Friday 25 December
The Nativity in the flesh. A Great Feast, and the fast-free Twelve Days begin.
Χριστούγεννα & Nativitas Domini
Christmas 2026
The birth of Jesus on 25 December, which churches on the Julian calendar keep on what is now 7 January.
In 2026 it falls on Friday 25 December in Orthodox (New Calendar), Catholic and Protestant practice, and on Thursday 7 January 2027 in Orthodox (Old Calendar) practice.
Orthodox churches keep it on the New or the Old Calendar, as each church does.
The date
In each branch
Thursday 7 January 2027
The Nativity in the flesh. A Great Feast, and the fast-free Twelve Days begin.
Friday 25 December
Christmas Day.
Friday 25 December
The Nativity of Christ.
The season
The days around it
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Sunday 29 November · Catholic
The First Sunday of Advent
The liturgical year begins. Four weeks of waiting before the Nativity.
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Sunday 29 November · Protestant
Advent Sunday
The church year begins. Four Sundays of waiting before the Nativity.
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Thursday 24 December · Protestant
Christmas Eve
The vigil of the Nativity.
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Sunday 27 December · Catholic
The Holy Family
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, kept on the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity.
In ActivePray, each branch’s holy days and fasts come in its own year, with reminders for them, and every prayer at its hour.
ActivePray on the App StoreChristmas in other years: 2027 · 2028. Every holy day of the year is on the calendar and in Christianity.