Christmas is a time of 12 months when other folks around the globe come in combination within the spirit of giving, love and hope for mankind, however there are lots of nations that don’t have fun Christmas.

For Christians, Christmas is one of the crucial essential classes at the calendar. This devout and cultural party is noticed through billions of other folks once a year on December 25.

Christian nations re-enact nativity scenes, which depict the beginning of Jesus Christ. In addition they partake in devout observances corresponding to nighttime Mass.

Christmas traditions range significantly from nation to nation. The folks of many various international locations set up and light-weight Christmas bushes, cling introduction wreaths, and put out their Christmas stockings for Santa Claus to fill with treats.

(Take a look at our attention-grabbing tale at the historical past and different names for Santa Claus across the International!)

However whilst it has its roots in devout traditions and symbols relationship again 1000’s of years, there are lots of nations that don’t have fun Christmas. 

READ MORE: 90 Christmas Traditions Across the International

 

 

Nations That Don’t Rejoice Christmas Information

  1. Afghanistan
  2. Bhutan
  3. China
  4. Egypt
  5. Mongolia
  6. Morocco
  7. Pakistan
  8. Qatar
  9. Thailand
  10. Tunisia

In step with the Pew Analysis Heart, “As of 2010, Christianity was once through some distance the arena’s greatest faith, with an estimated 2.2 billion adherents, just about a 3rd (31%) of all 6.9 billion other folks on Earth.”

Alternatively the remainder of the arena (roughly 69%) practice quite a few other religions that can or would possibly not have fun Christmas.

The next are simply a number of the dozens of various puts around the globe the place December 25 is simply any other day.

In case you’re a traveler taking a look to flee the hustle and bustle of Christmastime within the western global, those nations might simply be the easiest position!

READ MORE: 40 Attention-grabbing Christmas Traditions in Mexico

Afghanistan, Countries that don't celebrate christmas
Photograph by the use of Pixabay

1. Afghanistan

Most people who are living in Afghanistan are Islamic, so that they don’t have fun Christmas in any respect. As an alternative, they have fun vacations corresponding to Nowruz, a.okay.a. Persian New Yr.

This 12 months Nowruz will likely be celebrated March 21-22, because it in fact marks the primary day of Spring for the northern hemisphere. This annual cultural competition symbolizes new beginnings and the rebirth of nature. 

Greater than 300 million other folks around the globe have fun Nowruz, together with a lot of Afghanistan.

There, the party will ultimate about two weeks and is composed of webhosting events, cooking conventional meals, and particular occasions just like the Pink Flower Competition, the place attendees will see pink tulips blooming. 

READ MORE: 40 Fascinating Details About Snow Leopards

Bhutan, a country who does not celebrate Christmas
Photograph by the use of Pixabay

2. Bhutan

As a result of Christians make up not up to 1% of the rustic’s general inhabitants, Bhutan does no longer have fun Christmas. A lot of the rustic practices Buddhism, which has been round for over 2,000 years now.

There are a number of different vacations which can be celebrated all through the season, together with the iciness solstice, lunar new 12 months, and Bodhi Day (a.okay.a. the Day of Awakening). 

Bodhi Day is the day during which they have fun Gautama Buddha’s enlightenment, and his achieving of nirvana. The date is in keeping with the lunar calendar, so it normally falls someday in December or January. 

Apparently, those that have fun this vacation embellish a ficus tree similarly that Christmas bushes are embellished.

This practice comes from the Buddha meditating beneath a tree for 49 days. At the morning of the eighth day of the twelfth moon of the 12 months, he woke up from his meditation as an enlightened guy. 

Buddhists have fun Bodhi Day through meditating, acting sort acts for others, learning their texts, and cooking a unique meal of tea and truffles.  

READ MORE: 10 Causes Why Bhutan is the Happiest Nation within the International

Does china celebrate christmas? Red lanterns in a shop

3. China

Christmas in China is simply any other workday. Faculties, workplaces, and stores all stay open. However whilst December 25 isn’t celebrated as a competition or afforded a public vacation, the Chinese language have picked up a couple of Western traditions over time.

China is formally a non-religious state, so Christmas was once as soon as totally banned, together with Christianity.

However whilst the federal government nonetheless puts restrictions towards watching a Western-style vacation, the rustic does percentage within the business season of shopping for.

The industrial model of Christmas in China is simplest celebrated in massive towns (the place extra other folks can have enough money it), and it’s handled extra like Valentine’s Day.

It’s normally an afternoon spent with buddies, no longer circle of relatives, and usually celebrated through heading out to the flicks, buying groceries, or spending a romantic day together with your spouse.

A a laugh Christmas Eve custom in China is to spend the day buying groceries, in truth it’s the greatest buying groceries day of the 12 months.

Outdoor of the huge towns, Christmas isn’t even a business factor. With just one% of Chinese language other folks formally Christian, there isn’t a lot of a Christian cultural affect. So the ones in rural spaces don’t have fun the vacation in any respect.

Christmas is noticed as a public vacation in Macau, Taiwan, and Hong Kong on the other hand, and those locations have fun the acquainted western-style vacation.

READ MORE: The Very best Techniques (& Puts) to Rejoice Christmas within the Philippines

Countries that celebrate Christmas different -Egypt

4. Egypt

Christmas in Egypt is widely known through the 15% of the inhabitants who’re Christians (known as Copts).

However as with Orthodox Christians in nations like Russia and Serbia, even trustworthy Christians in Egypt don’t have fun Christmas in December.

Coptic Orthodox Christians in Egypt have fun Christmas on January 7, because the church makes use of the outdated Julian calendar for devout party days.

From November 25 to January 6 (a.okay.a. the 43 days of Introduction), Copts rapid, sticking to a Vegan nutrition for the “Holy Nativity Rapid.”

On Christmas Eve (January 6) they take mass round 10 pm, and maximum services and products end in a while after nighttime (although some proceed till 4 am).

Vacationers to Egypt have a novel selection: Talk over with all through December so as to break out the vacation insanity at Christmastime or seek advice from originally of January and feature a chance to have fun Christmas two times! 

READ MORE: The 20 Very best Puts to Spend Christmas in the US

Do all countries celebrate Christmas? Not in Mongolian
Mongolian horse and rider by the use of pixabay

5. Mongolia

Who does no longer have fun Christmas? Mongolians. Which is ironic, since Mongolia in December looks as if a picture-perfect iciness wonderland, entire with wild reindeer!

Mongolia is a rustic the place vacationers can witness first-hand numerous traditions and cultural practices of the traditional previous. However Christmas isn’t considered one of them.

As a result of Mongolia is formally a Buddhist nation, December 25 there feels identical to some other day. Folks pass to paintings, kids pass to university, and no vacation carols play within the stores.

You could in finding one or two Christmas decorations strung up round major towns like Ulaanbaatar, however Christmas this is in reality a international affair.

As with Qatar, Christmas celebrations in Mongolia are in large part left to the expat neighborhood.

However other folks within the Mongolian tradition do have fun the Lunar New Yr. There are fireworks, boulevard events and a televised speech in the dead of night through the Mongolian President.

The Lunar New Yr may be celebrated with a “New Yr’s Tree,” which bears an uncanny resemblance to a Christmas tree!

READ MORE: 50 Techniques to Rejoice New Yr Traditions Round The International

Not every country celebrates Christmas -Morocco lamps instead of Christmas Lights

6. Morocco

Vacationers head to Morocco for lots of issues– mountaineering North Africa’s Atlas Mountains, camel treks, buying groceries, sound asleep in a well-known riad– however celebrating Christmas isn’t considered one of them.

The Moroccan persons are basically Muslim, so it’s no marvel that Christmas in Morocco isn’t a large deal.

As an alternative of listening to the track of jingle bells and other folks making a song carols, you’ll as a substitute listen the pretty sound of the adhan (the Muslim name to prayer).

As an alternative of seeing Christmas mild presentations lining the streets, you’ll see loads of brightly coloured lanterns.

So that you will not be celebrating Christmas in Morocco for those who seek advice from. However you’ll be able to pair mint tea with spiced lamb and lose your self wandering the rustic’s many medinas and aspect streets.

In case you do seek advice from Morocco, be sure you head to the bustling Djemaa el-Fna (in Marrakech’s major sq.) to select up some memento trinkets to take house as vacation presents!

READ MORE: The 21 Very best Environmental Charities & Animal Charities for Vacation Donations

Pakistan, countries that don't celebrate christmas
Photograph by the use of Pixabay

7. Pakistan

The respectable faith of Pakistan is Islam, so December twenty fifth is a vacation reserved for remembering Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of the rustic.

He was once born on December 25, and most of the people name this present day Barra Din and Wadda Din, which means “the massive day.” 

Arrangements for the vacation frequently get started the primary week of December, with households purchasing new furnishings or portray their properties. Many marriage ceremony ceremonies and engagement events are deliberate to fall in December. 

At the night time of December twenty fourth, households anxiously watch the clock and look ahead to it to strike nighttime in order that they may be able to greet each and every different joyously. Lots of the elders give blessings to their kids for peace, lifestyles, and love. 

Fireworks are activate on the street, and many of us will pass to past due night time devout services and products.

40 Attention-grabbing Details in regards to the Markhor (Nationwide Animal of Pakistan)

Qatar Children photo by Tribes of the World
Qatar Youngsters picture through Tribes of the International

8. Qatar

You gained’t be capable of inform it’s Christmas in Qatar, a non-Christian nation. Any celebrations which can be arranged are normally organized through the rising expat neighborhood.

The supply of festive decorations in stores has larger over time (Doha is, finally, a contemporary town with extravagant department shops). However those are nonetheless slightly slender pickings.

In a rustic which is understood for its heritage souks, Islamic Artwork and boarding one of the vital greatest deserts on the planet, in all probability it’s no longer too unexpected that there’s a noticeable scarcity of Christmas bushes right here.

Actual Christmas bushes in Qatar are very pricey and really uncommon. However for vacationers yearning the odor of an actual Christmas tree, head to the Ritz-Carlton or a identical across the world recognized 5-star lodge.

Those accommodations once a year serve Christmas Eve buffets, with vacation feasts together with gingerbread and different conventional sweets.

READ MORE: The 7 Most secure Nations within the Center East for American citizens to Talk over with

Thailand, not celebrating Christmas
Photograph by the use of Pixabay

9. Thailand

With nearly all of the rustic being Buddhist, Thailand does no longer acknowledge Christmas as a countrywide vacation.

However the nation may be very tolerant of alternative religions, so some Thai other folks do embellish their properties and host festive vacation celebrations. 

Thailand tourism in fact peaks all through the vacations, such a lot of hotels and accommodations be offering vacation dinners and Christmas occasions. The Thai other folks love a just right party, so you might even see them wearing Santa hats or adorning their companies. 

In case you’re in search of a a laugh New Yr’s party, Thailand celebrates the vacation thrice!

There’s the common New Yr that we acknowledge, the Chinese language New Yr in past due January or early February, and Songkran (the standard Thai New Yr) in April.

READ MORE: The 13 Maximum Gorgeous Nationwide Parks in Thailand

Which country does not celebrate Christmas -Tunisia

10. Tunisia

There are many alternatives to have fun Christmas within the North African country of Tunisia, for many who wish to.

Flower dealers will haggle over the cost of a tree, distributors promote Christmas decorations and equipment, and also you’ll by no means have any factor discovering a novel present within the massive number of souks there.

A lot of native church buildings be offering mass on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. However, to the locals, Christmas doesn’t imply anything else past an financial alternative for his or her stores.

Head to Tunisia for an unbelievable heat local weather and wonderful African seashores. However don’t pass there anticipating to catch the Christmas spirit: The vacation has a tendency to move with out a lot fuss!

READ MORE: The 20 Most secure Nations in Africa to Talk over with

What Nations don’t Rejoice Christmas?

There are 34 nations that don’t have fun Christmas within the western means.

Nations that don’t have fun Christmas come with:

  1. Afghanistan
  2. Algeria
  3. Azerbaijan
  4. Bahrain
  5. Bhutan
  6. Brunei Darussalam
  7. Cambodia
  8. China (excepting Hong Kong and Macau)
  9. the Comoros
  10. Iran
  11. Israel
  12. Japan
  13. Kuwait
  14. Laos
  15. Libya
  16. the Maldives
  17. Mauritania
  18. Morocco
  19. North Korea
  20. Oman
  21. Qatar
  22. the Sahrawi Republic
  23. Saudi Arabia
  24. Somalia
  25. Taiwan (Republic of China)
  26. Tajikistan
  27. Thailand
  28. Tunisia
  29. Turkey
  30. Turkmenistan
  31. the United Arab Emirates
  32. Uzbekistan
  33. Vietnam
  34. Yemen

–through Megan Jerrard with further reporting through Samantha Dickens

READ MORE: 15 Easy Recycled Christmas Playing cards Crafts for Youngsters

Megan Jerrard

Megan Jerrard is an Australian Journalist, and the

founder and Senior Editor of Mapping Megan, an award-winning trip weblog bringing you the newest in journey trip from in every single place the globe. With a venture to encourage others to embark on their very own journey, Megan and husband Mike consider that trip has the prospective to encourage alternate in other folks, and in flip encourage alternate on the planet. They embraced trip as an approach to life in 2007, and are devoted to documenting their adventure and observations via entertaining, candid articles and sensible images. You’ll practice their adventure on FbTwitterGoogle+YouTubePinterest and Instagram.