Holiday detail
Christmas Day
Also known as Pasko.
Christmas Day — Pasko — celebrates the birth of Christ and is the most family-centered holiday on the Philippine calendar.
Quick facts
Filipino name
Pasko
Also known as Christmas Day in English.
Pasko is Filipino for Christmas, traced back to the Spanish 'Pascua' and ultimately the Hebrew 'Pesach' (Passover). December 25 — the emotional center of the year for most Filipino families.
Meaning and traditions
Pasko is a regular holiday marking the birth of Jesus Christ — but in practice, it's the emotional center of the year. We run one of the longest Christmas seasons in the world (it starts in September, may we remind you), and December 25 is when all of it lands — at home, around the table, with whoever can make it back.
The day itself is family meals, exchanging gifts, Mass, and visits with relatives that stretch all the way into the evening. For anyone planning leave, Christmas Day anchors the year-end break and almost always pairs with vacation leave, school breaks, and travel that closes out the year.
Long-weekend note
This holiday creates a 4-day weekend from December 24-27, 2026.
No extra leave day is needed for this break.
Frequently asked questions
When is Christmas Day in 2026?
Christmas Day 2026 falls on Friday, December 25, 2026.
What does Christmas Day mean?
Pasko is a regular holiday marking the birth of Jesus Christ — but in practice, it's the emotional center of the year. We run one of the longest Christmas seasons in the world (it starts in September, may we remind you), and December 25 is when all of it lands — at home, around the table, with whoever can make it back. Also called Pasko.
What does Pasko mean in English?
Pasko is Filipino for Christmas, traced back to the Spanish 'Pascua' and ultimately the Hebrew 'Pesach' (Passover). December 25 — the emotional center of the year for most Filipino families.
Is Christmas Day a regular or special holiday in the Philippines?
It's a regular holiday — a non-working day with full pay protections under the Labor Code.
Does Christmas Day 2026 make a long weekend?
Yes. Christmas Day 2026 forms a 4-day weekend from December 24-27, 2026. You don't need to file any leave.
What are common traditions for Christmas Day in the Philippines?
Common observances: family reunions, gift-giving, christmas mass, noche buena.