What Christmas Eve is

The evening before Christmas Day, and in much of continental Europe the main event: in Germany, Poland, the Nordic countries and much of Latin America, gifts are opened on the 24th rather than the 25th.

Midnight Mass is the traditional service, though many churches now hold it earlier in the evening.

When it falls, and why the date moves

The countdown at the top of this page is live, and the date beneath it is the next occurrence. This is a fixed date: it falls on the same day of the month every year, so only the weekday changes.

It is grouped here under Christian, alongside the other observances that share its calendar.

What is coming up next

Once this date passes, the countdown moves on according to the recurrence rule described above. Calculated lunar dates remain estimates until the relevant calendar or local authority confirms them. See the full list of upcoming events, or use the countdown timer for a duration of your own.