A little reason to celebrate
Christmas Day
Federal holiday · Religious · December 25
Christmas Day is a Christian holiday marking the birth of Jesus and a US federal holiday kept with family meals, gifts, music and decorated trees.
Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25, 2026. That is 59 days away.
Christmas Day is the Christian feast that marks the birth of Jesus. In the United States it is also a federal holiday, so many offices, schools and shops close, and the day takes on a quiet, at-home feeling for a lot of people.
For Christians, the day often includes a church service, sometimes held the night before and sometimes in the morning. Carols, nativity scenes and readings about the birth in Bethlehem are common parts of these gatherings.
Outside of church, the day has a familiar shape in many homes. There is a tree hung with lights and ornaments, a pile of wrapped gifts underneath it, and stockings that somehow fill themselves overnight. Mornings tend to start early if there are children in the house. Later comes a long meal, which might be ham, turkey, roast beef, tamales or whatever a family has decided over the years is the only correct answer.
Plenty of people who are not religious mark the day too, treating it as a time for family, rest and generosity. Others simply enjoy the stillness of streets with very little traffic and a rare day off.
Music does a lot of the work. Old carols sit next to popular songs about snow, sleigh bells and coming home, and many of them get sung by people who only know the first verse. By evening, the wrapping paper is usually folded or stuffed into bags, and the leftovers are already being planned.
Ways to celebrate
- Share a meal with family, friends or neighbors.
- Sing a few carols, even if you only know one verse.
- Call or write to someone who is spending the day alone.
- Take a walk to see the lights on nearby houses.
- Attend a local church service or community concert.
Things for the day
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Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday, December 25 |
| 2027 | Saturday, December 25 |
| 2028 | Monday, December 25 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, December 25 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, December 25 |
All national days on December 25
Also on December 25
Categories: Federal holidaysReligious daysSeasonal days