December Holidays

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Across
  1. 9. In this Oceanic country, people celebrate Christmas by decorating a small native bush with green leaves and flowers that turn red during the summer (when this holiday is celebrated in the Southern Hemisphere!)
  2. 11. This holiday is celebrated by lighting eight candles on a menorah and exchanging small gifts with friends and loved ones.
  3. 13. This holiday is commemorated with tamales, bread pudding served with fruit and nuts, and sweet soups.
  4. 14. This holiday always lasts eight days, commemorating the re-dedication of a sacred temple in its core religious texts.
  5. 15. On this holiday, predominantly celebrated in Japan, people visit shrines and temples associated with holy figures in the Buddhist religion.
  6. 16. Many people know the story of Santa Claus, who delivers gifts to children on December 25. Still, there is a day that specifically commemorates the birth of Saint Nicholas in early December, who is thought to have given inspiration for the modern conception of ‘Santa Claus.’
  7. 17. It is traditional to eat long noodles on this holiday to memorialize the passage of time, popularly dubbed ‘toshikoshi-soba’ or ‘toshikoshi-udon.’
  8. 20. Often dubbed the shortest day of the year, the winter Solstice takes place on what is known as a sacred day in the Wicca/Pagan faith.
  9. 23. Boxing Day, on December 26, is also known as St. Stephen’s Day in this Western European country that up until the 1900s was controlled by the British.
  10. 24. People leave mince pies and brandy for Santa Claus to collect instead of milk and cookies in this country.
  11. 25. People who celebrate this holiday are likely to be found with a large fir tree, stockings hung by the fireplace, and freshly baked cookies for a special visitor.
Down
  1. 1. Just a few days after Christmas, Catholics take an additional day to celebrate Jesus, Mary, and Joseph on this date.
  2. 2. On this holiday, Catholics in Latin American countries go out to celebrate Mary and Joseph’s visit to Bethlehem in preparation for Jesus’s birth by smashing pinatas and reenacting skits of the holy figures.
  3. 3. In this Scandinavian country, the entire capital city of Reykjavik turns into a winter wonderland with festivals and children’s activities before Christmas.
  4. 4. The Buddhist holiday of Rohatsu, which commemorates the Buddha’s vow to sit until he reached enlightenment, is celebrated on December 8 in this East Asian country.
  5. 5. Christian holiday only occurs on one day of the year, but is always preceded by an ‘eve.’
  6. 6. In England, this holiday is celebrated by attending soccer matches, hosting horse races, and recovering the day after a long Christmas feast.
  7. 7. Latkes, matzo ball soup, jam-filled doughnuts, and challah are all likely to be found at meals commemorating this Jewish holiday.
  8. 8. This holiday technically takes two days to complete, since Sunni and Shia adherents will commemorate the day on two separate occasions in December.
  9. 10. An homage to its roots in nature and spirituality, this holiday focuses on foods that are grown from the earth, like nuts, berries, spices, and hunted game.
  10. 12. Only lasting one day, this holiday coincides with New Year’s Eve on December 31 as Christians thank God for the safety they received during the preceding year.
  11. 18. Adherents of this holiday will traditionally cook catfish, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, gumbo, and other African-inspired foods for their holiday feast.
  12. 19. This holiday, commemorating Advent in the Orthodox Christian faith, begins on this date in mid-December.
  13. 21. The Prophet Muhammad, an influential figure in Islam, is celebrated on this day in late December.
  14. 22. This holiday, created in 1966, is seven days long. People celebrating this holiday learn about African culture and values, and it culminates in a feast on December 31.