As the year draws to a close, the team here at Appen is so grateful for our incredible Crowd! We hope that you enjoyed the holiday season wherever you are in the world. Each month we look forward to reading about the different holidays that our Contributors celebrate throughout the world. Take a look at some of the special celebrations that were held during December.
December 12, Dia de la Virgencita de Guadalupe (Mexico)
The Basilica of Guadalupe is visited by between 17 and 20 million tourists each year.
On this day, the people of Mexico celebrate the Virgin Mary. It is believed that on this day, the Virgin Mary appeared to a young man in 1531. It is recognized as a national holiday and people celebrate in the country’s religious center at the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe, located in Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo.
From our Contributor, Bogart, from Mexico:
It is a Catholic celebration in Mexico where we celebrate, have food, fun, and joy. All the women named Guadalupe feel like it is a party. It’s like a second birthday for them.
December 24, Christmas Eve (Worldwide)
In most parts of Austria, Germany, Poland & Switzerland, presents are exchanged and opened on the night of Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day.
The day before Christmas, known as Christmas Eve, is observed around the world and considered to be a culturally significant holiday. In some parts of the world, presents are exchanged on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day.
From our Contributor, Mariana, from Brazil: “Everyone decorates the house with a lot of laughs. I like it a lot, we all dress up and play games.”
December 25, Christmas Day (Worldwide)
Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850.
Christmas is celebrated annually toward the end of December. This holiday is a religious and cultural celebration observed throughout the world by Christians and non-Christians alike. Historically, Christmas is the beginning of Christmastide, which lasts for twelve days. Christmas is a public holiday is many parts of the world.
One of our Contributors, Ivania, pictured with her family
From our Contributor, Gladys, from South Africa: “It’s a day set aside to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s also a day to celebrate love amongst our friends and relative. A day to share with the less privileged.”
From one of our Contributors, Aline, from Brazil:
Here in Brazil, we typically celebrate the birth of Jesus by attending Mass. We set up a Christmas tree and it is common to get together at midnight on Christmas Eve for supper.
From our Contributor, Maria, from the Philippines: “In the Philippines, we celebrate Christmas Day the longest. We start it at the beginning of September and all the way through February. All people start decorating during these months. In December, we have to complete the 9-Day Simbang Gabi that starts on December 16 and ends on December 24. There is a belief that completing the 9-day Mass would grant your wish. We always go to church to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.”
From our Contributor, Lorena, “We were celebrating with my aunt who lives in Buenos Aires.”
December 31, New Year’s Eve (Worldwide)
The Line Islands and Tonga, in the Pacific Ocean, are the first places to welcome the New Year, while American Samoa, Baker Island and Howland Island are among the last.
New Year’s Eve, also known as Old Year’s Day, is the evening of the last day of the year. It is commonly celebrated with festivals and firework displays. The celebrations typically last past midnight to celebrate the first day of the new year.
As always, we enjoyed reading about the traditions and holidays that our Crowd members celebrated throughout the year. Thanks for sharing your holiday celebrations with us. We look forward to hearing more from all of you in the new year!
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