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Christmas, celebrated on December 25th each year, is one of the most important and widely observed holidays globally. For those in foreign trade, understanding the length of holidays, extended weekends, and combinations with other holidays in different countries is crucial for developing year-end order-following strategies, planning shipping schedules, and arranging cross-border communication timelines . Recommended reading: 2025 Christmas Foreign Trade Order-Following Guide: 12 Types of Customers' Targeted Communication Techniques + Implementation Skills – Doubling Peak Season Sales with It!
Christmas in 2025 falls on a Thursday, and the length of the holiday varies from country to country.
Some countries have extended their stay from the 24th to the 28th;
Some are going straight into a long weekend;
Some countries consider Christmas a cultural holiday and do not include it as a national statutory holiday.
To help foreign trade companies, factory owners, and sales teams better grasp the holiday schedule, this article systematically reviews the holiday arrangements for Christmas 2025 in all countries and regions worldwide , based on the latest publicly available data, including:
Is it a national public holiday?
Is it a consecutive holiday?
Does it coincide with the weekend?
Are there any additional holidays combined to form a "long holiday"?
It helps you plan production, logistics, order expediting, and communication arrangements in advance, allowing you to take the initiative in the year-end sprint for foreign trade.
Note: "Whether it is a holiday" in the table refers to statutory/government-announced public holidays ; "Explanation of consecutive holidays" lists adjacent public holidays related to Christmas (such as Boxing Day, alternative holidays, etc.) and typical business/bank practices. Parentheses after each row list the main sources (government or authoritative calendar websites) used to verify information for the country.
| Country/Region | Are December 25 (Thu) public holidays? | December 26 (Boxing Day/the following day) | Other related holidays/precautions | Main source (verified) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (Federal) | Yes (Federal holiday: Christmas Day) | No (December 12-26 are regular working days) | Most federal agencies, post offices, and banks are closed from December 25th; many businesses have shortened working hours from the afternoon of December 24th to the afternoon of December 31st. | US OPM / Federal Holiday Information. |
| United Kingdom (including England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland) | Yes (12-25) | Yes (December 26th, Boxing Day, usually on a Friday) | 2025 will be a Thursday-Friday weekend, resulting in significant delays in international logistics around the peak season for Commonwealth countries. | UK government bank holidays. |
| Canada | Yes (12-25) | Yes (December 26th, Boxing Day) | The federal government and most provinces will have a long weekend from December 25th to 26th. Post offices and banks will be closed. | Canadian government holiday page |
| Australia | yes | Yes (Boxing Day, June 26) | The holiday schedule is consistent across states: a long weekend from December 25th (Thu) to December 26th (Fri). Most retail stores will be closed from December 25th. | FairWork / State Announcements. |
| New Zealand | yes | Yes (Boxing Day) | December 25-26 is a consecutive holiday; New Zealand ports and shipping are also generally closed. | NZ government announcement. |
| Most EU countries (Germany/France/Italy/Spain/Netherlands/Belgium, etc.) | Most countries are (12-25). | In Germany, Austria, and most other countries, December 26th (the following day) is also a public holiday. | In Germany and France, December 24th (Christmas Eve) is often a "half-day holiday/early closing time for shops." While the specific dates vary across EU countries, shops are generally closed from December 25th. | A compilation of German/French government or major holiday websites (example: German/France announcements). |
| Chinese mainland | No (non-statutory holiday) | no | Businesses and factories will generally operate as usual (but foreign companies or overseas offices may close for the holidays earlier); customs/ports will still operate according to their duty schedules (though shifts may be reduced during the holidays). It is recommended to confirm with the relevant port/freight forwarder individually. | Announcement/Interpretation of China's Public Holiday 2025 |
| Hongkong | Yes (Christmas is a public holiday) | Yes (the following day is often a public holiday as well). | Hong Kong is an important transshipment port, and port/express delivery may be congested before and after holidays. | Hong Kong Government/Bank Announcement (see Hong Kong Government/Bank page). |
| Japan | No (in most cases it is a "festival celebration" but not a national holiday) | no | Japanese commercial districts are often decorated for holidays, but weekdays are normal; ports, shipping, and customs for exports/imports to Japan generally operate normally (but overseas warehouses/peak retail consumption can affect logistics). | Summary of Japanese National Day Holidays and Cultural Explanation (Non-National Holidays) |
| South Korea | No (not a national holiday) | no | Business activities continue as usual; cross-border logistics are affected by the shutdown of European and American markets. | Official South Korean holiday schedule (common knowledge), verifiable as needed. |
| Singapore | Yes (12-25 public holidays) | no | Singapore is a financial and logistics hub; banks and government agencies are closed from December 12th to 25th; business operations are subject to company policy. | Announcement from MOM Singapore. |
| India | Most central/state announcements list December 25th as public/institutional holidays (religious and regional differences). | No (General) | The holiday list from the General Office of the Central Government/banks shows that December 25th is listed as a holiday (but specific schools/companies may have winter break arrangements). | PDF document listing Indian government/agency holidays. |
| Taiwan, China | No (Christmas is not a statutory public holiday) | no | There are celebrations in the business district, and businesses may give holidays depending on the situation. | |
| the Philippines | Yes (December 12-25 are statutory holidays) | No (12-26 subject to government announcement) | As a country with a strong Catholic culture, December 25th is a national work stoppage day. | |
| Vietnam | No (Christmas is not a national statutory holiday). | no | Business and tourist areas will celebrate, but most businesses will remain open as usual. | |
| Malaysia | Yes (many states/nationwide have designated December 25th as public holidays) | no | In multi-ethnic countries, December 25th is generally a statutory holiday (Christians are a minority, but are included in public holidays). | |
| Indonesia | No (This is not a nationwide public holiday; it may be observed in some provinces, cities, or private individuals). | no | Indonesia prioritizes religious holidays. While Christmas is a national holiday, it is usually celebrated in shopping districts but not necessarily a national holiday (except in some Christian areas). | |
| Brazil | Yes (12-25 public holidays) | no | Christmas is a major national holiday in Southern Hemisphere countries. Ports and highways are affected. | |
| Mexico | Yes (12-25 public holidays) | no | Latin American countries often designate Christmas as a public holiday; commercial areas and government offices are closed. | |
| Argentina/Chile/Uruguay, etc. (Latin America) | Mostly (12-25 public holidays) | no | Most South American countries have a national holiday from December 12th to 25th, and large family gatherings often take place on the evening of December 12th to 24th, which can restrict logistics services. | |
| South Africa | Yes (12-25) | Yes (December 26th, supplementary holiday / Day of Goodwill / Boxing Day) | There will be a long weekend from December 25th to 26th, during which customs and ports will be closed. | |
| Egypt/Most Middle Eastern countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, etc.) | Most non- Christmas statutory holidays (except for Christian communities or foreign companies) | no | The UAE and Saudi Arabia celebrate Islamic holidays, and Christmas is generally not a public holiday (although churches may hold activities if there are religious groups in the UAE). | |
| Israel | No (non-Jewish holiday) | no | Israeli public holidays are primarily Jewish holidays; however, they are also celebrated by the local Christian community. | |
| Russia | No (Russian Orthodox Christmas is January 7th; December 25th is not a major Russian holiday). | no | Russia's main year-end holidays are concentrated in New Year's Day and January. | |
| Türkiye | No (most people do not release) | no | It primarily celebrates Islamic and secular state holidays; the Christian community also participates in celebrations. | |
| Switzerland/Austria/Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, etc.) | Most holidays fall between December 12th and 25th, and December 26th is also a public holiday in many countries. | Depending on the country (mostly Nordic countries also allow 12-26 days). | Nordic countries have a long weekend from December 25th to 26th, during which businesses and government operations are suspended. | |
| Indigenous/Small island nations (Fiji, Samoa, etc.) | Most are public holidays (depending on the country). | Depending on the country | Small island nations often regard Christmas as an important public holiday. |
Note: The table above prioritizes listing the countries/ports/markets most affected by foreign trade logistics. Whether or not holidays are observed in each country is subject to official government announcements or public holiday calendars published by the Ministry of Labor/Employers' Department . The main verification pages cited in the table are listed in the next section, "Main Reference Sources."
Order reminder SMS/email (in Chinese) (for markets targeting the UK/US/EU/Commonwealth)
Title: Please confirm last shipment before Christmas 2025 (deadline 12-18) — Urgent confirmation
Example of the main text:
Dear XX (customer name), hello!
Given that Christmas this year (December 25, 2025, Thursday) and some countries have a long holiday from December 26th to Boxing Day, we recommend confirming your final delivery date (FOB/EXW/ETD) before December 18th to avoid temporary delays by ports/shippers between December 24th and 26th. Please reply within 48 hours to confirm your shipping plan , and we will immediately secure your space. Thank you, and best wishes!
— (Salesperson's Name & Contact Information)
Order reminder email (in English)
Subject: URGENT — Final shipment cut-off before Christmas week (25 Dec 2025)
Body: Hi [Name], quick note — Christmas Day 2025 falls on Thursday, Dec 25, and many markets observe Boxing Day on Dec 26 (Fri). To avoid delays and port congestions, we recommend finalizing PO and shipping instructions by Dec 18, 2025. Please confirm within 48 hours so we can secure space and meet your delivery window. Thanks
— [Your name & phone number].
Logistics Delay Notification (Short English Template)
Due to public holidays in [destination country] (Christmas Day, Dec 25) and Boxing Day (Dec 26), local carriers and customs will have reduced operations. Expect shipment clearance delays of 1–3 working days; we will update ETA as soon as we have carrier confirmation.
Air Freight (International Express) : Confirm the last delivery/arrival commitment date before Christmas 2025 with major express companies (DHL/UPS/FedEx); usually, the last delivery/guaranteed arrival date for international express delivery will be 7-12 days before the holiday (this varies greatly depending on the route).
Ocean Freight (FCL/LCL) : During peak season, many airlines reduce or reschedule sailings before holidays; it is recommended to set the loading deadline (ETA destination port) before December 23 to avoid being stuck at the port waiting for release.
Customs declaration/inspection : Government inspection agencies and customs may reduce their duty shifts during the holidays, resulting in inspection delays of 1-3 days.
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