The Most Popular Winter Holiday, Ranked

Choose the winter holiday you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on May 6, 2024 06:54
During the colder months, festive feelings and celebrations take a front seat. Many people find joy in honoring traditions and creating new memories. With numerous holidays around the world, identifying the most cherished ones can be both intriguing and useful. This voting site allows individuals to share their personal favorites and see how others celebrate the winter season. By participating in the ranking, users contribute to a broader understanding of cultural preferences and seasonal joys. The dynamic nature of this list offers a glimpse into the shifting trends and timeless classics that mark the winter months. It's an opportunity for everyone to voice their opinions and maybe even discover new reasons to appreciate this festive time of year.

What Is the Most Popular Winter Holiday?

  1. 1
    63
    votes
    Christmas is the most popular winter holiday celebrated by Christians around the world. It is celebrated on December 25 every year, to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a time for family gatherings, gift-giving, and spreading joy and goodwill.
    Christmas is a widely celebrated festival in Italy, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a significant cultural and religious event observed by both Christians and non-Christians across the country. The holiday is marked by various traditions, customs, and festivities that bring families and communities together to share joy and goodwill.
    • Date: December 25th
    • Religious Significance: Birth of Jesus Christ
    • Decorations: Christmas tree, nativity scene, lights, ornaments
    • Traditional Food: Panettone, Pandoro, roasted meats, pasta, seafood, torrone
    • Gift Exchange: Exchanging gifts on December 25th or Epiphany (January 6th)
  2. 2
    31
    votes
    New Year's Day is celebrated on January 1 every year, to mark the beginning of a new year. It is a time for reflection, making resolutions, and spending time with loved ones.
    New Year's Day is the first day of the year according to the Gregorian calendar. It is celebrated by people worldwide as the beginning of a new year and is typically accompanied by various customs, traditions, and festivities.
    • Date: January 1st
    • Calendar: Gregorian calendar
    • Global Celebration: Celebreated worldwide
    • Customs and Traditions: Varies across different cultures
    • Fireworks: Often accompanied by fireworks displays
    New Year's Day in other rankings
  3. 3
    19
    votes
    Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and nights, usually in December. It commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire.
    Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It is celebrated for eight days and nights, starting on the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev. Each night, a unique candle is lit on a special nine-branched menorah. It is a time of joy, gratitude, and family gatherings.
    • Duration: Eight days and nights
    • Hebrew Month: Kislev
    • Candle Lighting: One candle is lit each night on a menorah
    • Total Candles: Nine, including the Shamash (helper) candle
    • Traditional Food: Fried foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts)
  4. 4
    12
    votes
    Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday celebrated from December 26 to January 1. It was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga to celebrate African heritage and culture.
    Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration that takes place from December 26th to January 1st each year. It is a cultural holiday that was created to honor African heritage and to bring African-Americans together. Kwanzaa combines different traditions and elements to foster unity, community building, and reflection.
    • Dates: December 26th to January 1st
    • Principles: Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Umoja (Unity), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith)
    • Symbols: Mazao (Crops), Mkeka (Mat), Kinara (Candle Holder), Mishumaa Saba (Seven Candles), Kikombe Cha Umoja (Unity Cup), Vibunzi (Corn), and Zawadi (Gifts)
    • Celebratory Activities: Lighting of the Kinara, discussion of the Seven Principles, artistic expressions, traditional music and dance, feasting on traditional dishes, and giving of meaningful gifts
    • Colors: Black, red, and green
  5. 5
    13
    votes
    Epiphany is a Christian holiday celebrated on January 6, to commemorate the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus. It is also known as Three Kings' Day or Twelfth Night.
    Epiphany is a soulful and inspiring ballad by the South Korean boy band BTS. It was released on August 25, 2018, as part of their album 'Love Yourself: Answer'. The song centers around the theme of self-love and self-acceptance, encouraging listeners to embrace their true selves and find happiness within. The heartfelt lyrics and emotive vocals make it a beautifully touching and impactful track.
    • Release Date: August 25, 2018
    • Album: Love Yourself: Answer
    • Genre: Ballad
    • Duration: 4:00
    • Language: Korean
  6. 6
    14
    votes
    St. Lucia Day is a Swedish holiday celebrated on December 13, to honor the Christian martyr St. Lucia. It is a celebration of light, with girls wearing white dresses and wreaths of candles on their heads.
  7. 7
    17
    votes
    Boxing Day
    Sigismund von Dobschütz · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated in the United Kingdom, Canada, and some other Commonwealth countries on December 26. It is a day to give gifts to one's service providers, such as postal workers, garbage collectors, and servants.
    Boxing Day is a public holiday that is celebrated in several countries around the world on December 26th. It originated in the United Kingdom during the Middle Ages and is rooted in various customs and traditions. While its exact origin is uncertain, it is believed to have developed from a practice in which servants and tradesmen received gifts from their employers and customers on the day after Christmas.
    • Date: December 26th
    • Origin: United Kingdom
    • Celebrated in: Several countries
    • Customs: Traditionally, it was a day to give gifts to those in need or less fortunate, visit family and friends, participate in sports events, and engage in charitable activities.
    • Public holiday: Yes
  8. 8
    8
    votes
    Winter Solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year, usually on December 21 or 22. It is a time for festivals and celebrations in many cultures, to mark the changing of the seasons.
    The Winter Solstice, also known as the hibernal solstice, is an astronomical event that marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs when the tilt of Earth's axis is furthest away from the Sun, resulting in the least amount of daylight.
    • Date: December 21st or 22nd
    • Time: Varies depending on the year
    • Daylight Duration: Shortest of the year
    • Duration of Night: Longest of the year
    • Cultural Significance: Celebrated in various cultures and religions
  9. 9
    12
    votes
    Yule is a pagan holiday celebrated on the Winter Solstice, to mark the rebirth of the sun and the coming of spring. It is a time for feasting, drinking, and merrymaking.
    Yule is a traditional winter holiday celebrated in various cultures around the world. It is usually observed during the winter solstice, which marks the longest night and the shortest day of the year. Yule is a time to welcome the return of the sun and celebrate the rebirth of nature. It is characterized by festive rituals, feasting, and gift-giving.
    • Origin: Ancient pagan celebration
    • Date: Usually observed around December 21st
    • Significance: Welcoming the return of the sun, celebrating winter solstice
    • Cultural Significance: Celebrated by Norse, Celtic, and Germanic peoples
    • Rituals: Lighting yule logs, decorating trees, singing carols, exchanging gifts
  10. 10
    5
    votes
    Chinese New Year
    Myrabella · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Chinese New Year is a lunar new year celebrated by Chinese people around the world, usually in late January or early February. It is a time for family reunions, feasting, and honoring ancestors.
    Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is the most important traditional holiday in China. It is celebrated by Chinese communities worldwide, marking the beginning of the lunar calendar year. The festival usually lasts for 15 days, starting from the first day of the lunar month and ending with the Lantern Festival.
    • Date: It falls between January 21 and February 20 (based on the Gregorian calendar).
    • Length: 15 days
    • Traditions: Reunion dinners, red envelope gifting, lion and dragon dances, firecrackers, and lantern festivals.
    • Zodiac Animal: Each year is associated with one of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals. It cycles through Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
    • Festive Decorations: Red lanterns, couplets, paper cuttings, and traditional New Year paintings are commonly used to decorate homes and streets.
    Chinese New Year in other rankings

Missing your favorite winter holiday?

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Discussion

Ranking factors for popular winter holiday

  1. Global Celebrations
    The holiday should be celebrated worldwide in various cultures and countries.
  2. Historical and Traditional Significance
    The holiday should have a historical or traditional significance that people have been observing for years.
  3. Religious Significance
    The significance of the holiday in various religions and its importance in the religious calendar can also be a key factor.
  4. Public Holidays
    The number of countries that recognize the day as a public holiday and the number of businesses and schools that close for the day can indicate the popularity of the holiday.
  5. Social and Family Gatherings
    The number of social and family gatherings that take place during the holiday season can also be a factor.
  6. Commercialization
    The amount of money spent on decorations, gifts, and other forms of commercialization associated with the holiday can indicate its popularity.
  7. Tourism
    The influx of tourists to various destinations to celebrate the holiday can also be a key factor in determining its popularity.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular winter holiday. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or winter holiday is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 2278 views
  • 193 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each winter holiday once every 24 hours. The rank of each winter holiday is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular winter holiday

Winter is one of the most magical times of the year, with the holiday season being a time of joy and celebration for people all over the world. With so many different winter holidays to choose from, it can be difficult to determine which one is the most popular. From Christmas to Hanukkah, Kwanzaa to Diwali, there are countless traditions and festivities that take place during this time of year. At StrawPoll, we are dedicated to finding out which winter holiday is the most beloved and cherished by people from all walks of life. Our polls and rankings allow users to share their opinions and insights, giving us a fascinating glimpse into the diverse and vibrant world of winter holidays. Whether you're a fan of caroling, gift-giving, or simply spending time with loved ones, there's a winter holiday out there for everyone. Let's explore the most popular ones together!

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