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December has arrived! It heralds the first month of winter and it is when we prepare ourselves for the onset of sleet, snow and driving wind and rain. We check our car boots contain the winter travel essentials of snow shovel and blanket and if we haven’t already we resignedly drag our winter coats out from the back of the closet. But for children it is a month packed with festivities which bring with them jam packed parties and family get-togethers to brighten even the darkest of winter days.
December is very much associated with Christmas but there are other traditions and customs to be celebrated during the month. The 6th December is the feast Day of St Nicholas. He is the patron saint of children and in countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium it is a day when well behaved children are given gifts. 6th December also marks the start of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of light.
22nd December marks the first official day of winter, known as the Winter Solstice. It is when countries in the northern hemisphere have the shortest day and longest night of the year and those in the southern hemisphere have the exact opposite. Christmas Day on the 25th December is probably one of the most famous festivals of them all. Celebrated in Christian communities across the globe it is a time for family and friends to come together to share gifts and time together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Boxing Day, also known as St Stephens Day, follows Christmas Day and was historically a day when a Christmas box was opened and the contents shared with the poor.
December 28th is known as Holy Innocents Day. It marks the day over 2,000 years ago when King Herod ordered the massacre of all baby boys under 2 in his attempt to kill the baby Jesus.
The final day of December is rounded off with New Year’s Eve, one of the largest global celebrations marking the end of the year. Many major capital cities host an amazing display of fireworks for the masses who brave the weather, joining hands and bringing in the New Year with resolutions and Auld Lang Syne.
To help you make the most of this busy month of festivities we have created some Teacher Resources for you to down load here.
Originally written 1 December 2015