Advent December 3-24th 

The season of Advent anticipates the birth of Jesus Christ for Christians. Each week leading up to Christmas, a different theme is focused on, such as hope, peace, joy and love. 

https://www.catholicicing.com

December 12: Fiesta de Guadalupe Feast

Fiesta de Guadalupe honors Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico’s patron saint. This particular holiday takes place on December 12th, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is celebrated as an important holiday in Mexico and commemorates the appearance of the Virgin Mary to a Mexican peasant named Juan Diego in 1531.

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plans/teaching-content/lets-have-fiesta-celebrating-mexican-culture-lesson-plan/

December 21: Yule

December diversity topics include Yule, a Pagan holiday celebrating the Winter Solstice. One of the oldest winter celebrations in the world, it begins at sundown and ends on January 1st. The holiday itself revolves around thanking the gods and goddesses for your blessings, as well as the change of seasons.

https://www.learnreligions.com/celebrate-yule-with-kids-2563007

https://kidskonnect.com/holidays-seasons/yule/

https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/something-yule-want-to-do-at-the-holidays

December 25: Christmas

This Christian holiday marks the birth of Jesus Christ. The name Christmas comes from the Mass of Christ, a service where Christians congregate and remember that, according to scripture, Jesus died for their sins and was resurrected. It is often celebrated with gifts because of the three wise men that presented Jesus with gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) after his birth.

https://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/Christmas-Around-the-World-Lessons-and-Activities.shtml

https://www.kidssoup.com/craft-and-resource/christmas-around-the-world-in-the-classroom

December 25-January 2, 2024 Hanukkah

Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival. It commemorates the Jewish victory over the Syrian Greeks in 165 B.C.E., which restored Jewish independence. Over the course of eight nights and days, Jewish people light a menorah to note the days and recite prayers.  

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/collections/teaching-content/hanukkah-classroom/

https://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson040.shtml

December 26 – January 1: Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of Africa-American culture and a tribute to African festivals of harvest. The holiday was created in 1966 after the Watts Riots to give Black people an alternative holiday to celebrate themselves and their culture. Kwanzaa celebrates seven different principles of African Heritage. Families will decorate their households with art, eat fresh fruits, and wear cultural pieces.

https://holidays.mrdonn.org/kwanzaa.html

https://www.teacherplanet.com/content/kwanzaa