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K-State Today

Division of Communications and Marketing
Kansas State University
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December 18, 2023

Weekly global religious, spiritual and nonreligious observance information

Submitted by David Yetter

The President's Committee on Religion, Spirituality and Nonreligious Diversity presents the global observance information for Dec. 18  to Jan. 1, 2024.

Yule — Thursday, Dec. 21. Tradition: Wicca/Paganism. Winter Solstice, celebrating the longest night and the blessings of darkness as well as the rebirth of the sun god. Begins at sundown.

Advent — Sunday, Dec. 3-Sunday, Dec. 24. Tradition: Christianity-Protestant, Christianity-Roman Catholic. Period of four weeks in which Christians prepare for Christmas and meditate on the end of all time. In Western churches, the first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the Christian liturgical year.

Nativity Fast — Wednesday, Nov. 15-Sunday, Dec. 24. Tradition: Christianity-Orthodox. Period of ascetic discipline in preparation for the celebration of Christmas, the Feast of the Nativity.

Christmas — Monday, Dec. 25. Tradition: Christianity-Protestant, Christianity-Roman Catholic, Christianity-Orthodox, new calendar. Celebrates the anniversary of the birth of Jesus.

Death of Prophet Zarathustra — Tuesday, Dec. 26. Tradition: Zoroastrianism. The anniversary of the death of the founder of the Zoroastrian faith.

Kwanzaa — Tuesday, Dec. 26-Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Tradition: African American. A seven-day celebration honoring African American heritage and its continued vitality. "Kwanzaa" means "first fruits (of the harvest)" in Swahili.

Ghambar Maidyarem — Sunday, Dec. 31–Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. Tradition: Zoroastrianism. Celebrates the creation of animals. Zoroastrians are encouraged to remember their practice of the equitable sharing of food during this observance. 

The President's Committee on Religious, Spiritual and Nonreligious Diversity welcomes those of all global religious, spiritual and nonreligious commitments. Further, we welcome any suggestions, questions or other comments. Please contact the committee's interim chair, David Yetter, at dyetter@k-state.edu