Fun Facts	The first Christmas carols were composed in the fourth century. From 1659 to 1681, Boston residents could be fined five shillings for showing Christmas spirit of any kind. 98% of Americans celebrate either Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa. Back to the calendar.
December 13	The celebration of St. Lucia Day began in Sweden in honor of St. Lucia (also known as St. Lucy) but has since spread to Denmark and Finland. It is considered the beginning of the Christmas season. Back to the calendar.
Fun Facts	Christmas was not declared a national holiday in the United States until 1870. Back to the calendar.
Fun Facts	More than two billion Christmas cards are sent around the world each year. Back to the calendar.
December 24	Christmas Eve—In New York, the Central Presbyterian Church conducts a "Blessing of the Animals" ceremony. Pet owners of any denomination are welcome to bring their pet to the church to share in the holiday festivities. Back to the calendar.
December 25	Christmas Day—The Bible doesn't actually specify on which day Jesus was born. Pope Julius I didn't designate December 25 Christmas Day until sometime in the fourth century. The earliest Christians actually believed that the celebration of birthdays was heathen and unholy. Click here for more information. Hanukkah begins at sundown on Sunday, December 25 and lasts until sundown on January 2. It commemorates the victory of the Jews against the Greeks almost 2,000 years ago. Click here for the history behind Hanukkah. Back to the calendar.
December 26	The menorah should be lit immediately after sundown. Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday celebrated from December 26 through January 1. It is from the swahili phrase "ya kwanza," which means first fruits. Mishumaa saba are the seven ceremonial Kwanzaa candles: three red, three green, and one black. The black candle symbolizes Umoja (unity), the basis of success, and is lit on December 26. Click here for more on the holiday of Kwanzaa. Boxing Day—This holiday, which is observed on December 26, the feast of St. Stephen, is a unique part of the Christmas season in Great Britain, as well as other Commonwealth nations. Boxing Day stems from a tradition that began in the Middle Ages more than 800 years ago. On this day, English churches would open their "alms box," in which people had placed gifts of money throughout the year, and distribute its contents to needy members of the community. It was also a day for servants to celebrate the holidays with their families, having usually worked the day before. Today, Boxing Day is one of the 22 paid holidays received by most working Brits. It is equivalent to a legal holiday or a three-day weekend in America and is often observed on a Monday. Most people now spend Christmas Day with their family and reserve Boxing Day for exchanging gifts with friends. Although the government shuts down for the day, cinemas and theatres are open. Back to the calendar.
December 27	In Israel, giant Hanukkah lamps, visible for great distances, are kindled atop public buildings, such as the Knesset building in Jerusalem. Harambee is a Swahili word that means "Let's all pull together". It is always said in sets of seven to honor and recall the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Back to the calendar.
December 28	The First and Second Books of the Maccabees are the most commonly used historical sources on Hanukkah. Many adults fast from sunrise to sunset as a part of Kwanzaa. Back to the calendar.
December 29	The fifth night of Hanukkah has been called "The Black Fifth Night", after the night during World War I when the Turks expelled all Jewish residents from Tel Aviv and Jaffa. "Kwanzaa Yenu Iwe Na Heri" is the Kwanzaa greeting of choice. It means "Happy Kwanzaa". Back to the calendar.
December 30	For Ashkenazic Jews, the poem "Maoz Tzur Yeshuati", known as "Rock Of Ages," has become the central hymn in the ceremony of lighting the menorah. Back to the calendar.
December 31	The name Maccabee is derived from the Hebrew word for hammer. Many think that Judah Maccabbee got his name because of his strength and hammer-like blows to the Greeks. The Karamu feast is held on the sixth day and is celebrated with festive songs, dance, toasts, prayers, and plenty of food. The kikombe cha umoja is a special cup that is used to perform the libation (tambiko) ritual during Karamu. Back to the calendar.
January 1	The menorah at the holy Temple in Jerusalem burned pure, beaten olive oil that was produced in olive presses supervised by priests. Kwanzaa culminates with the celebration of Imani when meaningful zawadi (gifts) are exchanged to encourage growth, self-determination, achievement, and success. Back to the calendar.
January 2	Sundown on January 2 marks the last evening of Hanukkah. Legend has it that the light of the Temple menorah overflowed beyond the confines of the sanctuary and lit up every household in Jerusalem. Back to the calendar.
January 6	Christmas is celebrated on this day in the Russian and Greek Orthodox churches. It is also known as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day -- a commemoration of the day that the biblical three kings visited Jesus-- which is celebrated in Spain, Latin America, and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. Back to the calendar.