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When is Christmas 2029?
Christmas 2029 falls on Tuesday, December 25, 2029.
About Christmas
Christmas Day is celebrated each year on December 25 and marks the birth of Jesus Christ. Its roots are Christian, but it is now observed across much of the world as a cultural holiday, built around family gatherings, gift exchanges, festive meals and decorations. Traditions vary widely from one country to the next. In the UK and Commonwealth nations the holiday extends through Boxing Day on December 26, while in many European countries the main celebration falls on Christmas Eve. In the United States it is a federal holiday, and most workplaces and shops close. The calendar date never moves, but the day of the week does, so the holiday's effect on the working week changes from year to year.
The United States declared Christmas a federal holiday on June 26, 1870. That was relatively late, partly because some Puritan groups had earlier discouraged its observance. Today the run-up to Christmas is the largest commercial period of the year in most Western economies, and retail sales usually peak in the final week before the holiday. In countries with strong Christmas traditions, schools and many businesses close for one to two weeks. Australia and the rest of the southern hemisphere mark Christmas in the middle of summer, which has produced traditions of outdoor barbecues and beach gatherings rather than the snow imagery common further north. The day after Christmas is treated differently from place to place: Boxing Day in Commonwealth nations, St Stephen's Day in Ireland, Italy and several other countries, and an ordinary working day across much of the United States.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Christmas celebrated on December 25?
December 25 was fixed as the date of Christmas by the Roman church in the 4th century, and the earliest known reference is from AD 336. The Bible does not record the date of Jesus's birth, so historians offer two main explanations. One is that the church placed the feast near existing Roman midwinter festivals, including Saturnalia and the festival of Sol Invictus on December 25. The other is that early Christians calculated it from the date they assigned to the conception, March 25, then counted nine months forward. Both ideas have support, and the question is still debated.
Is Christmas a public holiday everywhere?
Christmas is a public holiday in most countries with a Christian heritage and in many others besides, but not everywhere. It is a federal holiday in the United States and a bank holiday across the United Kingdom. Several countries where Christianity is a minority religion, including Japan, China and many Muslim-majority states, do not treat December 25 as an official day off, though it may still be marked commercially or by local Christian communities. Where December 25 falls on a weekend, many countries grant a substitute day off on the nearest weekday.
What is the difference between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?
Christmas Eve is December 24, the day and evening before Christmas Day on December 25. The split matters because countries celebrate at different points. In Germany, Poland, Sweden and much of central and northern Europe, the main meal and the exchange of gifts happen on the evening of the 24th. In the UK, Ireland and the United States, Christmas Eve is more a day of preparation and anticipation, and the central celebration falls on the 25th. Many churches hold a midnight service that bridges the two days.
When did Christmas become a federal holiday in the United States?
Congress declared Christmas a federal holiday on June 26, 1870, under President Ulysses S. Grant, in a bill that also recognised New Year's Day, Independence Day and Thanksgiving for federal workers. The timing was late compared with the holiday's long history. Some Protestant groups in early America, particularly Puritans in New England, had discouraged or even banned its observance, and Boston fined residents for keeping Christmas during part of the 17th century. Public attitudes shifted through the 1800s, and the holiday was widely accepted by the time of the 1870 law.
How is Christmas celebrated around the world?
The core of Christmas is similar in most places, with families gathering, sharing food and exchanging gifts, but the detail varies. In Italy and Spain the season runs to Epiphany on January 6, when children traditionally receive gifts. In the Philippines celebrations begin as early as September. In Australia the holiday falls in summer, so beach trips and outdoor meals are common. Japan has no Christian tradition of Christmas but has adopted it as a secular, romantic occasion, with a well-known custom of eating fried chicken. Northern and central Europe place the emphasis on Christmas Eve.