Countdown to Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is the evening and day before Christmas Day, observed on 24 December, and for many families it carries more of the occasion than the 25th does. The countdown above shows exactly how long remains, down to the second.

It is the night of midnight Mass, of carol services and candlelight, of the last shopping run and the final wrapping. In a large part of Europe and Latin America it is when the main celebration actually happens: the big meal is eaten and presents are opened on the evening of the 24th rather than the following morning.

When is Christmas Eve?

Christmas Eve is always 24 December, so unlike Thanksgiving or Easter the date never moves, only the weekday does. If you are counting to the morning itself, see the Christmas countdown, and for the turn of the year the countdown index lists what comes next. The time until calculator will measure any other gap you need.

How Christmas Eve is observed

Customs vary sharply by country. In Germany, Poland, Austria and much of Scandinavia, Heiligabend or Wigilia is the principal celebration, with a formal evening meal and gift-giving that night. Poland's Wigilia traditionally waits for the first star to appear and serves twelve meatless dishes. In Italy the Feast of the Seven Fishes fills the evening, and in much of Latin America Nochebuena runs late into the night, with the meal often served near midnight.

Midnight Mass and the turning of the day

Many Christian traditions hold a service late on Christmas Eve that crosses into Christmas Day, which is why it is commonly called midnight Mass even where it now begins earlier in the evening. The practice reflects an older way of counting days, in which the day begins at sunset rather than at midnight, so the celebration of Christmas genuinely starts on the evening of the 24th.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Christmas Eve?

Christmas Eve is always 24 December, the day before Christmas Day. Only the day of the week changes from year to year.

Is Christmas Eve a public holiday?

It depends on the country. It is a full or partial public holiday in much of continental Europe and Latin America, while in the UK, US, Canada and Australia it is a normal working day, often with early closing.

Why do some countries open presents on Christmas Eve?

In traditions that count the day as beginning at sunset, Christmas has already started on the evening of the 24th, so the main meal and gift-giving belong to that night.

What time does Christmas Eve end?

At midnight local time, when 24 December becomes Christmas Day. The countdown above runs to the start of Christmas Eve rather than its end.

Is midnight Mass always at midnight?

Not any more. Many churches now hold the service earlier in the evening, though the name has stuck and some still begin at or near midnight.