Christmas Countdown

How to use the Christmas Countdown#

1. Choose what to count to. Choose between Christmas Day, 25 December, Christmas Eve, 24 December or Orthodox Christmas, 7 January.
2. The figures are worked out when the page loads and again when you change an option or return to the tab.
3. Use the extras. Christmas Day is 25 December and Christmas Eve is 24 December every year. Total hours, minutes and sleeps are listed underneath.

Christmas Day, Christmas Eve and 7 January#

Christmas Day on 25 December is a public holiday in most of the world, and in Nigeria it’s joined by Boxing Day on the 26th. For many families the main celebration begins the evening before, so the Eve is included as an option.

Orthodox churches that still use the Julian calendar, such as the Russian, Serbian and Ethiopian churches, celebrate on 7 January. The date is the same 25 December, just counted on a calendar that’s 13 days behind. Armenian Christians mark it on 6 January.

A countdown that does some work#

Counting down is more useful than it sounds. Postal deadlines for sending gifts abroad usually fall in early to mid December. Travel is most expensive in the final week. If you cook for a crowd, a frozen turkey or large cut of meat can take several days to thaw in the fridge.

It’s also a simple way to share the excitement with children. The “sleeps to go” row counts the number of nights left, which is the figure kids actually ask for.

When is Christmas in the next few years?#

Christmas Day is 25 December and Christmas Eve is 24 December every year. Orthodox churches that follow the Julian calendar celebrate on 7 January.

Counting in weeks, not just days#

Christmas Day in 2027 falls on a Saturday. The four Sundays of Advent, which begin the Christian season, fall on Sun 28 November 2027, Sun 5 December 2027, Sun 12 December 2027 and Sun 19 December 2027. Many families light a candle on each, and the Advent calendar, which goes back to nineteenth-century Germany, counts down the days from 1 December.

Where the date comes from#

Nobody knows the date of Jesus’s birth. The earliest record of Christmas on 25 December is from Rome in the fourth century, and it later spread across Europe. The twelve days of Christmas run from 25 December to 5 January, and Epiphany falls on 6 January. In Nigeria and many other countries, 26 December, Boxing Day, is also a public holiday.

Travel and costs#

In Nigeria many families travel to their home towns for Christmas, which fills roads, buses and flights, and pushes up fares in the second half of December. Book transport as early as you can, and agree who is hosting and cooking so costs are shared. A countdown gives you a sense of how long you have to put aside money, and our loan payment calculator is useful if you are thinking of borrowing, so you can see the true cost before you decide.

Cooking and feeding a crowd#

For a large family meal, work back in days. A frozen turkey of 5 kg needs about three days to thaw in the fridge. Chop vegetables and make sauces the day before. Plan oven space, since a roast, rice and side dishes compete for it. For a meal in Nigeria, jollof rice, fried rice, chicken and stews for 20 people need large pots and early shopping at the market, before prices rise in the last week of December. Make a list with quantities and check it against what you already have.

Last reviewed October 2026 by the Calclulo team.