December
Hmong New Year
Hmong New Year is a traditional celebration that marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of a new year, honoring ancestors, family, and cultural identity. The purpose of Hmong New Year is to give thanks, welcome good fortune, strengthen community ties, and pass down traditions through music, dance, food, and ceremonial dress. The dates vary by region and community, but in the United States it is most often celebrated between late November and early December.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, commemorates the Jewish people’s rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle in which a small amount of oil burned for eight days. It is celebrated by lighting a menorah, one candle each night, along with prayers, songs, and traditional foods. Hanukkah lasts eight days and usually falls in late November or December, beginning at sundown on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a cultural celebration that honors African American heritage, community, and shared values, emphasizing unity, self-determination, and collective responsibility. Celebrated December 26 through January 1, Kwanzaa was established in 1966 to strengthen cultural identity and reflect on the Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba). Observances often include lighting the kinara candle holder, storytelling, music, dance, shared meals, and community gatherings.