December Events & Holidays in RTMSD

In 2023, a dedicated group of parents, teachers, students, and administrators met monthly to review and discuss the many cultural holidays and other events that occur throughout the school year. This group collaborated and created the list of holidays and events that we will recognize, instruct or celebrate in our schools. The holidays and events you will see each month in this newsletter were chosen by our community. Please email Ralph Harrison if you have any suggestions or ideas about our monthly events and holidays. We honor DIGNITY by taking the time to learn about the cultures of all of our community members. The events/holidays are listed in the order they occur during the month of December.

2025 Theme: Fostering Disability Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress

What it is: This is a United Nations observance that promotes the rights, dignity, and inclusion of people with disabilities around the world.

Brief history: Established by the UN in 1992, the day was created to raise awareness about disability issues and to encourage societies to remove barriers in physical spaces, attitudes, and policies. The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy provides the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations. Through the Strategy, the United Nations system reaffirms that the full and complete realization of the human rights of all persons with disabilities is an inalienable, integral, and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

How it is celebrated: The United Nations will host the commemorative event virtually on December 3 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. (EST) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and will bring together Member States, UN leaders, disability advocates, and youth. Schools, organizations, and communities may host assemblies, guest speakers, accessibility audits, art displays, or classroom lessons that highlight disability rights, inclusion, and the achievements of people with disabilities.

What it is: Bodhi Day is a Buddhist holiday that honors the day Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment and became the Buddha. Bodhi Day 2025 will be celebrated on Monday, December 8, 2025, in Japanese Buddhism and some Western observances, commemorating the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama. For Buddhists in China, South Korea, and Vietnam, the celebration will be on January 7, 2025, which is the eighth day of the 12th lunar month.

Brief history: According to tradition, Siddhartha meditated under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, seeking answers to the nature of suffering. After deep meditation, he reached enlightenment, forming the foundation of Buddhism.

How it is celebrated: Many Buddhists mark the day with meditation, chanting, studying Buddhist teachings, and acts of kindness. Some decorate their homes with lights or images of the Bodhi tree and share simple, mindful meals with family.

What it is: Human Rights Day recognizes the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person, everywhere. Human Rights Day 2025 will be on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The theme for the year is "Our Everyday Essentials," which focuses on how human rights are a part of daily life, and the official UN campaign encourages sharing how human rights shape your life using the hashtag #OurEverydayRights

Brief history: The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, after World War II, to set a common standard for human dignity and equality.

How it is celebrated: Many schools and communities hold discussions, lessons, or campaigns about fairness, justice, and equality. Activities may include poster projects, student-led presentations, or service projects that support human rights causes.

What it is: Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival, also known as the Festival of Lights.

Brief history: Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago, after the Maccabees’ victory. According to tradition, a small amount of oil, enough for one day, miraculously burned for eight days.

How it is celebrated: Families light a special candelabrum called a menorah, adding one candle each night. Celebrations often include prayers, songs, traditional foods fried in oil (like latkes and sufganiyot), playing dreidel, and exchanging small gifts.

What it is: Las Posadas, celebrated yearly from December 16-24, is a religious festival traditionally held in Mexico and parts of Latin America. Translating to ‘The Inns’ in Spanish, Las Posadas is an important part of the Christmas festivities.

Brief history: The celebration dates back to the 16th century, when Spanish missionaries combined Catholic customs with local traditions to teach the Christmas story.

How it is celebrated: Over the nine nights of celebrations, parties are held at different people’s homes. Before each gathering, all the guests form a procession to mark Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn on the night of Jesus’s birth. The march is usually led by an angel as a symbolic act of Mary and Joseph finding shelter in a stable when they were unable to find lodging in Bethlehem. The parties are joyous occasions, including prayers, food, music, fireworks, and piñatas!

What it is: The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the official start of winter.

Brief history: Many ancient cultures, including those in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, observed the solstice as a turning point from darkness toward increasing light. Traditions often celebrated the sun’s “return” with feasts and rituals.

How it is celebrated: Today, some people observe the solstice with outdoor walks, bonfires, candle lighting, or moments of reflection and gratitude. It’s often used as a time to celebrate nature, seasonal changes, and the coming of longer days.

What it is: Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, and it is also widely observed as a cultural holiday.

Brief history: By the 4th century, many Christian communities had begun observing December 25 as the date of Jesus’s birth. Over time, customs from different cultures—such as gift-giving, evergreen decorations, and special music—blended into today’s celebrations.

How it is celebrated: Traditions vary but may include church services, decorating trees and homes, exchanging gifts, sharing festive meals, and spending time with family and friends. Many communities also hold concerts, parades, and charity drives.

What it is: Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday that honors African and African American heritage, community, and values.

Brief history: Created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa is based on African harvest celebrations and centers around seven principles called the Nguzo Saba, such as unity, self-determination, and collective work. While created with the traditional African harvest festivals in mind, Kwanzaa itself is uniquely North American, celebrated mainly in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.

How it is celebrated: Families and communities come together each day to focus on one of the seven principles, light candles on a kinara, share stories, music, and poetry, and enjoy a special feast called Karamu. Celebrations often highlight African and African American culture, art, and history.