Christmas, December 25
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The Church of Rome kept the feast on December 25 by the fourth century, close to the winter solstice. Names like Emmanuel, “God with us,” and Noel are celebrated today.
On the General Roman Calendar, December 25 is a solemnity: The Nativity of the Lord.
Name days on December 25
In countries that keep name days, December 25 is the day for people named Emmanuel and Noel. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Emmanuel | December 25 |
| Noel | December 25 |
December 25 on the calendar
December 25 is the 359th day of the year (the 360th in a leap year), with 6 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday |
| 2027 | Saturday |
| 2028 | Monday |
| 2029 | Tuesday |
| 2030 | Wednesday |
Keeping December 25
December 25 falls in the Christmas season. As a solemnity, it ranks among the highest celebrations of the year: the Mass includes the Gloria and the Creed, and some solemnities are holy days of obligation. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Emmanuel and Noel, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around December 25
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| December 22 | St. Frances Xavier Cabrini |
| December 23 | St. John of Kanty |
| December 24 | Sts. Adam and Eve |
| December 26 | St. Stephen |
| December 27 | St. John the Apostle |
| December 28 | Holy Innocents |
The day before, December 24, is the day of Sts. Adam and Eve. The day after, December 26, belongs to St. Stephen. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.