Christmas Day (Public Holiday)

‘Tis the season to be jolly, celebrating with family and friends


An international public holiday marking one of the Christian religion’s central events – the birth of Jesus Christ – Christmas Day has become a day where people from all religious and cultural backgrounds come together in the spirit of giving.

While the actual date of Christ’s birth remains up for heated debate, Christians and people all over the world have accepted December 25 as Christmas day, and most still celebrate with a coming together of families at the lunch table, the pulling of crackers and the carving of roasts.

Even though we’re in the hottest hemisphere, many South Africans still uphold the European traditions, including the display of Christmas trees, the exchange of gifts and cards, warm drinks and puddings at the lunch or dinner table and the arrival of Father Christmas or Santa Claus.

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PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN SOUTH AFRICA
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JANUARY

1 January

New Year's Day

MARCH

21 March

Human Rights Day

APRIL

18 April

Good Friday

21 April

Family Day

27 April

Freedom Day

MAY

1 May

Worker’s Day

JUNE

16 June

Youth Day

AUGUST

9 August

National Women's Day

SEPTEMBER

24 September

Heritage Day

DECEMBER

16 December

Day of Reconciliation

25 December

Christmas Day

26 December

Day of Goodwill

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Cape Town Events Calendar
April 2025
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Two Oceans Aquarium clean up Free beach clean-ups with the Two ...

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Two Oceans Aquarium clean up Free beach clean-ups with the Two ...

It happens every single month. See upcoming dates

LMTF Mandela and WinnieMeet 100 bronze life-size figures at ...

From famous heroes like Mandela to forgotten ones like Autshumato

Trail's End Bike HotelTeam building, stylish conferencing & ...

Ultimate work-play-and-stay hub, Trail’s End

Cederkloof mountain cottage getawayAccommodation special at Cederkloof ...

Book for 4, pay for 2. There’s hot tubs, hiking trails, pools…

mischuWeekends are for mischu

You can get breakfast and coffee with the R99 brunch special

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Bottomless buffet with a laidback shisha lounge & bar upstairs

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Organic fruit and veg, smoothie bowls + small-scale clothes

wb6Live music & craft beer at Woodstock ...

Springbok Nude Girls and Arno Carstens play here. Plus the beer rocks

Ficks dinners 2025 sunset Ficks, Hermanus’s tidal pool ...

Just as wonderful at night & during the cooler months

Comic Con Cape Town 2024Comic Con Cape Town unpacked

4 days of cosplay, comics, competitions, celebrity meet & greets…

BFBrutal Fruit’s Pink Table series is ...

Launched in Cape Town, now off to Paris, before returning to SA late 2025

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Only R150 to access Cape Town’s cool family perks

OSThe café creating space for ...

It’s hidden in Hermanus. Here’s how to find it

Ficks dinners 2025 sunset Ficks, Hermanus’s tidal pool ...

Just as wonderful at night & during the cooler months

Diesel & Creme vintage dinerSecret spots + things to do in the ...

From secret forest cafes to vinyl stores and aircraft museums

V&A Waterfront Easter egg huntsUnusual things to do for Easter in Cape ...

Rare car show, techno night, 1.2kg burger challenge & more

cape_town_experiences_lourensfordStunning day trips to take in the ...

Fill your weekends with wildflowers, wildlife and 50m tall dunes on these 7 day ...

Ficks Restaurant bucket list eatery13 of the best tidal pools in the ...

Find marine life, have a braai + sip on cocktails 

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