Why December 25
Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus, observed on December 25 by Western churches. The Bible gives no date for the birth, and December 25 has been associated with Christmas in the West since at least the fourth century. Many Orthodox churches that follow the Julian calendar also keep December 25 on that calendar, which currently falls on January 7 on the Gregorian calendar.
When the countdown ends
The date is fixed, so there is no rule to work out. This countdown ends at midnight at the start of December 25 on your device’s clock, so it reaches zero when Christmas Day begins, not on the evening of Christmas Eve. On the day itself the page says so, and once Christmas is over it turns to the next one. Christmas Day is a statutory holiday across Canada, and Boxing Day follows on December 26.
Canadian Christmas touches
Letters addressed to Santa Claus at the North Pole, with the postal code H0H 0H0, are handled by Canada Post. On Christmas Eve, NORAD, the joint Canadian and American aerospace defence command, tracks Santa’s progress, a tradition that began in 1955. Many households also count the days with an advent calendar, which usually runs from December 1 to December 24.
Christmas Eve and the days around it
Christmas Eve, December 24, is not a general holiday in Alberta, although many businesses and schools close early or begin their holiday break. Families often hold their main meal or a church service that evening, and some open gifts at midnight or in the morning. If relatives are far away, set December 25 at 00:00 in their city with the countdown to any date to see when Christmas arrives for them.
Counting the days
Counting down with children? The days figure is the number of full days left, and the seconds make it feel closer. The countdown timer times the roast and the clock keeps the day on schedule, and you can embed the countdown on a family or business page. Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day follow within about a week, and Black Friday comes about four weeks earlier.
More countdowns
Need a different date? Use the countdown to any date or count up with time since a date.
Questions
What date is Christmas this year?
Christmas is always December 25. The countdown above always shows the next one, so it is right for the current year. Only the weekday changes from year to year, which decides whether you get a long weekend.
How many sleeps until Christmas?
Count the days showing on the countdown, and add one if there are also hours, minutes or seconds on top. That is the number of nights you will sleep before Christmas Day begins at midnight.
Does the countdown end on Christmas Eve?
No. It ends at midnight at the start of December 25 on your device’s clock. If you want a countdown to a specific moment on Christmas Eve, such as dinner or a midnight service, set that time yourself with the countdown to any date.
Is Christmas a statutory holiday in Alberta?
Yes. Christmas Day is one of Alberta’s general holidays, and it is observed across Canada. How the holiday applies to you can depend on your job, so check the rules for your own workplace.