December Diversity Calendar

Download the December Diversity Calendar

In December, we celebrate and remember:

• Advent – December 3 to 24: a season observed in most Christian denominations as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas, and the return of Christ at the Second Coming.
• World AIDS Day on December 1: People around the world unite to show support for people living with and affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS. The “Equalize” slogan is a call to action. It is a prompt for all of us to work for the proven practical actions needed to address inequalities and help end AIDS.
• International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on December 2: The focus of this day is on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict. Essentially, it refers to situations of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception, and/or abuse of power.
• International Day for Persons with Disabilities on December 3: this day is to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well being of persons with disabilities in all aspects of political, social, economic, and cultural life. Disability inclusion is an essential condition to upholding human rights, sustainable development, and peace and security. The theme for this year is “Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world.”
• Hanukkah – December 7 to 15: the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday in celebrating the success of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire, and the liberating and rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Traditions include decorating the home and gathering to light the menorah, recite blessings, eat fried foods, play games like dreidel, and exchange gifts.
• Pansexual Pride Day on December 8: a time to recognize the unique experiences and identities of pansexual people (defined as an attraction to all genders), while celebrating the progress made in promoting acceptance, understanding, and inclusion within our society.
• Bodhi Day on December 8: celebrates the day Siddhartha Gautama, Sakyamuni Buddha, achieved enlightenment. Known as Rohatsu or Jodo-e, this holiday is widely observed by Buddhists in the Mahayana traditions of East Asia and across the globe.
• Human Rights Day on December 10: we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document, which proclaimed that every human being is entitled to certain inalienable rights regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. 2023 Theme is “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All”.
• International Migrants Day on December 18: a day set aside to recognize the important contribution of migrants while highlighting the challenges they face. Conflict, war, insecurity, and the effects of climate change, have heavily forced people to move. Due to persistent lack of safe and regular migration pathways, millions continue to take perilous journeys each year. Since 2014 more than 50,000 migrants have lost their lives on migratory routes across the world.
• Christmas Day on December 25: a holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christians understand this as the “incarnation,” which means that God became human in the form of Jesus Christ. As it says in the Gospel of John, “The Word became flesh and lived among us.” (John 1: 14). Christmas is a time of gratitude for this incarnation of God into the world and remembrance of the importance of incarnating or embodying our own faith through love, generosity, and service, to continue making this world a better place.
• Kwanzaa begins on December 26 until January 1: African American cultural holiday that has been adopted around the world including in Canada to celebrate African family, community and culture.