December is a time of changing seasons. Use this lesson on from our Earth Science course to help your students understand the changing temperatures!

Hanukkah (Jewish) Begins at sundown on December 4 (ends December 12) Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight day Jewish holiday which celebrates the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration and remembers the "miracle of the container of oil." The holiday is celebrated by lighting the menorah each night to signify the burning of the oil for eight days which should have only lasted one night. Learn more about Judaism with Ignite! Learning.	(COW users, this lesson is found in World Cultures, Judaism, Topic 2: Beliefs of Judaism)
Eid'ul-Adha (Muslim) December 20-22 Also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, this religious festival celebrates as Muslims remember Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael for Allah, but a voice from heaven allows Ibrahim to sacrifice a goat instead. It is one of two Eid festivals that Muslims celebrate and begins with a short prayer followed by a sermon.	(COW users, this lesson is found in World Cultures, Islam and the Ottoman Empire, Topic 1: Origins of Islam)
Christmas (Christian) December 25 Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Christmas festivities often combine the remembrance of Jesus' birth with various customs, many of which have been influenced by earlier winter festivals. The date as a birth date for Jesus is traditional, and is not considered to be his actual date of birth. In the United States, many celebrate with the exchange of gifts.	(COW users, this lesson is found in World History, Religion in Medieval Europe, Topic 1: Important Christian Figures)

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