Where Christmas is celebrated — and where it isn’t

According to global holiday data, more than 160 countries observe Christmas in some form, with December 25 recognised as a public holiday in most of Europe, the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Asia.

This reflects the historical adoption of the Gregorian calendar by the Catholic and Protestant churches and the widespread influence of Christian tradition.

In countries such as the Philippines, Christmas isn’t just a day but also a season that begins as early as September and continues well into January. Festivities blend deeply rooted religious practices with lively public celebrations and rich culinary traditions.

Other nations follow alternative dates tied to the Orthodox Christian calendar. In Russia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and parts of Eastern Europe, Christmas is observed on January 7, according to the Julian calendar still used by many Orthodox churches. This variation underlines the diversity of Christian liturgical traditions around the globe.

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Despite global spread, Christmas is not a public holiday in several countries, especially where Christian populations are small or the state observes different religious calendars. For example, nations including China, Saudi Arabia and several Middle Eastern states do not officially recognise December 25 as a public holiday, though secular or private celebrations still occur in many urban centres.

Even where Christmas isn’t a national holiday, elements of the season can be widely visible. In Japan, where Christians make up only around 1% of the population, secular celebrations are popular as millions of families order KFC meals as a holiday tradition, a custom that began in the 1970s and persists today.

Beyond spiritual and cultural meaning, Christmas has become a global travel phenomenon, too. Airlines are reporting record-breaking holiday travel volumes this year, with hundreds of millions expected to fly between mid-December and early January, underscoring the economic and social connectivity tied to the season.