Christmas is one of the most magical times, requiring much preparation and anticipation. Many people enjoy counting down to Christmas using a countdown calendar – one popular method.
Friday marks the sixth day of each week and falls between Thursday and Saturday. Also referred to as Frigedaeg in Old English, Freitag in German, Vrijdag in Dutch, or Viernes in Spanish;
How many Fridays are there until Christmas?
Christmas is an extraordinary holiday filled with festivities, anticipation, and delight. While some celebrate it religiously and commemorate Jesus Christ’s birth on December 25th, others use Christmas to gather family and friends for fun activities like parties or reunions. No matter how you celebrate Christmas, it’s essential to remember that there are only so many Fridays until December 25th rolls around; thus, Tickles the Time-Tracking Elf is here to help you keep track of those Fridays until the big day arrives!
Use the interactive calendar below to monitor how many Fridays remain until Christmas Day arrives.
Do other cultures celebrate Christmas on the same date?
Although billions of people around the globe celebrate Christmas, its date can differ depending on your country or region – some celebrate Christmas on December 24-25, while others prefer celebrating it in early January due to differences between calendars.
Many European countries celebrate Christmas on December 24th – commonly called Christmas Eve – due to the belief that Christ was born that day. On this night, family and friends exchange gifts between themselves, while in North America, the tradition of giving gifts on Christmas morning is more widespread and has almost entirely replaced this custom.
Traditions associated with Christmas celebrations vary widely, such as decorating a tree, attending church services, and eating unique meals with family and friends. Although some practices may be religious, others are secular, as Christmas is celebrated across cultures around the globe.
Religion plays an enormous part in how Christmas is observed worldwide, with Christians celebrating on December 25, while nonreligious individuals generally take an unchurched approach to celebrating it as a secular holiday. Furthermore, some cultures have distinct Christmas customs not shared by others.
Norway celebrates Christmas on December 24. Families come together and enjoy the traditional Swedish dish Julbord, which includes ham, herring, fish dishes, meatballs, and many other conventional Swedish foods. Children often receive presents from Santa Claus, sometimes accompanied by tiny gnomes called Nisse.
Most Christians, including Catholics and Protestants, follow the Gregorian calendar, which places Christmas on December 24-25. Orthodox churches in Eastern Europe and Western Asia use the Julian calendar, 13 days behind, which means Orthodox Christmas falls on January 7.
Some nations do not observe Christmas as a public holiday, including Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Bhutan Cambodia China Comoros Djibouti Egypt Jordan Kuwait, Iran, Iraq Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria Tunisia, and Yemen. These countries instead celebrate Epiphany, which marks the Three Wise Men’s visit to Bethlehem, instead of celebrating Christmas as such.
Is it too early to start holiday shopping on these Fridays?
Though it might seem early to start holiday shopping, savvy consumers understand that retailers must sell merchandise throughout the year to stay profitable. That means there are always great bargains, mainly if shoppers use tools such as price-tracking apps to quickly locate great offers without overpaying on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
Many retailers are taking action by offering early holiday sales to attract customers and extend the holiday season. Discounted televisions, appliances, and clothes may become available toward the end of summer or into fall as retailers try to clear out inventory before holiday sales.
This new normal has transformed how we view holiday shopping season. For instance, this year has seen a marked decrease in people camping out all night to score some of the most sought-after toys and gifts; consumers instead are likely to shop throughout the year for new gadgets and toys that catch their fancy.
Some retailers are beginning their holiday sales as early as September; Amazon unveiled “Black Friday-worthy” offers in the first week of October, while Target is hosting theirs this month. Although early promotions could help retailers boost revenue, their effectiveness in managing supply chain issues remains to be determined.
The result could be devastating for Black Friday as we know it, as consumers opt not to stand in line for hours in the dark to compete over toys; many consumers may prefer waiting until December before buying gifts for loved ones.
As retail workers begin returning home the day after Thanksgiving, this could result in lower-than-expected holiday sales as some shoppers opt for less expensive items.
What are some popular ways to celebrate the Fridays before Christmas?
Families gather on the Fridays leading up to Christmas and prepare for Santa’s arrival. Many schools provide Adventure-related classroom activities and resources that help children understand what this season signifies while teaching them how to be more thankful for what they already possess and encourage giving to those less fortunate during this festive time of year.
The week leading up to Christmas can be one of the busiest for air travel, with people flying home for holiday visits or jetting off on vacation. Christmas Eve can be particularly hectic; business travelers have one last opportunity to return home before the holidays begin, and vacationers must reach their destinations before the Christmas Day rush to reach their goals on time.
If you plan to fly on the Friday before Christmas, regularly check the Transportation Security Administration website for updates and arrive early at the airport. Their tips can help avoid common errors which could prolong or complicate your flight and cause unnecessary stress.
An Advent calendar is another popular way of marking the days leading up to Christmas, serving as a countdown clock with images depicting Old Testament events that prepare Christians for Jesus’s coming. You can create your simple calendar or purchase more elaborate versions that feature daily surprises such as candy or other prizes behind every door on its countdown clock.
Some religious communities also observe a Christmas Novena, a nine-day prayer and devotional program emphasizing hospitality. This practice draws inspiration from Mary and Joseph searching for lodging in Bethlehem in the biblical story and Latin American traditions like Las Posadas, which recreate this search process while emphasizing Christian hospitality values.
As well as these time-honored traditions, the Fridays before Christmas can also be an opportunity for sales and discounts. Retailers in the US host Black Friday sales in July and Cyber Monday sales in late November/early December; both events present shoppers with opportunities to shop for gifts for friends and family at steep discounts – plus some credit cards even offer cash back rewards during this period!
