Home   Calendar   Holidays   United States   Christmas Eve
Flag for USA

Christmas Eve 2024 in the United States

Christmas Eve in the United States, which is annually on December 24, is the day before Christmas Day. It falls within the Christmas season, which is a time for people to buy presents and visit friends or relatives.

Is Christmas Eve a Public Holiday?

Christmas Eve 2024 is a state holiday in 11 states and an observance, christian in 40 states.
A decorated Christmas tree with Christmas stockings in the background.

Christmas Eve, the night before Christmas Day.

©iStockphoto.com/Artfoliophoto

Celebrate Christmas Eve

Since Christmas Eve is not usually an official federal holiday, most people have to work. However, it is a partial day off or a full day off in some states. Many workplaces hold Christmas parties or celebrations, so there is a celebratory air to the day. People who work in the retail or catering sectors often have to work very hard to meet consumer demands on December 24.

Many people in the United States decorate their homes and driveways with seasonal decorations, although some do this much earlier, starting just after Thanksgiving Day in late November. The centerpiece of the decorations is often a Christmas tree decorated with fairy lights, tinsel, angels, stars and other seasonal ornaments. Outdoor light sculptures are also becoming increasingly popular. These are many light bulbs or LEDs in the form of trees, sleighs, reindeer, Santa Claus, snowmen and other seasonal figures. Light sculptures may be placed on driveways, roofs or in gardens.

In the evening, often just before bedtime, many families, particularly those with children, will hang up stockings on the fireplace or the end of their bed. These Christmas stockings are often red with a white fluffy trim, although they may be of any design and are often much bigger than the socks that they represent. Children hope that Santa Claus, a mythical figure thought to represent an ancient European saint, will enter their home via the chimney and fill their stocking with gifts, sweets and oranges.

Public Life

Christmas Eve is not a federal holiday. However, it is a partial day off in states like Kansas, North Dakota, and Virginia. It is a state holiday in Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin. Most schools and other educational institutions throughout the U.S. are usually closed on December 24. Many organizations will open as usual, but some may close earlier or offer reduced services. Stores are normally open as usual, but may shut earlier. Stores and malls are likely to be very busy, as people look for last minute Christmas gifts and stock up on food for the festive season.

Public transit systems may run a normal or reduced service, particularly in the evening. If you need to use public transit on Christmas Eve, is it a good idea to check the services that the appropriate companies offer carefully. Many people travel to visit family members or friends on Christmas Eve. There may be some congestion on roads and highways, particularly around major cities. Airports and long distance bus terminals may be especially busy.

About Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve marks the start of the holiday season at the end of the year. For many Christians, it is a day to remember the events around the birth of Jesus. Some people, especially Roman Catholics, attend a midnight mass at church. Traditionally, the midnight mass started at midnight, just as Christmas Eve ended and Christmas Day started. However, now may churches hold this church service in the late afternoon or early evening of Christmas Eve.

Many Protestant churches also hold special services on Christmas Eve. These are often candle-lit and may be very solemn. Some include the presentation of a crib scene depicting the holy family, with statues or actors representing Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, the shepherds and various animals thought to be present in the stable where Jesus was born.

On Christmas Eve in 1914 and 1915, unofficial Christmas truces began in the World War I fighting. German soldiers lit candles and sung Christmas carols. On the other side, British troops responded by singing English carols. Soldiers from both sides shouted greeting and visited each other, sometimes exchanging small gifts. On Christmas Eve in 1968, the astronauts of Apollo 8 read from the creation story in the Book of Genesis. This was widely broadcast on television.

About Christmas Eve in Other Countries

Read more about Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve Observances

YearWeekdayDateNameHoliday TypeArea
2019TueDec 24Christmas EveState HolidayAR, KS*, KY, MI, NC, ND, OK, SC, TX, VA*, WI
2019TueDec 24Christmas EveObservance, Christian 
2019TueDec 24Christmas EveFederal Holiday 
2020ThuDec 24Christmas EveFederal Holiday 
2020ThuDec 24Christmas EveState HolidayAR, KS*, KY, MI, NC, ND, OK, SC, TX, VA*, WI
2020ThuDec 24Christmas EveObservance, Christian 
2021FriDec 24Christmas EveState HolidayAR, KS*, KY, MI, NC, ND, OK, SC, TX, VA*, WI
2021FriDec 24Christmas EveObservance, Christian 
2022FriDec 23Christmas Eve observedState HolidayAR, KS*, KY, MI, NC, ND, OK, SC, TX, VA*, WI
2022SatDec 24Christmas EveObservance, Christian 
2022SatDec 24Christmas EveState HolidayAR, KS*, KY, MI, NC, ND, OK, SC, TX, VA*, WI
2023SunDec 24Christmas EveObservance, Christian 
2023SunDec 24Christmas EveState HolidayAR, KS*, KY, MI, NC, ND, OK, SC, TX, VA*, WI
2023MonDec 25Christmas Eve observedState HolidayAR, KS*, KY, MI, NC, ND, OK, SC, TX, VA*, WI
2024TueDec 24Christmas EveState HolidayAR, KS*, KY, MI, NC, ND, OK, SC, TX, VA*, WI
2024TueDec 24Christmas EveObservance, Christian 
2025WedDec 24Christmas EveState HolidayAR, KS*, KY, MI, NC, ND, OK, SC, TX, VA*, WI
2025WedDec 24Christmas EveObservance, Christian 
2026ThuDec 24Christmas EveState HolidayAR, KS*, KY, MI, NC, ND, OK, SC, TX, VA*, WI
2026ThuDec 24Christmas EveObservance, Christian 
2027FriDec 24Christmas EveObservance, Christian 
2027FriDec 24Christmas EveState HolidayAR, KS*, KY, MI, NC, ND, OK, SC, TX, VA*, WI
2028SunDec 24Christmas EveObservance, Christian 
2028SunDec 24Christmas EveState HolidayAR, KS*, KY, MI, NC, ND, OK, SC, TX, VA*, WI
2028MonDec 25Christmas Eve observedState HolidayAR, KS*, KY, MI, NC, ND, OK, SC, TX, VA*, WI
2029MonDec 24Christmas EveState HolidayAR, KS*, KY, MI, NC, ND, OK, SC, TX, VA*, WI
2029MonDec 24Christmas EveObservance, Christian 
* Only some parts of Kansas and Virginia observe this holiday.

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.