During the holidays, you might notice lights and decorations in many places, but Christmas isn’t celebrated everywhere. Some countries don’t make it an official holiday because they have their own important customs. If you’re curious about where December 25th or January 7th is just a regular day, this map shows how traditions change from one place to another.
Why Two Christmas Dates?
Many Catholics and Protestants follow the Gregorian calendar, so they celebrate Christmas on December 25th. Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar, which means they celebrate on January 7th. For the Armenian Apostolic Church, Christmas falls on January 6th.
Where Christmas Isn’t a Public Holiday
This includes regions with large Muslim populations like Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Iran; Hindu-majority nations such as India and Nepal; and countries with deep Buddhist traditions, like Thailand or Japan.
For geography enthusiasts, world map posters are a fantastic way to explore cultural and geographical diversity. Below, you’ll find some of the most popular world map posters available on Amazon.
I’d love to hear your story—if Christmas tends to fly under the radar where you live, how do you spend the season? Or do you skip it altogether? Jump into the comments and share; it’s always great to get perspectives from around the world.
