Christmas Eve around the world in 2024

Christmas Eve around the world in 2024
  How long until Christmas Eve?
Christmas Eve
  Dates of Christmas Eve around the world
2026 Various Dec 24, Dec 26
Australia Dec 24
Northern TerritoryThu, Dec 24Regional Holiday
QueenslandThu, Dec 24Regional Holiday
South AustraliaThu, Dec 24Regional Holiday
BulgariaThu, Dec 24National Holiday
Czech RepublicThu, Dec 24National Holiday
DenmarkThu, Dec 24National Holiday
El SalvadorThu, Dec 24National Holiday
EstoniaThu, Dec 24National Holiday
Faroe IslandsThu, Dec 24National Holiday
FinlandThu, Dec 24National Holiday
GreenlandThu, Dec 24National Holiday
GuatemalaThu, Dec 24National Holiday
HungaryThu, Dec 24National Holiday
IcelandThu, Dec 24National Holiday
India Dec 24
MeghalayaThu, Dec 24Regional Holiday
MizoramThu, Dec 24Regional Holiday
NagalandThu, Dec 24Regional Holiday
LatviaThu, Dec 24National Holiday
LiechtensteinThu, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
LithuaniaThu, Dec 24National Holiday
LuxembourgThu, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
MacauThu, Dec 24National Holiday
MalaysiaThu, Dec 24Regional Holiday
NorwayThu, Dec 24National Holiday
Puerto RicoThu, Dec 24National Holiday
San MarinoThu, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
SlovakiaThu, Dec 24National Holiday
South SudanThu, Dec 24National Holiday
SwedenThu, Dec 24National Holiday
SwitzerlandThu, Dec 24Regional Holiday
USASat, Dec 26Government Holiday
VenezuelaThu, Dec 24National Holiday
2025 Various Dec 24, Dec 26
Australia Dec 24
Northern TerritoryWed, Dec 24Regional Holiday
QueenslandWed, Dec 24Regional Holiday
South AustraliaWed, Dec 24Regional Holiday
BulgariaWed, Dec 24National Holiday
Czech RepublicWed, Dec 24National Holiday
DenmarkWed, Dec 24National Holiday
El SalvadorWed, Dec 24National Holiday
EstoniaWed, Dec 24National Holiday
Faroe IslandsWed, Dec 24National Holiday
FinlandWed, Dec 24National Holiday
GreenlandWed, Dec 24National Holiday
GuatemalaWed, Dec 24National Holiday
HungaryWed, Dec 24National Holiday
IcelandWed, Dec 24National Holiday
India Dec 24
MeghalayaWed, Dec 24Regional Holiday
MizoramWed, Dec 24Regional Holiday
NagalandWed, Dec 24Regional Holiday
LatviaWed, Dec 24National Holiday
LiechtensteinWed, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
LithuaniaWed, Dec 24National Holiday
LuxembourgWed, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
MacauWed, Dec 24National Holiday
MalaysiaWed, Dec 24Regional Holiday
NorwayWed, Dec 24National Holiday
PhilippinesWed, Dec 24National Holiday
Puerto RicoWed, Dec 24National Holiday
San MarinoWed, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
SlovakiaWed, Dec 24National Holiday
South SudanWed, Dec 24National Holiday
SwedenWed, Dec 24National Holiday
SwitzerlandWed, Dec 24Regional Holiday
USAFri, Dec 26Government Holiday
VenezuelaWed, Dec 24National Holiday
2024 Various Dec 24
Australia Dec 24
Northern TerritoryTue, Dec 24Regional Holiday
QueenslandTue, Dec 24Regional Holiday
South AustraliaTue, Dec 24Regional Holiday
BulgariaTue, Dec 24National Holiday
Czech RepublicTue, Dec 24National Holiday
DenmarkTue, Dec 24National Holiday
El SalvadorTue, Dec 24National Holiday
EstoniaTue, Dec 24National Holiday
Faroe IslandsTue, Dec 24National Holiday
FinlandTue, Dec 24National Holiday
GreenlandTue, Dec 24National Holiday
GuatemalaTue, Dec 24National Holiday
HungaryTue, Dec 24National Holiday
IcelandTue, Dec 24National Holiday
India Dec 24
MeghalayaTue, Dec 24Regional Holiday
MizoramTue, Dec 24Regional Holiday
NagalandTue, Dec 24Regional Holiday
LatviaTue, Dec 24National Holiday
LiechtensteinTue, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
LithuaniaTue, Dec 24National Holiday
LuxembourgTue, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
MacauTue, Dec 24National Holiday
MalaysiaTue, Dec 24Regional Holiday
NorwayTue, Dec 24National Holiday
PhilippinesTue, Dec 24National Holiday
Puerto RicoTue, Dec 24National Holiday
San MarinoTue, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
SlovakiaTue, Dec 24National Holiday
South SudanTue, Dec 24National Holiday
SwedenTue, Dec 24National Holiday
SwitzerlandTue, Dec 24Regional Holiday
USA Dec 24
North CarolinaTue, Dec 24Regional Holiday
OklahomaTue, Dec 24Regional Holiday
VenezuelaTue, Dec 24National Holiday
2023 Various Dec 24, Dec 26
Australia Dec 24
Northern TerritorySun, Dec 24Regional Holiday
QueenslandSun, Dec 24Regional Holiday
South AustraliaSun, Dec 24Regional Holiday
BulgariaSun, Dec 24National Holiday
Czech RepublicSun, Dec 24National Holiday
DenmarkSun, Dec 24National Holiday
El SalvadorSun, Dec 24National Holiday
EstoniaSun, Dec 24National Holiday
Faroe IslandsSun, Dec 24National Holiday
FinlandSun, Dec 24National Holiday
GreenlandSun, Dec 24National Holiday
GuatemalaSun, Dec 24National Holiday
IcelandSun, Dec 24National Holiday
India Dec 24
MeghalayaSun, Dec 24Regional Holiday
MizoramSun, Dec 24Regional Holiday
NagalandSun, Dec 24Regional Holiday
LatviaSun, Dec 24National Holiday
LiechtensteinSun, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
LithuaniaSun, Dec 24National Holiday
LuxembourgSun, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
Macau Dec 24, Dec 26
MacauTue, Dec 26Government Holiday (in lieu)
MacauSun, Dec 24National Holiday
MalaysiaSun, Dec 24Regional Holiday
NorwaySun, Dec 24National Holiday
Puerto RicoSun, Dec 24National Holiday
San MarinoSun, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
SlovakiaSun, Dec 24National Holiday
South SudanSun, Dec 24National Holiday
SwedenSun, Dec 24National Holiday
SwitzerlandSun, Dec 24Regional Holiday
USATue, Dec 26Government Holiday (in lieu)
VenezuelaSun, Dec 24National Holiday
2022 Various Dec 23, Dec 24, Dec 26
Australia Dec 24
Northern TerritorySat, Dec 24Regional Holiday
QueenslandSat, Dec 24Regional Holiday
South AustraliaSat, Dec 24Regional Holiday
BulgariaSat, Dec 24National Holiday
Czech RepublicSat, Dec 24National Holiday
DenmarkSat, Dec 24National Holiday
El SalvadorSat, Dec 24National Holiday
EstoniaSat, Dec 24National Holiday
Faroe IslandsSat, Dec 24National Holiday
FinlandSat, Dec 24National Holiday
GreenlandSat, Dec 24National Holiday
GuatemalaSat, Dec 24National Holiday
HungarySat, Dec 24National Holiday
IcelandSat, Dec 24National Holiday
India Dec 24
MeghalayaSat, Dec 24Regional Holiday
MizoramSat, Dec 24Regional Holiday
LatviaSat, Dec 24National Holiday
LiechtensteinSat, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
LithuaniaSat, Dec 24National Holiday
LuxembourgSat, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
Macau Dec 24, Dec 26
MacauMon, Dec 26Government Holiday (in lieu)
MacauSat, Dec 24National Holiday
MalaysiaSat, Dec 24Regional Holiday
NorwaySat, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
PhilippinesSat, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
Puerto RicoSat, Dec 24National Holiday
San MarinoSat, Dec 24Not A Public Holiday
SlovakiaSat, Dec 24National Holiday
South SudanSat, Dec 24National Holiday
SwedenSat, Dec 24National Holiday
SwitzerlandSat, Dec 24Regional Holiday
USA Dec 23, Dec 24
KansasSat, Dec 24Government Holiday
KentuckySat, Dec 24Government Holiday
OklahomaSat, Dec 24Government Holiday
South CarolinaSat, Dec 24Government Holiday
TexasSat, Dec 24Government Holiday
VirginiaSat, Dec 24Government Holiday
WisconsinSat, Dec 24Government Holiday
ArkansasFri, Dec 23Government Holiday (in lieu)
MarylandFri, Dec 23Government Holiday (in lieu)
MichiganFri, Dec 23Government Holiday (in lieu)
North CarolinaFri, Dec 23Government Holiday
West VirginiaFri, Dec 23Government Holiday
VenezuelaSat, Dec 24National Holiday
  Summary

Christmas Eve marks the culmination of the Advent period before Christmas that started on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Eve.
  Which countries observe Christmas Eve in 2024?
National Holiday Regional Holiday Not a public holiday Govt Holiday
  AustraliaDec 24
  BulgariaDec 24
  Czech RepublicDec 24
  DenmarkDec 24
  El SalvadorDec 24
  EstoniaDec 24
  Faroe IslandsDec 24
  FinlandDec 24
  GreenlandDec 24
  GuatemalaDec 24
  HungaryDec 24
  IcelandDec 24
  IndiaDec 24
  LatviaDec 24
  LiechtensteinDec 24
  LithuaniaDec 24
  LuxembourgDec 24
  MacauDec 24
  MalaysiaDec 24
  NorwayDec 24
  PhilippinesDec 24
  Puerto RicoDec 24
  San MarinoDec 24
  SlovakiaDec 24
  South SudanDec 24
  SwedenDec 24
  SwitzerlandDec 24
  USADec 24
  VenezuelaDec 24
Related holidays

When is Christmas Eve?

Christmas Eve is celebrated on December 24th. If Christmas Day falls on a weekend, then this holiday may be observed on a different day.

Countries and regions which officially have Christmas Eve as a public holiday are shown on the right.

Even if it is not a public holiday, be aware that many businesses in Europe will give employees the afternoon or the whole day as a holiday. For instance in Portugal, while Christmas Eve is not a national holiday, most companies give their employees the day or afternoon off to prepare and to be with their families, and many businesses will close earlier than normal.

As Christmas is traditionally a time to spend with families, a lot of people may leave work early to travel home or visit relatives, so this is definitely not a good day to arrange business meetings.

History of Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve marks the culmination of the Advent period before Christmas that started on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Eve. Many churches will mark the end of Advent with midnight church services.

In Latin America, Christmas Eve marks the end of a nine-day period before Christmas, called 'Las Posandas' which represents the none months of labour for the Virgin Mary before she gave birth to Jesus.

Christmas Eve Traditions

Gifts

On the night of Christmas Eve, children around the world will leave food and drink for whoever will come to their house and bring them presents. Who this is, depends on what part of the world you live. It might be Santa Claus or Father Christmas; but in Switzerland, it will be the Christchild who delivers the presents. In Denmark, it's the Christmas elf; in Sweden, it'll be a small man and in Finland, it'll be the Christmas goat!

In Latvia, the custom is that you can open the presents under the Christmas Tree after the Christmas Eve dinner, with a slight twist - before you take your gift, you'll have to recite a small poem.

Candles

A unique tradition of Christmas decoration in Ireland is a large white candle which is placed at the entrance of the house or in a window.  This candle is lit by the youngest child on Christmas Eve. This is a symbol to welcome the Holy Family and the candle can only be extinguished by a girl or a woman named Mary.

More Christmas Traditions

    Did you know?

    Three facts about Christmas Eve

    The Christmas Eve meal is not served in Hungary until a twinkling star is seen in the sky.

    The first-ever singing commercial was aired on Christmas Eve, 1929, for Wheaties Cereal.

    The holiday classic, "The Night Before Christmas," was first published as an 1822 poem entitled, "An Account Of a Visit From St. Nicholas."

    More facts about Christmas Eve

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