🕯️ Christmas Eve Countdown
December 24, 2026
About Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve, observed on December 24, is the evening before Christmas Day. In many Christian traditions, it is considered more significant than Christmas Day itself, with Midnight Mass being a central celebration. Many families open gifts on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some families open gifts on Christmas Eve?
The tradition is especially common among families with German, Scandinavian, Czech, Slovak, and other Central and Eastern European heritage, where Christmas Eve has historically been the primary gift-giving night. In these traditions, gifts are left by St. Nicholas or the Christkind (Christ Child) on the evening of the 24th rather than overnight by Santa Claus.
What is Midnight Mass?
Midnight Mass is a Catholic and many Protestant church service held at or around midnight on Christmas Eve, commemorating the birth of Jesus. It is one of the most widely attended church services of the year. The tradition traces to at least the 5th century. Many churches now hold Midnight Mass earlier in the evening (10 PM or 11 PM) for practical reasons.
What is the Feast of the Seven Fishes?
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a Southern Italian and Italian-American tradition of eating seven different seafood dishes on Christmas Eve. It traces to the Roman Catholic practice of abstaining from meat on vigils and feast days. The number seven has religious symbolism (seven sacraments, seven deadly sins) but the exact tradition varies widely by family — some serve more or fewer dishes.
Is Christmas Eve a federal holiday?
Christmas Eve (December 24) is not itself a federal holiday, though Christmas Day (December 25) is. Many employers give workers Christmas Eve as a half-day or full day off as a practical matter. When Christmas falls on a Tuesday or later in the week, many organizations close on Christmas Eve as well.