December is full of celebrations. Whether you are planning for your own family or teaching kids about traditions their classmates celebrate, here is a quick guide with 2026 dates and simple ideas. Customs vary by family, community and region, so treat these as starting points and learn from people who celebrate.
Advent (December 1 to 24)
Many families count down to Christmas with an advent calendar. A homemade one is easy: number 24 bags, boxes or envelopes and fill each with a small treat, note or activity. The Advent Labels & Stocking Wish List ($4) has number labels 1-24, tags, filler ideas and a stocking wish list.
St. Nicholas Day (December 6)
Celebrated in many European countries and some US communities. Children put shoes out on the evening of December 5 (a Saturday in 2026) and find small treats such as oranges, nuts or chocolate coins in the morning. Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop of Myra known for giving in secret, so secret acts of kindness fit the day. The St. Nicholas Day Printables ($4) has shoe notes, a letter, a coloring page and kindness cards.
Hanukkah (begins at sundown Friday, December 4, 2026)
The eight-night Jewish Festival of Lights ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12, 2026. Families light the menorah each night, adding a candle, and often play dreidel, eat latkes and sufganiyot, and give small gifts. In 2026 the first and eighth nights fall on Friday evenings, so families light before the Shabbat candles. The Hanukkah 8-Night Planner ($6) plans gifts, food and activities for all eight nights, with a candle chart and dreidel page.
Las Posadas (December 16 to 24)
A nine-night tradition celebrated in Mexico, Guatemala and many US communities, re-enacting Mary and Joseph's search for shelter. Each night a procession goes to a host home, sings asking for posada, and celebrates with food such as tamales and ponche, and often a piñata. The Las Posadas Planner ($5) has a nine-night host planner, sign-up sheet, song sheet and bag tags with bilingual headings.
Christmas Eve (December 24)
Two popular traditions: the Christmas Eve box, with new pajamas, a book, a movie and hot cocoa, and the Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian-American seafood dinner rooted in the Southern Italian vigil. See the Christmas Eve Box Printables ($4) and the Feast of the Seven Fishes Planner ($6), or read Christmas Eve box ideas and how to plan the Feast of the Seven Fishes.
Kwanzaa (December 26 to January 1)
Created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa celebrates African American culture and heritage around seven principles, the Nguzo Saba, one for each day. Families light candles on the kinara, hold a Karamu feast on December 31, and give meaningful gifts. The Kwanzaa Family Planner ($5) has a 7-day planner, a page for each principle and a Karamu planner.
Looking ahead: Lunar New Year (Saturday, February 6, 2027)
Lunar New Year 2027 welcomes the Year of the Goat and is celebrated as Chinese Spring Festival, Korean Seollal, Vietnamese Tết and in communities worldwide. See Lunar New Year 2027 activities for kids.
Checklist
- ☐ Check dates for the holidays your family or class celebrates
- ☐ Ask families who celebrate how they mark the day
- ☐ Plan one simple activity per holiday
- ☐ Set a budget for gifts and food
- ☐ Print materials a week ahead
Plan holiday spending with the free Christmas budget planner.