make A Gift Day, as well as days to celebrate peppermint bark, pears and gingerbread houses. For those who like to Christmas shop after the chaos of Black Friday, the 14th would be a good day to do some online shopping, since that day is National Free Shipping Day!

There are also some observances that last an entire week or the whole month. Hanukkah is a week-long observance, as well as Kwanzaa. If you like to play games, the whole month of December is Bingo month. Finally, the month of December goes out with a bang with fun New Year's Eve parties as we begin to celebrate a fresh new year.

Don't worry about trying to keep track of all of the December holidays and observances for 2023. We've put together some lists by month, week and day so that you won't miss a thing! 

Related: What Is the Real Meaning Behind the Feast of the Seven Fishes? All About the Christmas Eve Tradition 'The Bear' Made Even More Famous

Why Do We Have Special Observances Each Month?

Advent calendar<p>Unsplash</p>
Advent calendar

Unsplash

Observing special days or weeks each month is a way to raise awareness of issues that are important, inspire learning or are just plain fun. The idea started as a way to remember historical events and significant people and has grown to include all kinds of topics. 

It's important to reflect on our history and not forget the issues that were addressed and the things we have learned. What we have gone through in the past has shaped our future.

A lot of the awareness days inform us of a variety of illnesses or issues that affect society. It is a way of spreading news and becoming informed and maybe passing the information on to someone else as well. 

Many of the special food days throughout each month started as promotions for restaurants or other retailers to gain more sales. So, on National Cookie Day, for example, you could expect to see special deals on cookies!

Related: Funny Christmas Cards to Buy

Monthly Observances for December

  • Art and Architecture Month

  • Bingo Month

  • Egg Nog Month

  • Gift of Sight Month

  • Learn a Foreign Language Month

  • Made in America Month

  • Month of Giving

  • National Cat Lovers’ Month

  • National Human Rights Month

  • National Pear Month

  • National Tie Month

  • Operation Santa Paws (Dec. 1-24)

  • Read a New Book Month

  • Safe Toys and Gifts Month

  • Universal Human Rights Month

  • Worldwide Food Service Safety Month

  • Write a Friend Month

List of Weekly Observances in December

A menorah with gifts for Hanukkah.<p>Unsplash</p>
A menorah with gifts for Hanukkah.

Unsplash

  • National Cookie Cutter Week (December 1-7)

  • Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week (December 1-7)

  • Hanukkah (December 7-15)

  • Computer Science Education Week (December 6-12)

  • Las Posadas (December 16-24)

  • National Influenza Vaccination Week (December 6-12)

  • National Handwashing Awareness Week (December 5-11)

  • Twelve Days of Christmas (December 25-January 5)

  • Kwanzaa (December 26-January 1)

Related: Keep the Christmas Spirit Alive with Charity, Goodwill, and 50 Happy Boxing Day Wishes

December's Daily List of Holidays and Observances

December 1

  • Antarctica Day

  • Day Without Art

  • National Bartender Day

  • National Christmas Lights Day

  • National Eat a Red Apple Day

  • National Pie Day

  • National Peppermint Bark Day

  • Rosa Parks Day

  • Eat a Red Apple Day

  • World Aids Day

December 2

  • Candle Day

  • National Mutt Day

  • National Play Outside Day

  • International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

  • National Fritters Day

  • Special Education Day

  • National Build Joy Day

December 3

  • World Pear Day

  • International Day of Persons With Disabilities

  • Make a Gift Day

  • National Green Bean Casserole Day

  • National Roof Over Your Head Day

December 4

  • Wildlife Conservation Day

  • International Day of Banks

  • National Cookie Day

  • National Sock Day

  • National Dice Day

  • International Cheetah Day

  • Santa's List Day

December 5

  • Krampusnacht

  • Day of the Ninja

  • Bathtub Party Day

  • National Repeal Day

  • International Volunteer Day

  • National Blue Jeans Day

  • World Soil Day

  • World Trick Shot Day

December 6

  • National Gazpacho Day

  • National Miners Day

  • National Microwave Oven Day

  • National Day Of Remembrance And Action On Violence Against Women

  • St. Nicholas Day

December 7

  • Hanukkah starts

  • Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

  • National Letter Writing Day

  • National Slime Day

  • International Civil Aviation Day

  • National Cotton Candy Day

  • National Joy Day

December 8

  • National Brownie Day

  • National Blue Collar Day

  • National Salesperson Day

  • Pretend To Be a Time Traveler Day

December 9

  • National Llama Day

  • Christmas Card Day

  • International Day Of Commemoration And Dignity Of The Victims Of The Crime Of Genocide

  • National Pastry Day

  • World Techno Day

December 10

  • Dewey Decimal System Day

  • National Lager Day

  • Nobel Prize Day

  • Jane Addams Day

  • Human Rights Day

December 11

  • Green Monday

  • UNICEF Birthday

  • National App Day

  • National Noodle Ring Day

  • National Stretching Day

  • International Mountain Day

December 12

  • Gingerbread House Day

  • National Poinsettia Day

  • International Universal Health Coverage Day

  • National Ambrosia Day

December 13

  • National Day of the Horse

  • National Guard Birthday

  • National Violin Day

  • National Cocoa Day

  • National Cream Cheese Frosting Day

December 14

  • Monkey Day

  • National Free Shipping Day

  • Roast Chestnuts Day

December 15

  • National Cupcake Day

  • Bill of Rights Day

  • International Tea Day

  • National Wear Your Pearls Day

  • National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

December 16

  • National Chocolate Covered Anything Day

  • National Underdog Day

  • National Wreaths Across America Day

Related: 50 Best Ugly Christmas Sweaters

December 17

  • Wright Brothers Day

  • Pan American Aviation Day

  • National Maple Syrup Day

December 18

  • Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day

  • National Twin Day

  • International Migrants Day

  • World Arabic Language Day

December 19

  • National Emo Day

  • National Hard Candy Day

  • National Oatmeal Muffin Day

December 20

  • International Human Solidarity Day

  • Go Caroling Day

  • National Sangria Day

December 21

  • Anne Frank & Samantha Smith Day (Anne & Samantha Day for short)

  • Humbug Day

  • National Crossword Puzzle Day

  • National Short Girl Appreciation Day

  • National Flashlight Day

  • National French Fried Shrimp Day

  • National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day

  • National Re-Gifting Day

  • Look on the Bright Side Day

  • Winter Solstice

  • World Snowboard Day

  • Yule

December 22

  • National Short Person Day

  • National Cookie Exchange Day

  • National Date Nut Bread Day

  • Forefathers' Day

December 23

  • Festivus

  • National Roots Day

  • National Pfeffernusse Day

December 24

  • Christmas Eve

  • National Eggnog Day

  • Last Minute Shoppers Day

December 25

  • Christmas

  • National Pumpkin Pie Day

  • No "L" Day (get it... Noel... also known as A'phabet Day)

December 26

  • Boxing Day

  • National Candy Cane Day

  • Day of Goodwill

  • National Whiners Day

  • National Thank You Note Day

December 27

  • International Day of Epidemic Preparedness

  • National Fruitcake Day

  • Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day

December 28

  • National Card Playing Day

  • National Short Film Day

  • Pledge of Allegiance Day

  • National Call-a-Friend Day

  • National Download Day

  • Holy Innocents Day

December 29

  • International Cello Day

  • Still Need To Do Day

  • No Interruptions Day

  • Tick Tock Day (not to be confused with the app, TikTok)

December 30

  • Falling Needles Family Fest Day

  • National Bacon Day

  • National Resolution Planning Day

December 31

  • New Year's Eve

  • National Champagne Day

  • Universal Hour of Peace (from 11:30 pm to 12:30 am on Jan. 1)

  • Make Up Your Mind Day

Next up, the best Christmas porch decorations!