Despite all the tinsel and good tidings, December is more than just Christmas! As exciting as it is to finally pull out those Santa hats and ornaments, there are plenty of other special days and events to celebrate during the remaining 30 days of the month. And if you need a refresher on when National Cocoa Day or National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day falls on the calendar, you've come to the right place! Below, you'll find a list of all the festive December holidays and observances in 2024 that are simply waiting to be unwrapped.
Some people experience their own version of a winter wonderland come December, which means that hitting the slopes is at the top of their winter activity list! Well, those people would be happy to know that World Snowboard Day is an actual thing! Oh, and it's no secret that December calls for some very specific scents and aromas. You can put all your attention into that with Candle Day—because winter candles make the world go round! There are so many December holidays and observances that can appeal to anyone's interests, so read through this list to see which ones fit you best!
December Daily Holidays and Observances
- Dec. 1: Antarctica Day, Day Without Art, National Christmas Lights Day, National Eat a Red Apple Day, National Peppermint Bark Day, National Pie Day, Rosa Parks Day
- Dec. 2: National Mutt Day, Cyber Monday, National Fritters Day, Special Education Day, National Build Joy Day, World Computer Literacy Day, World Pollution Prevention Day
- Dec. 3: World Pear Day, International Day of Persons With Disabilities, National Make a Gift Day, National Green Bean Casserole Day, National Day of Giving, World Trick Shot Day
- Dec. 4: Wildlife Conservation Day, International Day of Banks, National Sock Day, National Dice Day, International Cheetah Day, Santa's List Day, National Cookie Day
- Dec. 5: International Volunteer Day, National Blue Jeans Day, World Soil Day, International Ninja Day, Bathtub Party Day, National Repeal Day, Sacher-Torte Day
- Dec. 6: National Miners Day, National Microwave Oven Day, St. Nicholas Day, National Gazpacho Day, National Bartender Day
- Dec. 7: National Letter Writing Day, National Slime Day, National Cotton Candy Day, National Joy Day, Candle Day, Tree Dressing Day, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
- Dec. 8 National Brownie Day, National Blue Collar Day, Pretend To Be a Time Traveler Day, World Choral Day, National Health Savings Account Day, Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- Dec. 9: Green Monday, National Llama Day, Christmas Card Day, National Pastry Day, World Techno Day, Lost and Found Day, Genocide Prevention Day, International Day of Veterinary Medicine
- Dec. 10: Nobel Prize Day, Jane Addams Day, Human Rights Day, National Lager Day, International Animal Rights Day, Dewey Decimal System Day
- Dec. 11: UNICEF Day for Change, National App Day, National Noodle Ring Day, International Mountain Day, National Tango Day, National Have a Bagel Day, Holiday Food Drive for Needy Animals Day
- Dec. 12: Gingerbread House Day, National Poinsettia Day, National Ambrosia Day, International Day of Neutrality, Gingerbread Decorating Day, International Universal Health Coverage Day, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Dec. 13: National Day of the Horse, National Guard Birthday, National Violin Day, National Cocoa Day, National Cream Cheese Frosting Day, National Salesperson Day
- Dec. 14: Monkey Day, National Free Shipping Day, Roast Chestnuts Day, National Energy Conservation Day, National Screwdriver Day
- Dec. 15: National Cupcake Day, Bill of Rights Day, National Lemon Cupcake Day, National Wear Your Pearls Day
- Dec. 16: National Chocolate Covered Anything Day, National Wreaths Across America Day
- Dec. 17: National Maple Syrup Day, National Device Appreciation Day, Pan American Aviation Day, Saturnalia, Wright Brothers Day
- Dec. 18: Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day, National Twin Day, International Migrants Day, Flake Appreciation Day, World Arabic Language Day, Bake Cookies Day
- Dec. 19: National Hard Candy Day, National Oatmeal Muffin Day, National Emo Day, Look for an Evergreen Day, National Re-Gifting Day
- Dec. 20: International Human Solidarity Day, Go Caroling Day, National Sangria Day, National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, National Underdog Day
- Dec. 21 National Crossword Puzzle Day, National French Fried Shrimp Day, Look on the Bright Side Day, Winter Solstice, World Snowboard Day, National Crossword Puzzle Day, National Flashlight Day, National Short Girl Appreciation Day, Don't Make Your Bed Day
- Dec. 22: National Short Person Day, National Cookie Exchange Day, National Date Nut Bread Day, Forefathers' Day, Mathematics Day
- Dec. 23: Festivus, National Roots Day, National Pfeffernusse Day, National Christmas Movie Marathon Day
- Dec. 24: Christmas Eve, National Eggnog Day, Last Minute Shoppers Day
- Dec. 25: Christmas, Hanukkah starts, National Pumpkin Pie Day, A’Phabet Day or No “L” Day
- Dec. 26: Boxing Day, National Candy Cane Day, Day of Goodwill, National Thank You Note Day, National Homeowners Day, National Whiners Day
- Dec. 27: National Fruitcake Day, Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day, Visit the Zoo Day
- Dec. 28: National Card Playing Day, National Short Film Day, Pledge of Allegiance Day, National Call-a-Friend Day, National Download Day, National Chocolate Candy Day
- Dec. 29: International Cello Day, Still Need To Do Day, Tick Tock Day
- Dec. 30: National Bacon Day, National Resolution Planning Day, Falling Needles Family Fest Day, National Bicarbonate of Soda Day
- Dec. 31: New Year's Eve, National Champagne Day, Universal Hour of Peace (from 11:30 pm to 12:30 am on Jan. 1), Make Up Your Mind Day, Unlucky Day
December Weekly Holidays and Observances
- National Cookie Cutter Week (Dec. 1—7)
- National Handwashing Awareness Week (Dec. 5—11)
- Computer Science Education Week (Dec. 6—12)
- National Influenza Vaccination Week (Dec. 6—12)
- Las Posadas (Dec. 16—24)
- Twelve Days of Christmas (Dec. 25 — Jan. 5)
- Hanukkah (Dec. 25—Jan. 2)
- Kwanzaa (Dec.26—Jan. 1)
December Monthly Holiday and Observances
- Bingo Month
- Egg Nog Month
- Gift of Sight Month
- Learn a Foreign Language Month
- Month of Giving
- National Cat Lovers’ Month
- National Human Rights Month
- National Pear Month
- National Tie Month
- Operation Santa Paws (Dec. 1—24)
- Read a New Book Month
- Spiritual Literacy Month
- Universal Human Rights Month
- Worldwide Food Service Safety Month
- Write a Friend Month
- World AIDS/HIV Awareness Month
Josiah is the Digital Content Producer for the commerce team at Popular Mechanics, Best Products, Runner’s World, and Bicycling Magazine. He also writes for “BIO Buys”—a column on Biography.com—giving readers the lowdown on what products their favorite celebs are using. In another life, Josiah was an editor at ThePioneerWoman.com, where he sharpened his expertise on all things lifestyle, food-news, and entertainment. Outside work related matters, he’s a fan of Studio Ghibli films, unimportant reality TV drama, and melancholy Lorde songs.
