U.S. Holidays and Observations in December 2009

Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, New Year's Eve, & Pearl Harbor Day

Nov 1, 2009
Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Christmas 2009 - Nevit Dilman, Wiki Commons

December is the ultimate holiday and observation month. Here's the 2009 schedule for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and some lesser known noteworthy days.

When it comes to holidays in December, everyone immediately thinks of the big ones: Christmas, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah,and Kwanzaa. But what else is going on in this last month of the year? Here's a list of well-known and not so well-known holidays and observances in December 2009.

Christmas 2009: December 25, and Christmas Eve 2009: December 24

This year, Christmas falls on a Friday, and Christmas Eve, which is a day off for many people, falls on a Thursday. This means an extra long weekend to celebrate with family and friends (and a whole weekend to stop by the stores for returns and after-Christmas sales). And poor Santa and the elves will have the whole weekend to rest before starting the post-Christmas workshop inventory.

New Year's Eve 2009: December 31

New Year's Eve also falls on a Thursday, followed by New Year's Day on a Monday. This means two long weekends in a row. Not a bad way to end one year and start a new one.

Hanukkah 2009: December 11 to December 18

This year, Hanukkah begins and end right int he middle of December, significantly before the Christmas festivities begin. Like all Jewish holidays, Hanukkah begins and ends at sundown. The festival lasts for eight days and eight nights, and Jewish children typically receive a small gift on each of the eight nights. Want to know more? Here are some frequently asked questions about Hanukkah.

Kwanzaa 2009: December 26 to January 1, 2010

Kwanzaa, a week-long African-American celebration of the values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement, always begins the day after Christmas and ends on New Year's. This year, the celebration begins on a Saturday, which will lend itself well to Kwanzaa celebrations. Want to know more?

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: December 7

Dec. 7, 2009 is the 68th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to the beginning of American official involvement in World War II. While the number of people alive who still remember this day are declining, December 7 still remains a day that will "live in infamy" the way that September 11 does for everyday people today.

First Day of Winter 2009: December 21

Brrr! Although parts of the U.S. have been seeing snow as early as October 2009, December 21 is officially the beginning of the winter season and the Winter Solstice.

Islamic New Year: December 18

The Islamic New Year marks the first day of Muharram, the first month of the Muslim calendar. Since the Muslim calendar is lunar, the the New Year changes annually, and it's unusual that the Muslim New Year corresponds so closely to January 1 this year.