Christmas in many countries

I have been thinking about how many countries do celebrate Christmas, so I asked Google and the answer is 195 countries, although the way it is observed varies greatly depending on culture, religion, and local traditions.

Most countries with Christian majorities recognize Christmas as a public holiday, although that could mean any day between 25 December till 7 January.

Even in countries where Christians are a small minority (e.g., India, Japan, Bangladesh), Christmas is still widely celebrated, often in secular or cultural forms.

Western Christian churches (Catholic, Protestant) celebrate on December 25, however, Eastern Orthodox churches (Russia, Ethiopia, Egypt, etc.) often celebrate on January 7.

Philippines: Known for the longest Christmas season in the world, starting in September with “ber months” and ending in January.

Japan: Christmas is not a religious holiday but a festive occasion, with traditions like eating fried chicken on Christmas Eve.

Ethiopia: Celebrated on January 7 with church services and feasts, followed by Timkat (Epiphany) on January 19.

Brazil: Christmas falls in summer, so Santa Claus is sometimes depicted in lighter clothing.

Germany: Famous for its enchanting Christmas markets, which attract millions of visitors.

Either 17 or 18 countries do not formally recognize Christmas as a holiday (e.g., Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Algeria, North Korea).

Over 90 countries have detailed, unique traditions documented, showing the incredible diversity of how the holiday is marked.

Christmas is one of the most globally recognized holidays, celebrated across continents in both religious and secular ways. Its adaptability—whether through church services, lanterns, feasts, or even KFC dinners—explains why it has spread so widely beyond its Christian origins.