kitchychristmas.comTime until Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is Thursday, December 24.
That's 0 sleeps until Christmas morning.
For a lot of families, Christmas Eve is the real main event. It's the candlelight service, the big dinner, one present opened early and the cookies left out for Santa. This clock counts down to the moment Christmas Eve begins in your time zone. Once it's here, it switches to count down to Christmas morning.
Christmas Eve traditions to plan for
- Read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Print our free copy of the poem and make it a bedtime tradition.
- Hide the pickle. The last ornament on the tree is the Christmas pickle. Whoever finds it first on Christmas morning gets a little extra.
- Write to Santa. It's not too late. Grab a letter to Santa for the kids to leave out with the cookies.
- Fill the stockings. Running short? Our stocking guide has ideas for every age.
- Watch a classic. Our favorites include the Island of Misfit Toys and the Heat Miser and Snow Miser.
Want more countdowns? See how many Fridays until Christmas, how many Mondays, or the full Christmas countdown.
Frequently asked questions
How many days until Christmas Eve?
The live clock at the top of this page shows the exact days, hours, minutes and seconds until Christmas Eve begins at midnight in your time zone.
What day is Christmas Eve this year?
Christmas Eve 2026 is on Thursday, December 24. Christmas Day follows on Friday, December 25.
When does Christmas Eve start?
Christmas Eve is the whole day of December 24, starting at midnight. Many traditions, like church services and the family dinner, happen that evening.
What happens to the countdown on Christmas Eve?
Once December 24 arrives, the clock switches over and counts down to midnight, when Christmas Day begins.