For the majority of Americans, and even other countries around the world, December has heavy ties with the celebration of Christmas. But for those who don't celebrate Christmas, or celebrate for reasons other than religion, December can mean something totally different.

There's a classic dilemma when it comes to sending cards as to whether you send "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays," based off of what you celebrate or if you want to be "politically correct." I can't say I've ever received a Happy Hanukkah card, but as the member of the family who makes cards year after year, I have seen layouts for quite a few.

With that being said, though, the idea of December being more than Christmas is often overlooked by so many. It's becoming a bit more common for Hanukkah to be given recognition, but what about celebrations for Bodhi Day, and Kwanzaa? What about those who aren't Christian, but maybe Buddhist or even Zoroastrian?

There are so many religious and spiritual celebrations throughout the month of December that get pushed aside, but deserve the same amount of attention and appreciation given to Christmas.

As we enter the middle of December, take a look at these holidays and the different people who celebrate them so that you can be more mindful of the different traditions that surround you. A time of year shouldn't be labeled by a majority vote, but rather by the strength in its individual components.

Bodhi Day

A Buddhist holiday that commemorates the historical Buddha Siddhartha Gautama's experience of enlightenment. According to tradition, Siddhartha, after years of ascetic practices, moved forward to sit under a peepal tree and mediate until the root of suffering, and how to liberate oneself from it, was found. The holiday is observed by sects of Mahayana Buddhism each year and falls on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month of the Chinese Calendar. That day is December 8th in Japan. Celebration of the day includes additional meditation, studying the Dharma, chanting sutras (Buddhist texts) and performing kind acts toward others with a traditional meal for the day consisting of tea and cake.

Zarathosht Diso/Death of Zarathustra

Zoroastrianism, one of the world's oldest religions, is thought to have roots in an Indo-Iranian religious practice. Once the official religion of Persia (Iran), and one of the most powerful religions world-wide, it has now become one of the smallest religions in the world. Their holiday, Zarathost Diso, is a solemn day devoted to the remembrance of the death of their prophet, Zarathustra.

Mawlid

A holiday meaning, "Birth of the Prophet," Mawlid is a day devoted to the observance of the birthday of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. There are many different levels of celebration, but for most it is a large carnival and parade that run down the streets, with homes and mosques heavily decorated. The main reason for the celebration and festivities is to express one's love for Muhammad, and the holiday is celebrated on the 12th day of the third month of the Islamic calendar.

Hanukkah:

A commemoration of the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated for eight days and nights. The most commonly known practice of the holiday is the lighting of the menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum. The middle branch, which is set higher than the others, is the candle that serves as the basis for the others. The middle branch, the shamash, is what is used to light the other candles, with one more candle lit each of the eight nights until the last evening of Hanukkah, when the final candle is lit. Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah has other traditions such as playing dreidel.