December is filled to the brim with holidays, including more than just Christmas. Cultures and religions from all across the world celebrate various holidays during the winter month. Christa Abdul-Karim, a University of Idaho anthropology professor, helped explain a few.
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Dec. 8
Holiday: Rohatsu or Bodhi Days
Religion: Buddhism
What: The day Buddha reached Enlightenment. Buddhists honor the day with extra meditation, studying religious texts or serving a traditional meal. They also perform kind acts.
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Dec. 12
Holiday: Feast Day of our Lady of Guadalupe
Religion: Christianity
What: This holiday is particularly popular in Mexico and celebrates the time a man encountered the Virgin Mary in Mexico City in 1531.
Dec. 16 to 25
Holiday: Posadas Navidenas
Religion: Christianity, Catholic
What: The holiday is rooted in the Aztec religion for the birth of Huitzilopochtli, the national god of the Aztecs. He was the god of war and one of the most important gods of the Aztec religion.
Two people are selected to re-enact the pilgrimage of Joseph and Mary attempting to find shelter before their baby, Jesus, was born.
Dec. 21-25
Holiday: Pancha Ganapati
Religion: Hinduism
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What: Pancha Ganapati is a celebration in honor of Ganesh, the elephant god in the Hindu religion who is looked to as the remover of obstacles. This holiday is specifically celebrated by Hindus in the U.S. as an alternative to Christmas.
“Christmas has become more than a religious holiday, so other religions try to find a way to incorporate Christmas into their own religions,” Abdul-Karim said. “They have tinsel and colorful lights and some of the things you can find at Christmas, but focused on their religion.”