How people count down to Christmas
Many families start the countdown on December 1 with an Advent calendar: one small door, chocolate or note for each day until the 24th. In the United States and Canada, the shopping season starts the day after Thanksgiving, so "how many shopping days are left" is a common question. In the UK, the last recommended posting dates for cards and parcels usually fall in mid-December, so it helps to check the countdown before you send gifts abroad. Christmas Eve, December 24, is when many countries hold their main celebration.
When is Christmas?
Christmas falls on December 25 every year. The countdown above switches to next year automatically once the day has passed.
Share it
Press Share countdown to send a link. Everyone who opens it sees the time left in their own time zone.
FAQ
How many weeks until Christmas?
Divide the days shown above by seven. From December 1 it is just over three weeks, the length of a typical Advent calendar.
When should I post Christmas cards abroad?
Postal services usually publish last dates for international mail in early to mid-December. Check yours and send a few days earlier to be safe.
How many days until Christmas?
The live counter above shows the exact days, hours, minutes and seconds left.
Which time zone is used?
Your own device time zone, so midnight is your local midnight.