When is Christmas Day 2026?

Christmas Traditions Around the World

While Christmas Day falls on December 25th across the globe, how it is celebrated varies enormously by country. In Germany, Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmarkte) run throughout Advent, selling mulled wine, gingerbread, and handmade ornaments. Children receive gifts from the Christkind (Christ Child) on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas morning. In Sweden, the season begins on December 13th with St. Lucia Day, when a young woman wearing a crown of candles leads a procession of singers through homes, schools, and churches.

In the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas falls in midsummer. Australians celebrate with beach barbecues, outdoor carols by candlelight, and cold seafood platters rather than the heavy roast dinners of the Northern Hemisphere. In the Philippines, the Christmas season is famously the longest in the world, beginning as early as September with the hanging of star-shaped lanterns called parols. Boxing Day (December 26th) is a major holiday in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand but is not widely observed in the United States.

The History of Christmas

Christmas is celebrated on December 25th each year, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. The holiday has evolved over centuries to become both a religious and secular celebration enjoyed worldwide.

Modern Christmas traditions include gift-giving, decorating Christmas trees, attending church services, and sharing meals with family. Many of these customs originated in 19th-century Europe and were popularised in the English-speaking world through literature and media.

When is Christmas?

Christmas Day is always on December 25th. Unlike Easter and many other holidays, Christmas falls on a fixed date rather than a movable one. This means it lands on a different day of the week each year.

For more information, see Christmas Day on Wikipedia