The month of December is filled with several religious and spiritual celebrations and a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate multiculturalism at MUIH. We wish all members of our community a joyful and peaceful holiday season.
December 1
MAWLID AL-NABI (Also known as MILAD AL-NABI) • Islamic (Sunni)
The observance of the birthday of Islam founder Prophet Muhammad which occurs in Rabi’ al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. Celebrates the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, founder of Islam. Shi‟a Muslims celebrate it five days later than Sunni Muslims.
December 3–24
ADVENT • Christian
Advent is a season of spiritual preparation in observance of the birth of Jesus. In Western Christianity, it starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. In Eastern Christianity, the season is longer and begins in the middle of November.
December 6
MAWLID AL-NABI (Also known as MILAD AL-NABI) • Islamic (Shi’a)
The observance of the birthday of Islam founder Prophet Muhammad which occurs in Rabi’ al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. Celebrates the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, founder of Islam. Shi‟a Muslims celebrate it five days later than Sunni Muslims.
December 8
BODHI DAY • Buddhist
Also known as Rohatsu, it observes the spiritual awakening (bodhi) of founder Siddharta Gautama, the Buddha, ca. 596 BCE. Celebrated on the eighth day either of December or the 12th month of the lunar calendar.
December 12
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE • Christian
Celebrates the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (by her title, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of Mexico and the Americas) before Juan Diego, an indigenous convert to Roman Catholicism, on the Mexican hill of Tepeyac in 1531.
December 13–20
CHANUKAH • Jewish
Eight-day “Festival of Lights”, celebrating the rededication of the Temple to the service of God in 164 BCE. Commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Greek King, Antiochus, who sought to suppress freedom of worship.
December 21
WINTER SOLSTICE
In the northern hemisphere, the shortest day of the year. It marks the first day of the season of winter.
December 25
CHRISTMAS • Western Christian
Commemorates the birth of Jesus.
December 26–January 1,2018
KWANZAA
A seven-day celebration honoring African American heritage and its continued vitality. “Kwanzaa” means “first fruits (of the harvest)” in Swahili.