Christmas Eve in the United States
When is Christmas Eve in United States?
Christmas Eve in United States is on December 24, 2025. It falls on Wednesday.
How many days until Christmas Eve in United States?
There are 362 Days left until Christmas Eve in the United States.
Is Christmas Eve a public holiday in United States?
Christmas Eve is the day/evening before Christmas Day, celebrated on December 24th every year. The occasion is centered on the commemoration of Jesus Christ’s nativity. In the United States, the day is not declared as a federal holiday, however, some areas have designated it as either partial or state holiday.
While schools and most companies close for the holidays, other business establishments remain open. Many big stores and shops stay operational on this day to cater last-minute Christmas shoppers.
About Christmas Eve
Christmas is one of the busiest seasons in a year. It is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ whose teachings are the foundation of Christianity. Today, most of the Christian and non-Christian countries around the world start their Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve, the day/night before Christmas Day.
How did Christmas start?
The first recorded celebration of Christmas has its roots back in December 25, 336 in Rome. Although Christ’s birthdate is undisclosed, Pope Julius I, the Bishop of Rome at that time has chosen December 25th as it corresponds to the date of the winter solstice on the Roman calendar. Originally, before Christmas was established, a different celebration was observed, a pagan festival called Saturnalia. Saturnalia was an ancient Roman winter festival celebrated to honor the god Saturn (the god of agriculture). So, when Christmas was instituted afterwards, many of this festival’s traditions have been carried out to form part of the Christmas customs and traditions.
Christmas Eve Traditions
More than 160 countries around the world celebrate both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In the United States, Christmas Eve is celebrated with the same vigor as that of Christmas Day. It is a customary practice for many people to decorate the inside and outside of their homes prior to the celebration. Green, white, and red-colored decorations are prevalent which include Christmas trees, Christmas lights, garlands, lanterns, wreaths, and other Christmas-related figures.
Christmas Gathering
Most Americans celebrate Christmas Eve with the company of their loved ones. A special meal is typically shared among family members on this day. Traditional foods served at the table include roasted or fried turkey, Christmas ham, mashed potatoes, gingerbread houses, roast beefs, pies, candy canes, mixed nuts, and hot chocolate. Some people also engage in other activities such as drinking eggnog for the adults (eggnog is a drink made of cream, milk, sugar, beaten eggs, and brandy or rum), storytelling with children, dancing, gift-giving, and other activities that make people genuinely happy. For other Americans, especially the Christians, it is also necessary to attend a special church service held at midnight or at early hours of this day.
Christmas Shopping and Vacation
One of the most common activities Americans do during the season are shopping and traveling. Most of the people across the country indulge on Christmas holiday shopping in preparation for the celebration. Christmas trees, Christmas decorations, special dishes, gifts, and others are the most in demand products. Traveling, on the other hand, is also a popular choice taken by many American families. Millions of Americans usually book their Christmas vacations for the holidays. The country’s famous holiday spots are expected to get crowded around Christmas time.
Christmas Cards
In the United States, sending Christmas greeting cards is another common activity. The cards are usually sent to friends or faraway family members and relatives. Christmas is even considered as the country’s largest card-sending holiday in a year.
Santa Claus and its influence on the American children
American children, like other countries also believe in Santa Claus. Santa Claus is a legendary figure who is considered the gift-bringer to children who have behaved well for the entire year. On Christmas Eve or even on previous days, the children would typically hang Christmas socks/stockings on their fireplaces or bedposts. These socks/stockings are believed to be where Santa would be leaving the gifts at, which the kids would eagerly open on Christmas Day.
How do Americans dress up for Christmas Eve?
Many Americans love dressing up for the celebration. Women are usually seen donning on Christmas Party dresses while some men would get dressed as Santa Claus. Christmas Party venues are ready at the end of day. Greetings such as “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” are often heard during the occasion.
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 24 | Wednesday | Christmas Eve |
| 2026 | December 24 | Thursday | Christmas Eve |
| 2027 | December 24 | Friday | Christmas Eve |
| 2028 | December 24 | Sunday | Christmas Eve |
| 2029 | December 24 | Monday | Christmas Eve |
| 2030 | December 24 | Tuesday | Christmas Eve |
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Eve | December 31, 2024 |
| New Year's Day | January 01, 2025 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 20, 2025 |
Download or print free 2024 calendar which includes the list of holidays in United States. Free holiday calendar templates in more than 130 countries are provided in PDF, Excel, and Microsoft Word format. For those who like to get a calendar that starts on Monday, we also have ISO calendar.
The December 2024 monthly calendar for the United States shows the holidays for the month, which is helpful in planning schedule and events in reference to the upcoming holidays in the US. It is available in PDF, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel formats. You may select your preferred orientation and preferred start of week since we have Monday start calendar or Sunday start calendar.
If you are looking to print or download just a list of holidays in United States for the year 2024, we have that available in PDF, Word and Excel formats. This can be helpful for those who like to keep track of the holidays, be it for travel, work or any other purposes. It is free to use, just like the rest of our templates.