Friday 25 December 2026
Christmas is Friday 25 December 2026. Christmas Day, 25 December, is marked by a large family meal that changes from country to country: roast turkey and Christmas pudding in Britain, the julbord table in Sweden, goose and Stollen in Germany, panettone in Italy and a bucket of fried chicken in Japan.
Source: Christmas dinner.
Also known as Christmas Day, Weihnachten, Natale, Navidad, Noël, Jul, Natal, Joulu.
United Kingdom
The British Christmas dinner is roast turkey with stuffing, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes and sprouts, followed by Christmas pudding or mince pies with brandy butter, custard or cream.
Source: Christmas dinner.
Germany
Roast goose and roast carp are the main Christmas dishes in Germany, with cabbage and potatoes on the side. Sweets are Lebkuchen, marzipan and fruit loaves such as Christstollen and Dresdener Stollen.
Source: Christmas dinner.
Italy
Italian sweet breads eaten from Christmas to New Year. Pandoro is the eight-pointed Verona bread dusted with icing sugar; panettone is the domed fruitcake enjoyed in several countries.
Source: Christmas dinner.
Denmark
Danish rice pudding served with cherry sauce, often with a whole almond hidden in it; whoever finds the almond gets an extra present. It follows the roast duck or pork on 24 December.
Source: Christmas dinner.
Norway
Lamb ribs, one of the traditional Norwegian Christmas mains; in a 2021 survey 35% of Norwegians ate it, against 49% for pork ribs or steak.
Source: Christmas dinner.
Portugal
Boiled dried-salted cod with cabbage, potatoes, eggs and chickpeas, dressed with plenty of olive oil, eaten by Portuguese families on Christmas Eve, with octopus or turkey as alternatives on the 25th.
Source: Christmas dinner.
Japan
Japanese Christmas cake is a white sponge cake covered with cream and decorated with strawberries. Eating at KFC at Christmas became a national custom after a 1970s advertising campaign, and stores take reservations months ahead.
Source: Christmas dinner.
Nov to DecExpected
Bucharest, Romania
Christmas market with local culinary products, craft stalls and live shows
Nov to DecExpected
Bucharest, Romania
Christmas market with local culinary products, craft stalls and live shows
2 Nov to 4 Jan
London, United Kingdom
Street food, churros and hot drinks
6 Nov to 6 Jan
Vienna, Austria
Punsch, Glühwein, Maroni, Spätzle, Crêpes, Würstel, Knödel
6 Nov to 22 Dec
Manchester, United Kingdom
Mulled wine, bratwurst and festive street food
6 Nov to 27 DecExpected
Boston, Massachusetts
Holiday market food hall: raclette, wheel pasta, grilled cheese, pizza
6 Nov to 21 Dec
Copenhagen, Denmark
Christmas market stalls
7 Nov to 31 Dec
Galway, Ireland
Bratwurst, crêpes, pretzels, waffles, mulled wine and Bier Keller beers
Nothing matches those filters here. or try the festival finder.
| Year | When |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday 25 December 2026 |
| 2027 | Saturday 25 December 2027 |
| 2028 | Monday 25 December 2028 |
| 2029 | Tuesday 25 December 2029 |
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