Green and red, black and orange, yellow, orange and brown. Christmas, Halloween and Thanksgiving. These are the three most popular holidays in the United States. Most people like to gather with families to celebrate these holidays, but others don’t celebrate these or even any holidays.

Ringing doorbells, knocking on doors screaming ‘trick or treat’ waiting for candy is a Halloween tradition. Halloween is a holiday that many like to celebrate by getting dressed up in costumes, going trick or treating and attending costume parties. Many Irish, Canadians and Americans like to honor these traditions, but others in Latin American and England have different traditions they honor during this time of spookiness. Some Latin Americans celebrate Día de los Muertos to honor deceased loved ones and ancestors, Englishmen celebrate Guy Fawkes Day with bonfires and fireworks to commemorate the failure of the Gunpowder plot of 1605, an attempt to blow up England’s King James and Parliament for refusing to grant greater religious tolerance to Catholics. Roman Catholics including some Christians like to celebrate All Saints Day to honor all the saints of the church. 

Gathering around the table with loved ones to enjoy a delicious feast, showing thanks and gratitude, Thanksgiving might seem like the holiday in which everyone celebrates with a delicious meal, but for Native Americans of New England, it is their day of mourning. A day of commemoration. National Day of Mourning involves a few hundred Native Americans and non native people gathering on Cole’s Hill, overlooking Plymouth Rock, considering Thanksgiving from the perspective of Native Americans. 

With multi-colored lights, ornaments, presents, a tree and family, Christmas is considered one of the most popular holidays in 160 countries. December never fails to bring in holiday cheer, but that doesn’t mean Christmas is the only cause of bringing that holiday spirit that is so well known. There is Hanukkah, an eight day festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and Kwanzaa, a week long celebration honoring African heritage in African-American culture. Diwali, the Festival of Lights is celebrated to honor Ramachandra, the seventh avatar which is the incarnation of the god Vishnu. Bodhi Day is celebrated by only drinking tea, eating cookies or decorating a Bodhi tree to commemorate the historical Buddha experiencing enlightenment.  Winter Solstice, celebrates the longest hours of darkness or the rebirth of the sun. Five other celebrations are held during the time Christmas is celebrated. Most remain unheard of. However that doesn’t mean these holidays never fail to contribute to holiday cheer in December. 

It’s all about believing. Celebrating holidays just so happens to fall into the category of what one believes and chooses to celebrate based on those beliefs. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas will most likely always remain as three of the most popular holidays in the United States. October, November and December are the three months that include the most holiday celebrations, but that does not mean these three popular holidays are the only reasons for all the festivities these three months can bring.