National and International Important Days In December
December is the last month of the Gregorian calendar and the tenth month in the Roman Calendar. December is named after the Latin word “decem” which means tenth. This is the first month of winter in the northern hemisphere and the month is associated with Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Many important national and international days are celebrated during this month like Indian Navy Day, Vijay Diwas, and UNICEF Day.
1 December – World AIDS Day
1st December is observed as World AIDS Day to raise awareness about the AIDS epidemic and serves as a day of remembrance to those who have lost their lives to AIDS. Every year, organizations and people across the globe spread awareness about HIV and AIDS to help increase the public’s knowledge and counter HIV stigma.
2 December – World Pollution Prevention Day
World Pollution Prevention Day is celebrated on 2nd December to raise awareness about how the amount of pollution is increasing. This day is observed in the memory of individuals who lose their lives in the Bhopal gas disaster which happened on the evening of 2-3 December in 1984.
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the environment that causes instability, disorder, harm, or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemicals; substances or energy such as noise, heat, or light.
2 December – International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
Since 1986 United Nations General Assembly has been observing International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on 2nd December. Human trafficking, child labor, forced marriage, sexual exploitation, and forced recruitment in armed conflict, are all forms of modern slavery that are still happening today across most countries. Modern slavery dehumanizes, discriminates, and violates all human rights; we cannot allow slavery to still take place in the 21st century.
2 December – World Computer Literacy Day
World Computer Literacy Day will be celebrated on December 2 every year. It aims to “create awareness and drive digital literacy in underserved communities worldwide. The day was founded by Indian computer company NIIT to mark its 20th anniversary in 2001.
3 December – International Day of People with Disability or World Disability Day
December 3 is recognized as the International Day of Persons With Disabilities by the United Nations, a day to spread awareness and understanding of the experiences of those living with disabilities. We take this opportunity to highlight how far we have come in recognizing persons with disabilities as just another manifestation of diversity in our communities, and to stand in support of a society that embraces that diversity, in all its forms and shapes.
4 December – Indian Navy Day
The fourth of December is celebrated every year as the Indian Navy Day to pay homage to the guardians of our seas. The day commemorate the launch of Operation Trident in the year 1971 when the Indian Navy successfully attacked the Pakistani Naval Headquarters in Karachi.
5 December – International Volunteer Day
International Volunteer Day is observed on December 5th to recognize and thank volunteers for their contributions to communities around the world. The volunteers are those who bring out a positive change in natural and man-made disasters. They make the world a better place to live in during such unavoidable situations.
5 December – World Soil Day
December 5th is World Soil Day, a United Nations Observance that celebrates healthy soils for a food-secure future. We need to address the growing challenges in soil management, fight soil biodiversity loss, increase soil awareness and encourage governments, organizations, communities, and individuals around the world to commit to proactively improving soil health.
7 December – Armed Forces Flag Day
Every year on 7th December, India observes Armed Forces Flag Day to pay respects to the martyrs of the defense forces and honor the personnel in uniform. India has three wings of defense forces aimed at protecting the country’s air, land, and water. The day was first celebrated on the seventh of December in 1949. The day is dedicated to the collection of funds from the people of India for the welfare of the Indian Armed Forces personnel.
7 December – International Civil Aviation Day
International Civil Aviation Day was established by United Nations General Assembly in 1996. The purpose of the Day is to raise global awareness of the importance of international civil aviation for the socio-economic development of countries. It also aims to raise awareness of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO’s) unique role in supporting the cooperation and assistance of States in building a rapid and truly global transport network for the benefit of all humanity.
8 December – SAARC Day
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Association was signed on December 8, 1985, by the SAARC Heads of States/Governments during the first Summit meeting in Dhaka, which is celebrated as SAARC Day. SAARC countries have a common tradition, dress, food, and culture, and political aspects thereby synergizing their actions. Its seven founding countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It was in 2007 Afghanistan also joined the organization.
9 December – International Anti-Corruption Day
International Anti-Corruption Day (IAC Day) is celebrated each year on 9 December as an initiative of the United Nations. It’s a day when governments, citizens, and businesses can work toward renewing their commitment to helping end the impact of corruption on people’s lives all over the globe.
10 December – Human Rights Day
10 December, is celebrated as Human Rights Day by the global human rights community and the whole United Nations family. This day is used to remember when the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
10 December – Nobel Prize Day
Nobel Prize Day is an annual event, observed every year on December 10. The Nobel Prize is a set of annual international awards bestowed in several categories by Swedish and Norwegian institutions in recognition of academic, cultural, or scientific advances.
11 December – International Mountain Day
International Mountain Day, designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2003 and celebrated on 11 December, highlights the importance of mountains to life on Earth. A day to celebrate the rich biodiversity in mountains as well as to address the threats they face.
11 December – UNICEF Day
UNICEF Day is celebrated on the 11th of December every year since its foundation in 1946. UNICEF was initially established as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund by the U.N. General Assembly to provide immediate hunger relief and healthcare to children and mothers in countries devastated by World War II. UNICEF’s main goal is to give every child the chance to grow up healthy, happy, and safe.
14 December – National Energy Conservation Day(India)
National energy conservation day is celebrated every year on 14 December in entire India since 1991. This day is celebrated to make people aware of the importance of conservation and energy efficiency. Conservation of energy is an effort to reduce energy consumption by using less energy service and ensuring that natural resources are around for future generations.
16 December – Vijay Diwas
India celebrates December 16 as Vijay Diwas to commemorate its victory over Pakistan during the 1971 war. It is also observed as ‘Bijoy Dibos’ or Liberation Day in Bangladesh, marking the country’s formal independence from Pakistan.
18 December – International Migrants Day
International Migrants Day is marked on the 18th of December each year, which recognizes and celebrates the contribution that migrants make around the world. The day is celebrated annually to increase awareness and the equal protection of all human rights of migrants.
18 December – National Minority Rights Day
Minority Rights Day is observed in India annually on 18 December to protect and promote the rights of minority communities and also to ensure security in their particular language, caste, religion, culture, and tradition.
19 December – Goa’s Liberation Day
19th December is celebrated as Goa’s Liberation Day, each year. This day commemorates the freedom of Goa from Portuguese rule. Goa was colonized by the Portuguese in the year 1510 and they ruled Goans for more than 450 years till 1961. The Portuguese were among the very first to colonize parts of India and were the last to leave.
20 December – International Human Solidarity Day
United Nations’ International Human Solidarity Day is annually observed on 20th December across the world as an initiative in the fight against poverty. It is a day to raise public awareness of the importance of solidarity, celebrate our unity in diversity, and remind governments to respect their commitments to international agreements.
22 December – National Mathematics Day
National Mathematics Day in India is celebrated every year on December 22 to commemorate the birth anniversary of India’s mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan. Srinivasan Ramanujan has made countless contributions to the field of mathematics.
23 December – National Farmer’s Day, Kisan Diwas (India)
Indian observes National Farmer’s Day, or Kisan Diwas on 23rd December to honor the fifth Prime Minister of India, Choudhary Charan Singh. Chaudhary Charan Singh was famous for his farmer-friendly policies have a major contribution to the initial phase of agricultural development in India. Born on 23rd December, Chaudhary Charan Singh was a firm supporter of farmers as well as a Kisan leader following the slogan of Lal Bahadur Shastri- “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan“.
24 December – National Consumers Day
National Consumers Day is observed on 24th December every year. Consumers play a significant role in increasing the economy of a country. The day is celebrated to create awareness about consumers’ rights among consumers and ensure that they receive redressal if their rights are violated.
25 December – Christmas Day
Christmas, celebrated by most Christians on December 25, commemorates the birth of Jesus. Christmas Day, this holiday is derived from the Old English Crīstesmæsse which means Christ’s Mass, and the tradition of Christmas varies around the world and has evolved over time.
25 December – Good Governance Day (India)
Good Governance Day is observed on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (25th December). The day was created to honor Prime Minister Vajpayee by promoting awareness of the government’s responsibility among the Indian people.
26 December – Boxing Day
Boxing Day is that day after Christmas, celebrated in the United Kingdom and other British Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. It’s a day for watching sports on the television and shopping. It’s almost like Black Friday and visiting friends.
31 December – New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve takes place on the last day of the year i.e. on 31st December or the evening before New Year’s Day. New Year’s Eve is celebrated with parties, events where people dance, drink and eat, and watch fireworks to ring in New Year Day, 1 January.
