Christmas in Europe is not one date
The countdown above runs to 25 December, which is when Christmas morning happens in the UK, Ireland and much of France. But for a large part of Europe the main event is the evening before — and in the Low Countries and Spain, the big present-giving day is not in late December at all.
| Country | Main present-giving | Who brings them |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 24 December, evening (Bescherung) | The Christkind in the south and west, the Weihnachtsmann in the north and east — plus small gifts on 6 December for Nikolaus |
| Austria | 24 December, evening | The Christkind |
| Czechia | 24 December, evening | Ježíšek, the Christ Child |
| Poland | 24 December, after the Wigilia supper | Gwiazdor, Mikołaj or Aniołek, depending on the region |
| Sweden | 24 December (julafton) | Jultomten |
| Portugal | Night of 24 December, after the consoada | Pai Natal or the Menino Jesus |
| Netherlands | 5 December (pakjesavond) | Sinterklaas — Christmas presents are a smaller, newer custom |
| Belgium | 6 December, for children | Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas / Saint-Nicolas) |
| France | 25 December, morning — some families on the 24th after the réveillon | Père Noël |
| UK and Ireland | 25 December, morning | Father Christmas / Santa Claus |
| Italy | 25 December, with stockings again on 6 January | Babbo Natale, then La Befana at Epiphany |
| Spain | 6 January, traditionally | The Three Kings (los Reyes Magos); Papá Noel on the 25th is increasingly common |
| Greece | 1 January, traditionally | Agios Vasilis (Saint Basil) |
If you are sending a parcel to family abroad, those dates are the deadlines that matter: a present for a German or Polish household needs to arrive before the 24th, a Dutch one before the 5th — and a Spanish one has until Epiphany.
Public holidays over Christmas, 2026
Which of the Christmas days are statutory public holidays — the days banks, offices and most shops close — in the ten countries VClock covers. Taken from the same data as the holiday calendars.
| Country | 24 Dec | 25 Dec | 26 Dec | 6 Jan 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | — | ✓ | ✓ | Regional |
| France | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Italy | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spain | — | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Poland | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Netherlands | — | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Belgium | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Portugal | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Sweden | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Austria | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
“Regional” means the holiday applies only in some states or regions — hover for which. A dash means a normal working day under national law, though plenty of employers close anyway.
Two things the table can't show. In Germany, 24 December is not a public holiday, but when it falls on a weekday shops may open only until 14:00 — so the last-minute shopping window really is a morning. And in Sweden, Christmas Eve is not a statutory holiday either, yet it is the country's main Christmas day and most workplaces close. Poland went the other way: since 2025 Christmas Eve has been a statutory day off.
Which day of the week is Christmas?
Useful for planning leave: when 25 December falls on a Thursday, taking the Friday off gives a four-day weekend; when it falls on a Tuesday, the Monday is the classic bridge day.
| Year | 24 December | 25 December | 26 December |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| 2027 | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| 2028 | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday |
| 2029 | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday |
| 2030 | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |
| 2031 | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
Christmas on 7 January
Churches that still follow the Julian calendar for their fixed feasts celebrate Christmas on 25 December Julian, which is 7 January in the calendar most of the world uses. That includes Serbia, Russia, Georgia, North Macedonia and Montenegro. Ukraine moved its official Christmas to 25 December in 2023. The Orthodox churches of Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria — all EU members — use the Revised Julian calendar for fixed feasts, so they celebrate Christmas on 25 December along with everyone else, even though their Easter follows the older reckoning (see the Easter countdown).
Questions
How many days until Christmas?
The countdown at the top of this page shows the exact time left until 00:00 on 25 December in your own time zone, to the second. It switches to the following year’s Christmas once Christmas Day has passed.
When do Germans open their Christmas presents?
On the evening of 24 December, Christmas Eve (Heiligabend), in a moment called the Bescherung. 25 and 26 December are both public holidays in Germany; the 24th is not, and shops close by 14:00 when it falls on a weekday.
Is Christmas Eve a public holiday?
In most European countries it is not, though many workplaces close early. Poland is the exception among the countries in the table above: Christmas Eve has been a statutory day off there since 2025.
Why do some countries celebrate Christmas on 7 January?
Churches that follow the Julian calendar keep Christmas on 25 December Julian, which currently falls on 7 January in the Gregorian calendar. That includes the Serbian, Russian and Georgian Orthodox churches.
More countdowns: New Year · Easter.
Need a countdown to something else — an exam, a launch, a trip? The countdown timer can count down to any date and gives you a link to share. For the full holiday calendars by country, see public holidays in Europe.