


























© Getty Images
0 / 27 Fotos
Hanukkah - Hanukkah, celebrated from December 18 to 26 this year, is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. One candle is lit on the menorah each day in memory of the eight days of the Maccabean Revolt. Other traditions involve playing with a dreidel.
© Getty Images
1 / 27 Fotos
Chalica - Celebrated by Unitarian Universalists, from December 5 to 11 this year, Chalica revolves around a chalice, and each night it is lit to honor one of the principles of the religion. It was invented in 2005 and hasn't gained a major following.
© Reuters
2 / 27 Fotos
Krampusnacht
- Krampusnacht, celebrated on December 5, is the preamble to Christmas where an evil Santa, Krampus, scares and punishes children. Observed in Austria, Bavaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia, Krampus is a half goat and half demon.
© Getty Images
3 / 27 Fotos
Bodhi Day - Bodhi Day, a Buddhist holiday falling on December 8 this year, commemorates when the Buddha was said to achieve enlightenment under what is referred to the Bodhi tree. The central tenants of Buddhism are built around what the Buddha is said to have realized on that day.
© Reuters
4 / 27 Fotos
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- Celebrating the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, on December 8, it's one of the most important holidays in the Roman Catholic religion. Many people make pilgrimages on the day, sometimes holding lit candles and crawling on their hands and knees.
© Getty Images
5 / 27 Fotos
Saint Lucy's Day - The Christian feast day on December 13 is for the third-century martyr, Saint Lucy. She is said to have brought food to persecuted Christians in hiding using only candles to light the way, which is why people celebrate with torches today.
© Reuters
6 / 27 Fotos
Las Posadas - Celebrated mostly in Latin America from December 16 to 24, Las Posadas features reenactments of the nativity scene using actors and costumes.
© Reuters
7 / 27 Fotos
Winter Solstice
- Pagans, dragoons, spiritualists and all kinds celebrate the Winter Solstice on December 21, the longest night of the year and the beginning of lengthening days.
© Getty Images
8 / 27 Fotos
Yaldā Night
- This Iranian Winter Solstice celebration, also on December 21, involves reading poetry, as well as eating and drinking together. It's also celebrated in Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Kurdistan, Tajikistan and Turkey.
© Reuters
9 / 27 Fotos
Dongzhi Festival
- Falling on December 22 this year, this secular winter solstice festival observed in China, Japan, and Korea is in acknowledgement of the ying and yang energies. It's celebrated by families eating fatty rice balls together.
© Shutterstock
10 / 27 Fotos
Saint Stephen's Day - This Christian feast day on December 26 is for Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and is observed in Central and eastern Europe. Ireland, Catalonia, and Finland also observe the holiday, which is particularly important for the Orthodox Church.
© Reuters
11 / 27 Fotos
Newtonmas
- An atheist alternative to Christmas on December 25, Newtonmas' tagline is "Reason's Greetings"
© Getty Images
12 / 27 Fotos
Kwanzaa
- This secular, Pan-African celebration of the diaspora in the Americas is celebrated from December 26 to January 1 and was founded in 1966. Seven candles are lit on Kwanzaa for the seven principles of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
© Getty Images
13 / 27 Fotos
Holy Innocents' Day
- Celebrated on December 28, Holy Innocents' Day commemorates the Massacre of the Innocents from the Gospel of Matthew. It's observed in Spain and Latin America with a feast and dancers.
© Getty Images
14 / 27 Fotos
Hogmanay
- This Scottish celebration of the last day of the year, December 31, features Vikings in the streets carrying torches. The tradition is believed to come from either French or Norse customs.
© Getty Images
15 / 27 Fotos
New Year's Day - Most people celebrate New Year's Eve, leading into New Year's Day on January 1, whether it's in front of a TV screen or out partying.
© Getty Images
16 / 27 Fotos
Saint Basil's Day - An Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Anglican holiday, Saint Basil is believed to have died on January 1. Saint Basil is remembered as the creator of communal monasticism in Christianity.
© Getty Images
17 / 27 Fotos
Twelfth Night - Otherwise known as Epiphany Eve, it's celebrated on January 5 and especially common among Church of England and Anglican Church goers. Placing fruit and Christmas cake on the Christmas trees around town in the middle of the night is a common tradition in rural England.
© Getty Images
18 / 27 Fotos
Koliada
- This eastern European and Slavic tradition was adopted into Christianity, but existed in a prior form and is celebrated on January 6. People parade around with homemade signs and sing traditional songs.
© Shutterstock
19 / 27 Fotos
Epiphany - This Christian feast day on January 6, sometimes called the Three Kings Day, celebrates the belief of God incarnating into Christ. The day is celebrated around the world in a multitude of fashions, with some treating it like Christmas Day and others with a mass baptism.
© Reuters
20 / 27 Fotos
Lohri - This Punjab winter solstice festival on January 13 involves dancing around a fire and paying homage to the Sun God, Surya. Door to door trick or treating is also part of the one day event.
© Reuters
21 / 27 Fotos
Makar Sankranti - This Hindu festival, also in homage to Sun God Surya, is held on January 14 or 15. Kite flying, making sticky candy and giving it to children, as well as praying in the water are all part of the celebration.
© Getty Images
22 / 27 Fotos
Tu BiShvat
- Tu BiShvat is one of the four New Years Days in the Jewish calendar. This year, it begins at sundown on February 5 and ends at sundown on February 6. The celebration isn't strictly religious, and is observed by non-practicing and Hasidic Jews alike. Some will plant trees on the day.
© Reuters
23 / 27 Fotos
Imbolc - This Gaelic festival marking the start of spring on February 1 is practiced in Ireland and Scotland. It was in worship of Brigid, the goddess of fertility, before being adopted by the Christian faith.
© Reuters
24 / 27 Fotos
Christmas - Celebrated on December 24 or 25, depending on where you live, Christmas is the Christian commemoration of the birth of Christ and has become the most widely known holiday in the world. Though many claim it's the reason for the season, as you can see, there are many other holidays to celebrate at the end and beginning of the year.
© Getty Images
25 / 27 Fotos
Happy holidays!
- Enjoy the season with whatever holiday you celebrate! See also: Celebrate Christmas in Colombia like a true cafetero
© Shutterstock
26 / 27 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 27 Fotos
Hanukkah - Hanukkah, celebrated from December 18 to 26 this year, is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. One candle is lit on the menorah each day in memory of the eight days of the Maccabean Revolt. Other traditions involve playing with a dreidel.
© Getty Images
1 / 27 Fotos
Chalica - Celebrated by Unitarian Universalists, from December 5 to 11 this year, Chalica revolves around a chalice, and each night it is lit to honor one of the principles of the religion. It was invented in 2005 and hasn't gained a major following.
© Reuters
2 / 27 Fotos
Krampusnacht
- Krampusnacht, celebrated on December 5, is the preamble to Christmas where an evil Santa, Krampus, scares and punishes children. Observed in Austria, Bavaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia, Krampus is a half goat and half demon.
© Getty Images
3 / 27 Fotos
Bodhi Day - Bodhi Day, a Buddhist holiday falling on December 8 this year, commemorates when the Buddha was said to achieve enlightenment under what is referred to the Bodhi tree. The central tenants of Buddhism are built around what the Buddha is said to have realized on that day.
© Reuters
4 / 27 Fotos
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- Celebrating the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, on December 8, it's one of the most important holidays in the Roman Catholic religion. Many people make pilgrimages on the day, sometimes holding lit candles and crawling on their hands and knees.
© Getty Images
5 / 27 Fotos
Saint Lucy's Day - The Christian feast day on December 13 is for the third-century martyr, Saint Lucy. She is said to have brought food to persecuted Christians in hiding using only candles to light the way, which is why people celebrate with torches today.
© Reuters
6 / 27 Fotos
Las Posadas - Celebrated mostly in Latin America from December 16 to 24, Las Posadas features reenactments of the nativity scene using actors and costumes.
© Reuters
7 / 27 Fotos
Winter Solstice
- Pagans, dragoons, spiritualists and all kinds celebrate the Winter Solstice on December 21, the longest night of the year and the beginning of lengthening days.
© Getty Images
8 / 27 Fotos
Yaldā Night
- This Iranian Winter Solstice celebration, also on December 21, involves reading poetry, as well as eating and drinking together. It's also celebrated in Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Kurdistan, Tajikistan and Turkey.
© Reuters
9 / 27 Fotos
Dongzhi Festival
- Falling on December 22 this year, this secular winter solstice festival observed in China, Japan, and Korea is in acknowledgement of the ying and yang energies. It's celebrated by families eating fatty rice balls together.
© Shutterstock
10 / 27 Fotos
Saint Stephen's Day - This Christian feast day on December 26 is for Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and is observed in Central and eastern Europe. Ireland, Catalonia, and Finland also observe the holiday, which is particularly important for the Orthodox Church.
© Reuters
11 / 27 Fotos
Newtonmas
- An atheist alternative to Christmas on December 25, Newtonmas' tagline is "Reason's Greetings"
© Getty Images
12 / 27 Fotos
Kwanzaa
- This secular, Pan-African celebration of the diaspora in the Americas is celebrated from December 26 to January 1 and was founded in 1966. Seven candles are lit on Kwanzaa for the seven principles of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
© Getty Images
13 / 27 Fotos
Holy Innocents' Day
- Celebrated on December 28, Holy Innocents' Day commemorates the Massacre of the Innocents from the Gospel of Matthew. It's observed in Spain and Latin America with a feast and dancers.
© Getty Images
14 / 27 Fotos
Hogmanay
- This Scottish celebration of the last day of the year, December 31, features Vikings in the streets carrying torches. The tradition is believed to come from either French or Norse customs.
© Getty Images
15 / 27 Fotos
New Year's Day - Most people celebrate New Year's Eve, leading into New Year's Day on January 1, whether it's in front of a TV screen or out partying.
© Getty Images
16 / 27 Fotos
Saint Basil's Day - An Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Anglican holiday, Saint Basil is believed to have died on January 1. Saint Basil is remembered as the creator of communal monasticism in Christianity.
© Getty Images
17 / 27 Fotos
Twelfth Night - Otherwise known as Epiphany Eve, it's celebrated on January 5 and especially common among Church of England and Anglican Church goers. Placing fruit and Christmas cake on the Christmas trees around town in the middle of the night is a common tradition in rural England.
© Getty Images
18 / 27 Fotos
Koliada
- This eastern European and Slavic tradition was adopted into Christianity, but existed in a prior form and is celebrated on January 6. People parade around with homemade signs and sing traditional songs.
© Shutterstock
19 / 27 Fotos
Epiphany - This Christian feast day on January 6, sometimes called the Three Kings Day, celebrates the belief of God incarnating into Christ. The day is celebrated around the world in a multitude of fashions, with some treating it like Christmas Day and others with a mass baptism.
© Reuters
20 / 27 Fotos
Lohri - This Punjab winter solstice festival on January 13 involves dancing around a fire and paying homage to the Sun God, Surya. Door to door trick or treating is also part of the one day event.
© Reuters
21 / 27 Fotos
Makar Sankranti - This Hindu festival, also in homage to Sun God Surya, is held on January 14 or 15. Kite flying, making sticky candy and giving it to children, as well as praying in the water are all part of the celebration.
© Getty Images
22 / 27 Fotos
Tu BiShvat
- Tu BiShvat is one of the four New Years Days in the Jewish calendar. This year, it begins at sundown on February 5 and ends at sundown on February 6. The celebration isn't strictly religious, and is observed by non-practicing and Hasidic Jews alike. Some will plant trees on the day.
© Reuters
23 / 27 Fotos
Imbolc - This Gaelic festival marking the start of spring on February 1 is practiced in Ireland and Scotland. It was in worship of Brigid, the goddess of fertility, before being adopted by the Christian faith.
© Reuters
24 / 27 Fotos
Christmas - Celebrated on December 24 or 25, depending on where you live, Christmas is the Christian commemoration of the birth of Christ and has become the most widely known holiday in the world. Though many claim it's the reason for the season, as you can see, there are many other holidays to celebrate at the end and beginning of the year.
© Getty Images
25 / 27 Fotos
Happy holidays!
- Enjoy the season with whatever holiday you celebrate! See also: Celebrate Christmas in Colombia like a true cafetero
© Shutterstock
26 / 27 Fotos
Celebrations around the world other than Christmas
Scores of other cultures celebrate differently
© Getty Images
While millions of people will be celebrating Christmas this holiday season, it isn't the only cultural celebration at the end and beginning of the year. Many religions and agnostic traditionalists practice multiple forms of observance in December, January and February.
Here are all the major holidays around the world that aren't Christmas.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU















MOST READ
- Last Hour
- Last Day
- Last Week
-
1
CELEBRITY Relationships
-
2
LIFESTYLE History
-
3
MUSIC Musicians
-
4
-
5
MUSIC Collaborations
-
6
LIFESTYLE Astrology
How you act when you're jealous, according to your star sign
-
7
TRAVEL Around the world
-
8
FOOD Healthy living
-
9
LIFESTYLE Community
-
10
HEALTH Lifestyle