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.

---
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN SOUTH AFRICA
---

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

---
For more hot and happening things to do, check out the annual events in Cape Town or use our events section for an up-to-date overview of happenings in Cape Town. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and if you have a smartphone, add m.capetownmagazine.com to your home screen for quick access on the go!

Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, join our Google+ circle, connect with us on LinkedIn, check out our photos on Instagram and follow our Pinterest boards for updates on what’s happening in and around the Mother City!

Cape Town Events Calendar
May 2025
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Aida Cape Town Opera 2025Cape Town Opera’s Afrofuturistic Aida ...

Black Panther meets Dune at Aida by Cape Town Opera

PT2The hidden seaside bistro on the ...

Inventive small plates best explored with a wine pairing

Char'd tasting 2025Rum, brandy & gin tastings with your ...

Unusual cuts prepped in-house and a curious gin atomiser

Milk on the Beach 2025Reasons to visit this beach-side family ...

DIY waffles, loaded hotdogs, poke bowls, right on the beach

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…

Cafe Extrablatt 2024All-you-can-eat breakfast buffet every ...

Bottomless buffet with a laidback shisha lounge & bar upstairs

Mountain MarketAffordable healthy food at this city ...

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

shimansky rockwell 6Shimansky Diamond Experience at The ...

The diamond showroom where you can polish your own stone

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

Just as wonderful at night & during the cooler months

Only Specials CaféThe café creating space for ...

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

Aida Cape Town Opera 2025Cape Town Opera’s Afrofuturistic Aida ...

Black Panther meets Dune at Aida by Cape Town Opera

PT2The hidden seaside bistro on the ...

Inventive small plates best explored with a wine pairing

Char'd tasting 2025Rum, brandy & gin tastings with your ...

Unusual cuts prepped in-house and a curious gin atomiser

Milk on the Beach 2025Reasons to visit this beach-side family ...

DIY waffles, loaded hotdogs, poke bowls, right on the beach

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…

extrablatt14This Sunday brunch could be your new ...

At this bottomless brunch buffet, kids eat for half price

wb6Live music & craft beer at Woodstock ...

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

shimansky rockwell 6Shimansky Diamond Experience at The ...

The diamond showroom where you can polish your own stone

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

Just as wonderful at night & during the cooler months

Only Specials CaféThe café creating space for ...

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

testimonialsEvents Marketing Programme: Testimonials

We commit and invest in the magic that events bring. This is what the events ...

Things to do for the visually impaired Things to do for the visually impaired ...

Tandem cycling, hiking, adaptive surfing and more

Aida Cape Town Opera 2025Cape Town Opera’s Afrofuturistic Aida ...

Black Panther meets Dune at Aida by Cape Town Opera

Excentric Hair5 ways to transform your hair (with ...

Give your locks some love or change them completely

Scootours Stellenbosch team-buildingTop Bachelor Party Ideas in Cape Town

Stag parties for every budget, style and personality

Off-road adventure at Scootours BanhoekEnd-of-year party ideas to pitch to ...

Outdoor adventures, wine tastings, escape rooms + more

Freedom Adventure ParkThings to do with kids that parents ...

65+ activities: Jumping, quad biking, river tubing + more

/weekend Franschhoek Literary FestivalCape Town's 7 things to do this weekend

Singles run, silent book club, slime workshop & more

GiveawaysTravel Tips