Christmas Eve

The next dates

• 2026Thursday, 24 December
• 2027Friday, 24 December
• 2028Sunday, 24 DecemberWeekend

In which cantons is Christmas Eve a holiday?

• 2cantonscustomary day off
• 24cantonsnot a holiday

Origin

24 December is the eve of Christmas. According to old church custom, a feast begins on the evening before; in many churches, midnight mass is celebrated on Christmas night. In many families, the evening with the Christmas tree and the giving of presents is the highlight of the festivities. The Christ Child (Christkind) as a bringer of gifts was introduced by Protestants after the Reformation because they rejected the veneration of St. Nicholas. It came to Switzerland from Germany in the 19th century. Christmas Eve is not a public holiday in any canton.

Sources: Universität Basel, Kulturwissenschaft: Interview zu Weihnachten (Berner Zeitung, 24.12.2022)

What the three types mean

Public holiday

Treated like a Sunday (Art. 20a Labour Act). Employees have the day off.

Cantonal rest day

Public rest day under cantonal law, e.g. shops are closed. Under employment law it is a working day.

Customary day off

Not a public holiday, but many employers give the day off. Your employment contract decides whether you are off.