Christmas Holiday around the world in 2024

Christmas Holiday around the world in 2024
  How long until Christmas Holiday?
Christmas Holiday
  Dates of Christmas Holiday around the world
2025 Various Dec 26
BulgariaFri, Dec 26National Holiday
CuraçaoFri, Dec 26National Holiday
DenmarkFri, Dec 26National Holiday
Faroe IslandsFri, Dec 26National Holiday
FinlandFri, Dec 26National Holiday
GreenlandFri, Dec 26National Holiday
Hong KongFri, Dec 26National Holiday
HungaryFri, Dec 26National Holiday
IcelandFri, Dec 26National Holiday
India Dec 26
MeghalayaFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
MizoramFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
NagalandFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
LatviaFri, Dec 26National Holiday
LithuaniaFri, Dec 26National Holiday
NorwayFri, Dec 26National Holiday
PortugalFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
RomaniaFri, Dec 26National Holiday
Sierra LeoneFri, Dec 26National Holiday
South SudanFri, Dec 26National Holiday
SurinameFri, Dec 26National Holiday
SwedenFri, Dec 26National Holiday
US Virgin IslandsFri, Dec 26National Holiday
USA Dec 26
KentuckyFri, Dec 26Government Holiday
MichiganFri, Dec 26Government Holiday
North CarolinaFri, Dec 26Government Holiday
North DakotaFri, Dec 26Government Holiday
OklahomaFri, Dec 26Government Holiday
South CarolinaFri, Dec 26Government Holiday
TennesseeFri, Dec 26Government Holiday
TexasFri, Dec 26Government Holiday
VirginiaFri, Dec 26Government Holiday
VirginiaFri, Dec 26Government Holiday
WisconsinFri, Dec 26Government Holiday
2024 Various Dec 26, Dec 27
BulgariaThu, Dec 26National Holiday
CuraçaoThu, Dec 26National Holiday
DenmarkThu, Dec 26National Holiday
Falkland IslandsFri, Dec 27Government Holiday
Faroe IslandsThu, Dec 26National Holiday
FinlandThu, Dec 26National Holiday
GreenlandThu, Dec 26National Holiday
Hong KongThu, Dec 26National Holiday
Hungary Dec 26, Dec 27
HungaryFri, Dec 27National Holiday
HungaryThu, Dec 26National Holiday
IcelandThu, Dec 26National Holiday
India Dec 26, Dec 27
NagalandFri, Dec 27Regional Holiday
MeghalayaThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
MizoramThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
NagalandThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
IndonesiaThu, Dec 26National Holiday
LatviaThu, Dec 26National Holiday
LithuaniaThu, Dec 26National Holiday
NorwayThu, Dec 26National Holiday
PakistanThu, Dec 26National Holiday
PortugalThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Romania Dec 26, Dec 27
RomaniaFri, Dec 27Government Holiday
RomaniaThu, Dec 26National Holiday
Sierra LeoneThu, Dec 26National Holiday
South SudanThu, Dec 26National Holiday
SurinameThu, Dec 26National Holiday
SwedenThu, Dec 26National Holiday
US Virgin IslandsThu, Dec 26National Holiday
USA Dec 26
KentuckyThu, Dec 26Government Holiday
MichiganThu, Dec 26Government Holiday
North CarolinaThu, Dec 26Government Holiday
North DakotaThu, Dec 26Government Holiday
South CarolinaThu, Dec 26Government Holiday
TennesseeThu, Dec 26Government Holiday
TexasThu, Dec 26Government Holiday
VirginiaThu, Dec 26Government Holiday
VirginiaThu, Dec 26Government Holiday
WisconsinThu, Dec 26Government Holiday
2023 Various Dec 22, Dec 26, Dec 27, Dec 28, Dec 29
Bulgaria Dec 26, Dec 27
BulgariaWed, Dec 27National Holiday
BulgariaTue, Dec 26National Holiday
CuraçaoTue, Dec 26National Holiday
DenmarkTue, Dec 26National Holiday
Falkland Islands Dec 27, Dec 28, Dec 29
Falkland IslandsFri, Dec 29Government Holiday
Falkland IslandsThu, Dec 28Government Holiday
Falkland IslandsWed, Dec 27National Holiday
Faroe IslandsTue, Dec 26National Holiday
FinlandTue, Dec 26National Holiday
GreenlandTue, Dec 26National Holiday
Hong KongTue, Dec 26National Holiday
HungaryTue, Dec 26National Holiday
IcelandTue, Dec 26National Holiday
India Dec 26, Dec 27
MeghalayaWed, Dec 27Regional Holiday
NagalandWed, Dec 27Regional Holiday
MeghalayaTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
MizoramTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
NagalandTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
TelanganaTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
IndonesiaTue, Dec 26National Holiday
International Dec 26
Cape VerdeTue, Dec 26Government Holiday
JordanTue, Dec 26Not A Public Holiday
LatviaTue, Dec 26National Holiday
LithuaniaTue, Dec 26National Holiday
Nigeria Dec 27, Dec 28, Dec 29
Niger StateFri, Dec 29Government Holiday
Niger StateThu, Dec 28Government Holiday
Niger StateWed, Dec 27Government Holiday
NorwayTue, Dec 26National Holiday
PakistanTue, Dec 26National Holiday
PhilippinesTue, Dec 26National Holiday
PortugalTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
RomaniaTue, Dec 26National Holiday
Sierra LeoneTue, Dec 26National Holiday
South SudanTue, Dec 26National Holiday
SurinameTue, Dec 26National Holiday
SwedenTue, Dec 26National Holiday
US Virgin IslandsTue, Dec 26National Holiday
USA Dec 22, Dec 26, Dec 27
North CarolinaWed, Dec 27Regional Holiday
KentuckyTue, Dec 26Government Holiday
North CarolinaTue, Dec 26Government Holiday
North DakotaTue, Dec 26Government Holiday
OklahomaTue, Dec 26Government Holiday
South CarolinaTue, Dec 26Government Holiday
TexasTue, Dec 26Government Holiday
VirginiaTue, Dec 26Government Holiday
MichiganFri, Dec 22Government Holiday
South CarolinaFri, Dec 22Government Holiday
TennesseeFri, Dec 22Government Holiday
VirginiaFri, Dec 22Government Holiday
West VirginiaFri, Dec 22Government Holiday
WisconsinFri, Dec 22Government Holiday
2022 Various Dec 23, Dec 26, Dec 27, Dec 28, Dec 29, Dec 30, Dec 31
ArgentinaFri, Dec 23Government Holiday
Bulgaria Dec 26, Dec 27, Dec 28
BulgariaWed, Dec 28National Holiday (in lieu)
BulgariaTue, Dec 27National Holiday (in lieu)
BulgariaMon, Dec 26National Holiday
CuraçaoMon, Dec 26National Holiday
DenmarkMon, Dec 26National Holiday
Falkland Islands Dec 28, Dec 29, Dec 30
Falkland IslandsFri, Dec 30Government Holiday
Falkland IslandsThu, Dec 29Government Holiday
Falkland IslandsWed, Dec 28National Holiday
Faroe IslandsMon, Dec 26National Holiday
FinlandMon, Dec 26National Holiday
GreenlandMon, Dec 26National Holiday
GuadeloupeMon, Dec 26Not A Public Holiday
Hong KongMon, Dec 26National Holiday
HungaryMon, Dec 26National Holiday
IcelandMon, Dec 26National Holiday
India Dec 23, Dec 26, Dec 27, Dec 28, Dec 29, Dec 30, Dec 31
NagalandSat, Dec 31Regional Holiday
NagalandFri, Dec 30Regional Holiday
NagalandThu, Dec 29Regional Holiday
NagalandWed, Dec 28Regional Holiday
MeghalayaTue, Dec 27Regional Holiday
NagalandTue, Dec 27Regional Holiday
MeghalayaMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
MizoramMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
NagalandMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
West BengalMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
NagalandFri, Dec 23Regional Holiday
LatviaMon, Dec 26National Holiday
LithuaniaMon, Dec 26National Holiday
NorwayMon, Dec 26National Holiday
Papua New Guinea Dec 28, Dec 29, Dec 30
Papua New GuineaFri, Dec 30Government Holiday
Papua New GuineaThu, Dec 29Government Holiday
Papua New GuineaWed, Dec 28Government Holiday
PortugalMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
RomaniaMon, Dec 26National Holiday
Solomon Islands Dec 26, Dec 28, Dec 29, Dec 30
Solomon IslandsFri, Dec 30Government Holiday
Solomon IslandsThu, Dec 29Government Holiday
Solomon IslandsWed, Dec 28Government Holiday
Solomon IslandsMon, Dec 26National Holiday
South AfricaTue, Dec 27National Holiday
South Sudan Dec 26, Dec 27
South SudanTue, Dec 27National Holiday
South SudanMon, Dec 26National Holiday
SpainMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SurinameMon, Dec 26National Holiday
SwedenMon, Dec 26National Holiday
US Virgin IslandsMon, Dec 26National Holiday
USA Dec 26, Dec 27
North CarolinaTue, Dec 27Government Holiday
South CarolinaMon, Dec 26Government Holiday
TexasMon, Dec 26Government Holiday
2021 Various Dec 23, Dec 26, Dec 27, Dec 28, Dec 29, Dec 30, Dec 31
Benin Dec 27, Dec 28
BeninTue, Dec 28National Holiday
BeninMon, Dec 27National Holiday
BotswanaMon, Dec 27National Holiday
Bulgaria Dec 26, Dec 27, Dec 28
BulgariaTue, Dec 28National Holiday
BulgariaMon, Dec 27National Holiday
BulgariaSun, Dec 26National Holiday
CuraçaoSun, Dec 26National Holiday
DenmarkSun, Dec 26National Holiday
Faroe IslandsSun, Dec 26National Holiday
FijiMon, Dec 27National Holiday
FinlandSun, Dec 26National Holiday
GreenlandSun, Dec 26National Holiday
Hong KongMon, Dec 27National Holiday
HungarySun, Dec 26National Holiday
IcelandSun, Dec 26National Holiday
India Dec 23, Dec 26, Dec 27, Dec 28, Dec 29, Dec 30, Dec 31
NagalandFri, Dec 31Regional Holiday
NagalandThu, Dec 30Regional Holiday
NagalandWed, Dec 29Regional Holiday
NagalandTue, Dec 28Regional Holiday
MeghalayaMon, Dec 27Regional Holiday
MizoramMon, Dec 27Regional Holiday
MeghalayaSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
MeghalayaSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
NagalandThu, Dec 23Regional Holiday
JordanSun, Dec 26Not A Public Holiday
KenyaMon, Dec 27National Holiday
LatviaSun, Dec 26National Holiday
LithuaniaSun, Dec 26National Holiday
NorwaySun, Dec 26National Holiday
Papua New GuineaMon, Dec 27National Holiday
PortugalSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
RomaniaSun, Dec 26National Holiday
RwandaMon, Dec 27National Holiday
SamoaMon, Dec 27National Holiday
Sierra LeoneMon, Dec 27National Holiday
Solomon IslandsMon, Dec 27National Holiday
South SudanSun, Dec 26National Holiday
SurinameSun, Dec 26National Holiday
SwedenSun, Dec 26National Holiday
US Virgin IslandsSun, Dec 26National Holiday
USA Dec 23, Dec 27
North CarolinaMon, Dec 27Government Holiday
North DakotaMon, Dec 27Government Holiday
South CarolinaMon, Dec 27Government Holiday
TexasMon, Dec 27Government Holiday
WisconsinMon, Dec 27Government Holiday
FloridaThu, Dec 23Regional Holiday
KentuckyThu, Dec 23Government Holiday
MichiganThu, Dec 23Government Holiday
North CarolinaThu, Dec 23Government Holiday
OklahomaThu, Dec 23Government Holiday
TennesseeThu, Dec 23Government Holiday
VirginiaThu, Dec 23Government Holiday
  Summary

Several countries and regions around the world extend their public holidays for Christmas beyond 25th December

  Which countries observe Christmas Holiday in 2024?
National Holiday Regional Holiday Not a public holiday Govt Holiday

When is Christmas?

Christmas celebrates the Nativity of Jesus which has traditionally been thought to have taken place on December 25th 1 BC.

Many countries around the world celebrate Christmas with several days of holidays. In some countries, December 26th may be celebrated as the Feast of St. Stephen or known as Boxing Day.

History of the holiday

Whilst the holiday has a strong grounding in the story of the birth of Jesus, many of the traditions we associate with Christmas have evolved from pre-Christian beliefs and certainly the traditions have evolved beyond purely a Christian holiday to have a wider secular significance.

The celebration of Christmas in late December is certainly as a result of pre-existing celebrations happening at that time, marking the Winter Solstice.

Most notable of these is Yule (meaning 'Feast'), a winter pagan festival that was originally celebrated by Germanic people. The exact date of Yule depends on the lunar cycle but it falls from late December to early January. In some Northern Europe countries, the local word for Christmas has a closer linguistic tie to 'Yule' than 'Christmas', and it is still a term that may be used for Christmas in some english-speaking countries. Several Yule traditions are familiar to the modern celebration of Christmas, such as Yule Log, the custom of burning a large wooden log on the fire at Christmas; or indeed carol singing, which is surprisingly a very ancient tradition.

Under the Julian calendar, the winter solstice was fixed on December 25, and this date was also the day of the popular roman holiday of Saturnalia, in honour of Saturn, the god of agriculture; which was later superseded by Sol Invictus, a day that bundled up the celebration of several sun based gods into one easy to manage the festival.

As Christianity began to take hold across the Roman empire and beyond, the date of when to celebrate the birth of Christ became a bit of an issue, with several different dates proposed.

It wasn't until 350 AD, that the then Bishop of Rome, Pope Julius I, fixed the official Christmas day on December 25th. Unfortunately Julius I didn't show his working out on how he reached this date; some scholars later suggested that it was calculated as nine months after the Annunciation (March 25), when the angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to Mary and told her she would bear the son of God. Whatever the reasoning, it is clear that, just as key pagan sites were being chosen for new churches, so too the date was chosen with the intention to catapult Christmas into becoming a major festival by placing it over the pre-existing pagan festivals.

Christmas Traditions

Mistletoe

Kissing someone who happens to being stood under a sprig of mistletoe is seen as a tradition popularised in Victorian England. However even this relatively modern tradition has much more ancient echoes in that Mistletoe bears its fruit around the time of the Winter Solstice, and its supposed mythical ability to heal and increase fertility.

In Norse mythology, an arrow made from mistletoe killed Balder, who was a brother of Thor. Frigga, Balder's mother brought him back to life shedding tears that changed the red berries on mistletoe to white. Frigga then blessed the mistletoe and promised a kiss to anyone who passed beneath it.

A hint of Mistletoe' s integration from pagan ceremonies into Christmas tradition is said that the mistletoe plant used to be a tree, and its wood was used to make the Cross on which Jesus was crucified. After the Crucifixion, the plant shriveled to became the parasitic vine we know today.

Carol Singing

As mentioned earlier, the tradition of singing of songs can be traced back to the pagan festivals before the advent of Christmas. Indeed, the word carol is derived from the Greek word choraulein, which meant "an ancient circle dance performed to flute music."

As carols were already an established custom, early Christians made the shrewd decision to integrate Christian songs into the tradition rather than ban the singing.

Most new Christian Carols were written in Latin, which was by the middle ages, a language only used by the church, thus reducing the popularity of the custom.

However, carols received an injection of popularity when St. Francis of Assisi started his Nativity Plays in Italy in 1223, which included songs written in the local people's language.

The tradition of 'Modern' Carol singing flourished in England. Known as Wassailing, it was a chance for peasants to get some much needed charity from their feudal lords. This singing for money developed in a custom involving traveling musicians who would visit wealthy homes, singing in the hope of receiving money food or gifts in return.

There was a short interruption in 1647, when the puritans come to power after the English Civil War. The puritans, under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell, disapproved of the celebration of Christmas. There was even a fine of up to five shillings for anyone caught singing Christmas carols. When King Charles II came back to the throne in 1660, the public singing of Christmas carols was permitted again.


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