For instance, did you know that there is a National Cookie Day? This may not seem out of the ordinary with all of the baking and cookie exchanges that go on in December! If you prefer brownies, there is a day for that too! Besides special food days, other December holidays include remembrances or certain recognitions. It’s nice to have days to recognize important things like the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, which also fall in December. During this final month of the year, we also recognize Rosa Parks, Jane Addams and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. A lot of the observances in December conveniently coincide with activities that we like to do during the month that are related to Christmas. There is Christmas Lights Day, Build Joy Day and Make A Gift Day, as well as days to celebrate peppermint bark, pears and gingerbread houses. For those who like to Christmas shop after the chaos of Black Friday, the 14th would be a good day to do some online shopping, since that day is National Free Shipping Day! There are also some observances that last an entire week or the whole month. Hanukkah is a week-long observance, as well as Kwanzaa. If you like to play games, the whole month of December is Bingo month. Finally, the month of December goes out with a bang with fun New Year’s Eve parties as we begin to celebrate a fresh new year. Don’t worry about trying to keep track of all of the December holidays and observances for 2022. We’ve put together some lists by month, week and day so that you won’t miss a thing!
Why Do We Have Special Observances Each Month?
Observing special days or weeks each month is a way to raise awareness of issues that are important, inspire learning or are just plain fun. The idea started as a way to remember historical events and significant people and has grown to include all kinds of topics. It’s important to reflect on our history and not forget the issues that were addressed and the things we have learned. What we have gone through in the past has shaped our future. A lot of the awareness days inform us of a variety of illnesses or issues that affect society. It is a way of spreading news and becoming informed and maybe passing the information on to someone else as well. Many of the special food days throughout each month started as promotions for restaurants or other retailers to gain more sales. So, on National Cookie Day, for example, you could expect to see special deals on cookies!
Monthly Observances for December
Bingo MonthEgg Nog MonthLearn a Foreign Language MonthArt and Architecture MonthMade in America MonthNational Cat Lovers’ MonthNational Pear MonthNational Tie MonthRead a New Book MonthWrite a Friend MonthUniversal Human Rights Month
List of Weekly Observances in December
Hanukkah (December 18-26)National Cookie Cutter Week (December 1-7)Computer Science Education Week (December 5-11)National Influenza Vaccination Week (December 6-12)National Handwashing Awareness Week (December 4-10)Kwanzaa (December 26-January 1)
December’s Daily List of Holidays and Observances
December 1
National Christmas Lights DayNational Peppermint Bark DayRosa Parks DayEat a Red Apple Day
December 2
National Mutt DayInternational Day for the Abolition of SlaveryNational Fritters DaySpecial Education DayNational Build Joy Day
December 3
World Pear DayInternational Day of Persons With DisabilitiesCandle DayMake a Gift DayNational Green Bean Casserole Day
December 4
Wildlife Conservation DayInternational Day of BanksNational Cookie DaySanta’s List Day
December 5
Day of the NinjaWorld Soil DayNational Repeal DayInternational Volunteer DayNational Blue Jeans Day
December 6
National Gazpacho DayNational Miners DaySt. Nicholas Day
December 7
Pearl Harbor Remembrance DayNational Letter Writing DayInternational Civil Aviation DayNational Cotton Candy DayNational Joy Day
December 8
National Brownie DayNational Blue Collar Day
December 9
National Llama DayChristmas Card DayNational Pastry Day
December 10
Dewey Decimal System DayNobel Prize DayJane Addams DayHuman Rights Day
December 11
UNICEF BirthdayNational App Day
December 12
Gingerbread House DayNational Poinsettia DayGreen MondayInternational Universal Health Coverage DayNational Ambrosia Day
December 13
National Day of the HorseNational Guard BirthdayNational Salesperson DayNational Violin DayNational Cocoa DayNational Cream Cheese Frosting Day
December 14
Monkey DayNational Free Shipping DayRoast Chestnuts Day
December 15
National Cupcake DayBill of Rights DayNational Wear Your Pearls Day
December 16
National Ugly Sweater DayNational Chocolate Covered Anything DayNational Underdog Day
December 17
Wright Brothers DayPan American Aviation DayNational Maple Syrup DayNational Wreaths Across America Day
December 18
Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf DayNational Twin DayInternational Migrants Day
December 19
National Emo DayNational Hard Candy Day
December 20
International Human Solidarity DayGo Caroling Day
December 21
National Crossword Puzzle DayNational Short Girl Appreciation DayLook on the Bright Side DayWinter SolsticeWorld Snowboard Day
December 22
National Short Person DayNational Cookie Exchange Day
December 23
FestivusNational Roots Day
December 24
Christmas EveNational Eggnog DayLast Minute Shoppers Day
December 25
Christmas
December 26
Boxing DayNational Candy Cane DayDay of Goodwill
December 27
International Day of Epidemic PreparednessNational Fruitcake DayMake Cut-Out Snowflakes Day
December 28
National Card Playing DayNational Short Film DayPledge of Allegiance DayNational Call-a-Friend DayNational Download Day
December 29
International Cello DayStill Need To Do Day
December 30
National Bacon DayNo Interruptions DayNational Resolution Planning Day
December 31
New Years EveNational Champagne Day
Next up, the best Christmas porch decorations!
