It's officially time to deck the halls!
Ree Drummond is the first to embrace all things Christmas the minute winter arrives. "Winter means figuring out which Christmas cookies to make, searching for the perfect gifts, picking out the best tree on the lot, making (and delivering) cinnamon rolls to friends and neighbors—the works," she explains. Despite her busy schedule, Ree has strict standards for December: the Christmas tree shouldn’t go up until at least the second week. However, it seems her daughter Alex might have a different take—last year, she put up her holiday decorations in November!
Okay, everyone gears up for the holidays at different times, but it seems like the Christmas spirit is felt earlier and earlier each year. Some brands like Walmart offer holiday shopping deals beginning in early November. Your favorite Christmas songs might even pop up on the radio around Thanksgiving! Not that there are any complaints here... especially if that means more time for Christmas traditions.
But with all these ideas on when to decorate for Christmas and how to celebrate the holiday, but when exactly is Christmas again?
It can be hard to keep track of the day in the midst of the holiday rush. And why is Christmas celebrated in December in the first place? Well, you aren't the only one who's curious. So, if you find yourself singing "Where Are You, Christmas?" and actually mean it, you'll want to read on for why December is the gift-giving holiday and what day of the week Christmas falls on this year.
What day of the week is Christmas this year?
Much like Thanksgiving, the actual day of the week that Christmas is celebrated on changes each year. Christmas Day falls on Wednesday, December 25 in 2024.
Why is Christmas celebrated on December 25?
This may come as a surprise, but there is actually no mention of December 25 in the Bible. In fact, it doesn't mention a specific time or date for Jesus' birth at all! December was already a significant month prior to Christianity, as many groups celebrated the winter solstice and the return of longer days. The Romans notably observed Juvenalia on December 25, which was a feast to honor the children of Rome and the infant god Mithra.
Early Christians eventually believed Jesus was born January 6, since that aligned with the assumed date of his crucifixion. This meant that the 25th was considered a pagan day and the 6th a Christian one.
So, why did it all change? You can thank Pope Julius I for that! In the fourth century, Julius I chose December 25 as the official date to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It's commonly believed that he chose this date to help adopt and absorb the pagan festivals that occurred during the same time and thus attract the masses to Christmas instead. (Note that Juvenalia was a celebration of children!)
By the sixth century, the "Feast of the Nativity," as it was first called, spread widely in England and Germany. While it was initially a raucous celebration, Americans reinvented Christmas as a day centered on family, peace, and nostalgia.
Other important days related to Christmas
Did you know there are several other winter holidays associated with Christmas, too?
If you're still wondering about the original date, January 6 now marks the day that the wise men arrived in Bethlehem, so the intervening period is known as the 12 Days of Christmas. Yep, just like the Christmas carol! The 12 days between Christmas and January 6 have been marked since the Middle Ages in Europe, representing the amount of time it took the three wise men to travel to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. Each of these days symbolizes a person or an event observed by the Christian church and the last day, January 6, is known as Three Kings’ Day or the Feast of the Epiphany.
But before you think about all of that, you'll want to back it up to the second most important day apart from Christmas: Christmas Eve! As its name suggests, Christmas Eve falls on the day before Christmas. This year, Christmas Eve will be on Tuesday, December 24, 2024. So, if you're planning to relax by the fire with a mug of hot cocoa and your favorite Christmas movies playing, consider getting your gift-wrapping and Christmas cookie-baking preparations completed the weekend before!
Once the Christmas festivities are over, there's still much to celebrate. That's because just seven days later, it's New Year's! New Year’s Eve is on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, and New Year’s Day is on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Hopefully, your Christmas presents include new champagne flutes for a celebratory New Year's toast the following week!
But back to Christmas, particularly Advent! This season represents a time in which the Christian church prepares for the birth of Jesus. Basically, it's a period of waiting and expectation for Christmas that presents itself as a celebration for weeks rather than simply one day. Advent always starts four Sundays before Christmas and always ends on Christmas Eve. So, in 2024, Advent starts Sunday, December 1, and runs through Tuesday, December 24. You may even recognize the name from your advent calendars, though most of those don't technically cover the Advent season and instead start on December 1.
All that being said, it's time to pull out your Christmas pajamas and put on your favorite Christmas movies, because the countdown to Christmas is on!
Micaela Bahn is a freelance editorial assistant and recent graduate from Carleton College, where she majored in English literature. She loves running, photography, and cooking the best new recipes.
