Raise your hands, if you too feel the year 2018 zoomed past our eyes in a flash. A month to go for the New Year 2019. But before that, we must fully enjoy the last month of this year. December 2018 is full of important events, international days, festivals, and bank holidays. There are significant religious fasts (vrat) to be observed by Hindus. But the biggest attraction of the month remains, Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations. Christmas, the annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25, will be celebrated by millions of Christians worldwide. Let us look at the December 2018 calendar in detail, the important days and events to commemorate, along with religious festivals. It will also help you plan your holidays better. List of Dry Days of 2018 in India: Check Dates When Alcohol is Not For Sale.

The first day of the month, December 1 is celebrated as World Aids Day since 1988. The international day is commemorated to raise awareness about the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Apart from the education on aids prevention and control, it also aims at eradicating unfair bias infected individuals and wipe out the stigma and discrimination attached to it. Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2018 Lights NYC: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About the Annual Event (View Pics).

December 2, 2018, is also a very important day with big religious festivities taking place. It marks the start of the season of Advent, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas as well as the return of Jesus at the second coming. Apart from the First Sunday of Advent, Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights will begin. Hanukkah 2018 will take place from December 2 to December 10 evening. In Hinduism, Utpanna Ekadashi Vrat in honour of Lord Vishnu will be observed by devotees. List of Dry Days in Mumbai 2018: Check Complete Calendar with Dates When Alcohol is Not For Sale in The City.

2018 December Timetable for Indian Festivals and Holidays Calendar

Sr. No. Date Day Festivals/Events
1. December 1 Saturday World AIDS Day
2. December 2 Sunday First Sunday of Advent, Hanukkah Begins, Utpanna Ekadashi Vrat
3. December 3 Monday Feast of St. Francis Xavier, Utpanna Ekadashi Vrat
4. December 4 Tuesday Pradosha Vrata
5. December 10 Monday Human Rights Day
6. December 12 Wednesday Vivaha Panchami
7. December 16 Sunday Dhanu Sankranti
8. December 18 Tuesday Guru Ghasidas Jayanti, Gita Jayanti, Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat
9. December 22 Saturday Winter Solstice, Datta Jayanti, Margashirsha Purnima
10. December 24 Monday Christmas Eve
11. December 25 Tuesday Christmas, Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi
12. December 26 Wednesday Boxing Day, Shaheed Udham Singh Jayanti
13. December 27 Thursday Sabarimala Mandala Pooja
14. December 30 Sunday Ramana Maharshi Jayanti
15. December 31 Monday New Year’s Eve

Among the important days, we also have the Human Rights Day on December 10, Winter Solstice on December 22 and Boxing Day on December 26. As for Hindu fasts and festivals, Pradosha Vrata will take place on December 4, Vivaha Panchami on December 12, Dhanu Sankranti on December 16, Guru Ghasidas Jayanti, Gita Jayanti, Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat on December 18, Datta Jayanti, Margashirsha Purnima on December 22, Sabarimala Mandala Pooja on December 27 and Ramana Maharshi Jayanti on December 30.

And as mentioned before, Christmas and New Year's Eve remains the biggest attraction of the month. People are either travelling to places to ring in the fun days or planning big to celebrate the occasion with their loved ones at their homes. Like everyone else, we too cannot wait for it to arrive. We wish everyone a Happy Christmas 2018 and Happy New Year in advance!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 30, 2018 07:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).