Christmas Day 2026
Christmas Day, December 25, is a federal holiday in the United States and a public holiday in all 50 states. Post offices, banks, markets, government offices and most stores close, making it the quietest business day of the American year.
Christmas Day dates by year
| Year | Date | Day of week | Observed | Days away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 25, 2026 | Friday | — | 55 days |
| 2027 | December 25, 2027 | Saturday | Fri, Dec 24 | 419 days |
Dates computed from the governing statutes and last verified October 3, 2026. Years beyond officially published schedules are projected from the rule that sets the date.
When December 25 falls on a Saturday, federal employees observe it on Friday, December 24; when it falls on a Sunday, on Monday, December 26.
The one day America closes
Christmas Day is a federal holiday under 5 U.S.C. 6103 and a public holiday in every state and the District of Columbia. Federal and state offices, courts, post offices, banks and the stock market all close, schools are on winter break, and unlike most holidays, the shutdown extends deep into private business: nearly all major retailers lock their doors, something they do on no other day. It is also the only federal holiday tied to a religious celebration, marking the Christian feast of the Nativity while functoining for many Americans as a broadly cultural holiday of family, gifts and food.
Why December 25, and the observed-date rule
Western Christianity has celebrated the Nativity on December 25 since the fourth century in Rome; the reasons for the choice are debated, with theoreis pointing to its position near the winter solstice and to early Christian date calculetions. The federal holiday stikcs to the fixed date - when December 25 falls on a Saturday, federal employees observe the holiday on Friday, December 24; when it falls on a Sunday, on Monday, December 26. Most states and employers follow the same Friday-or-Monday pattern, so Christmas reliably produces a long weekend when it brushes one.
How it became a federal holiday
Early America was ambivalent about Christmas; Puritan New England once suppressed it, and Congress routinely met on December 25. The tide turned in the nineteenth century as German and Irish immigration, Clement Clarke Moore's poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, and Thomas Nast's Santa Claus illustrations reshaped the day around home and children. States began declaring it a legal holiday, and on June 26, 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the act that made Christmas, New Year's Day, Independence Day and Thanksgiving holidays for federal workers in the District of Columbia. An 1885 law extended paid holidays to federal employees nationwide, and every state eventually added December 25 to its own calendar.
How Americans celebrate
The core rituals are familiar: decorated trees, stockings, gifts opened Christmas morning, church services including Christmas Eve and midnight liturgies, and a large family meal. Santa Claus dominates the season for children, tracked each year by NORAD's Christmas Eve tradition, the season drives the retail year, with holiday shopping stretching from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas Eve, and the days around the holiday rank among the busiest travel periods, as tens of millions of Americans fly or drive to family. Not everyone celebrates; for many Jewish, Muslim and other non-Christian Americans the day is simply a day off, with its own traditions like Chinese food and a movie.
What stays open
Almost nothing. Grocery stores and big-box chains close, pharmacies limit hours, and no mail moves. The reliable exceptions are hospitals, hotels, gas stations, movie theaters, many Chinese and other Asian restaurants, and some convenience stores. Anything urgent should be handled by Christmas Eve, which itself brings early closings and is a holiday for many state workforces.
What's open and closed on Christmas Day
| Service | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Post Office (USPS) | Closed | No regular mail delivery; only limited premium services operate. |
| Banks | Closed | A Federal Reserve holiday; branches close, ATMs and apps still work. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Closed | NYSE and Nasdaq close, with early closes common on Christmas Eve. |
| Federal offices | Closed | All federal agencies and courts close for the federal holiday. |
| State and local government | Closed | Public holiday in every state; offices, courts and DMVs close. |
| Public schools | Closed | Schools are on winter break through the holiday and New Year's. |
| Retail stores and malls | Closed | Nearly all major retailers and malls close for the day; convenience stores and gas stations are exceptions. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Varies | Most close; hotel restaurants, many Chinese restaurants and some chains serve Christmas diners. |
Quick facts
- Date rule
- December 25 each year
- Observed date
- Friday, Dec 24 if on a Saturday; Monday, Dec 26 if on a Sunday (federal rule)
- Legal status
- Federal holiday (5 U.S.C. § 6103); public holiday in all 50 states and DC
- Federal holiday since
- 1870, by act signed by President Grant; extended nationwide in 1885
- Celebrates
- The Christian feast of the Nativity of Jesus; widely kept as a cultural holiday
- Observed in
- All 50 states and the District of Columbia
- Also known as
- Christmas
Christmas Day FAQ
Is Christmas Day a federal holiday?
Yes. Christmas is one of the eleven federal holidays and the only one tied to a religious feast. Federal offices, post offices, banks and the stock market close, and all fifty states observe it as a public holiday as well.
What happens when Christmas falls on a weekend?
Federal employees observe the holiday on the nearest weekday: the preceding Friday when December 25 is a Saturday, and the following Monday when it is a Sunday. Most states and private employers use the same rule.
Is the post office open on Christmas?
No. Post offices close and there is no regular mail delivery on Christmas Day. USPS, FedEx and UPS all pause normal service, with only narrow premium exceptions.
Are grocery stores open on Christmas Day?
Nearly all major supermarket and big-box chains close completely, a shutdown unique to Christmas. Some convenience stores, gas stations and pharmacies stay open with reduced hours, so shop by Christmas Eve.
Why is Christmas on December 25?
The Western church settled on December 25 for the feast of the Nativity in the fourth century. Historians debate whether the date was chosen for its closeness to the winter solstice or derived from early Christian calculations, and the Bible does not give a date.
When did Christmas become a federal holiday?
President Ulysses S. Grant signed the act creating the first federal holidays, including Christmas, in 1870 for federal workers in Washington. An 1885 measure extended paid federal holidays to employees across the country.
Is the stock market open on Christmas?
No. The NYSE and Nasdaq close for Christmas, observing it on the nearest weekday when the date falls on a weekend, and often close early on Christmas Eve.
What restaurants are open on Christmas Day?
Hotel restaurants, many Chinese and other Asian restaurants, and some diners and chains stay open, while most sit-down restaurants close. Movie theaters do strong business, making dinner and a movie a genuine Christmas tradition.
Sources
Last reviewed October 3, 2026. Dates for years beyond published official schedules are projected from the governing rule.