Christmas is the centre of a long run of holidays and seasonal dates. This page counts down to each of them at once, using the date on your device. Dates that have already passed this season roll forward to their next occurrence, so the list is always current.
| Occasion | Next date | Days to go |
|---|---|---|
| Halloween | October 31 | — |
| Thanksgiving (US) | Fourth Thursday in November | — |
| Black Friday | Day after US Thanksgiving | — |
| First Sunday of Advent | Fourth Sunday before Christmas | — |
| First night of Hanukkah | Evening before 25 Kislev | — |
| St Nicholas Day | December 6 | — |
| Christmas Eve | December 24 | — |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | — |
| Boxing Day / St Stephen's Day | December 26 | — |
| New Year's Eve | December 31 | — |
| New Year's Day | January 1 | — |
| Twelfth Night | January 5 | — |
| Epiphany / Three Kings' Day | January 6 | — |
| Orthodox Christmas | January 7 | — |
The dates, explained
Halloween — October 31
The eve of All Saints' Day (November 1). For many households the day after Halloween is when Christmas planning — and Christmas advertising — begins in earnest.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday
US Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November, so it falls between November 22 and 28. Black Friday, the following day, is widely seen as the start of the Christmas shopping season. (Canada's Thanksgiving is earlier, on the second Monday of October.) The shopping days page covers Cyber Monday and the other retail dates.
First Sunday of Advent
Advent, the four-week season of preparation for Christmas in Western churches, begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas — between November 27 and December 3. See Advent and Advent calendars.
Hanukkah
The Jewish festival of lights lasts eight nights, beginning on the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev. Because the Hebrew calendar is lunisolar, its Gregorian date moves each year; the first candle is lit on the evening before the first full day. Upcoming first nights: December 4, 2026; December 24, 2027; December 12, 2028; December 1, 2029; December 20, 2030.
St Nicholas Day — December 6
The feast of Saint Nicholas of Myra, the figure behind Santa Claus. In the Netherlands and Belgium, Sinterklaas brings presents on the evening of December 5; in Germany, Austria and other parts of Europe children put out shoes or boots on the night of December 5 to find small gifts on the morning of the 6th.
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day
December 24 is the main celebration in much of continental Europe and Latin America, December 25 in the English-speaking world. December 26 is Boxing Day in the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and St Stephen's Day in Ireland and many European countries. There are dedicated countdowns for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
The midpoint of the Twelve Days of Christmas. January 1 is a public holiday almost everywhere that uses the Gregorian calendar.
Twelfth Night and Epiphany
Twelfth Night (January 5) closes the Twelve Days of Christmas, and Epiphany (January 6) celebrates the visit of the Magi. In Spain and much of Latin America, Three Kings' Day is a major gift-giving day.
Orthodox Christmas — January 7
Churches that follow the Julian calendar celebrate Christmas on January 7. See the Orthodox Christmas countdown.
Frequently asked questions
How are the countdowns calculated?
Each countdown counts calendar days from today, in your device's time zone, to the next occurrence of the date. Dates that have passed roll forward automatically.
Why does Hanukkah move every year?
Hanukkah is fixed in the Hebrew calendar (25 Kislev), which follows both the moon and the sun, so its Gregorian date shifts from year to year, usually falling between late November and late December.
When is Thanksgiving?
US Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November, between November 22 and 28. Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday of October.
Last reviewed on October 4, 2026.
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