The evening before Christmas — the start of Christmas celebrations in many traditions.
This is a Gregorian calendar holiday — observed on the same date worldwide. There is no tithi or panchang significance to the date; it does not shift by timezone.
Christmas Eve, the night before Christmas Day, marks the start of Christmas celebrations across most Western Christian traditions. Many families attend midnight Mass, exchange gifts, or share a special meal together. In Latin America, Spain, and parts of Europe, Christmas Eve (Nochebuena) is the principal celebration rather than Christmas Day itself.
Computed for Chicago Loop (America/Chicago) using local sunrise, sunset and astronomical positions.
Other observances and vrats falling in December 2026, with dates computed for Chicago Loop.
A more detailed account of Christmas Eve — its mythology, regional variations, and rituals — is being prepared.