Christmas Day in Singapore
Christmas Day falls on 25 December and is one of Singapore’s 11 gazetted public holidays. Christians mark the birth of Jesus, while seasonal lights, family gatherings and festive meals are part of the wider public celebration.[1][2]
A public holiday with employment rules
Singapore lists Christmas Day among its 11 gazetted public holidays. Employees covered by the Employment Act are entitled to 11 paid public holidays each year, including Christmas Day; employees outside the Act’s coverage follow their employment contracts.[1]
The day off depends in part on an employee’s work schedule. If Christmas falls on a rest day, the next working day is a paid public holiday. If it falls on a non-working day, an eligible employee is entitled to another day off or an extra day’s salary. An employee who works on the holiday is generally owed an additional day’s pay, though the employer and employee can agree to a day off in lieu.[1]
Christian meaning and local history
For Christians, Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus. In Singapore, the holiday also has a public, seasonal presence that people of different backgrounds can enjoy, alongside its religious meaning.[2]
Orchard Road’s Christmas light-up is a local feature of the season. The National Heritage Board records that the first coordinated light-up there took place in 1984, as hotels and department stores worked together on festive displays. The heritage trail describes the light-up as part of Orchard Road’s rise as a shopping and visitor destination from the 1980s.[3]
Gatherings, food and festive displays
Singapore’s tourism board describes family get-togethers and feasting as common ways people celebrate. Roast turkey is one familiar festive dish, sometimes given local flavour with Asian seasonings such as ginger and chilli. These are examples of seasonal practice, not customs observed by every household.[2]
Orchard Road’s lights and decorations are a prominent public attraction during the Christmas season. The displays offer a way to enjoy the festive atmosphere beyond church services and private family gatherings.[2][3]
Planning for the holiday
A public holiday establishes employment entitlements; opening arrangements vary by organisation. Visitors should check with a specific venue or service before travelling.[1]
Christmas Day in Singapore: FAQs
Is Christmas Day a public holiday in Singapore?
Yes. It is one of Singapore’s 11 gazetted public holidays. Employees covered by the Employment Act are entitled to paid public holidays; other employees’ arrangements depend on their employment contracts.[1]
When is Christmas Day observed?
Christmas Day is on 25 December. If that date is an employee’s rest day, the next working day is a paid public holiday; if it is a non-working day, another day off or extra pay may apply under the Employment Act.[1]
Do all employees get the following Monday off if Christmas falls on a Saturday?
No. For an employee covered by the Employment Act, a holiday on a non-working day brings an entitlement to another day off or an extra day’s salary. A holiday on a rest day moves the paid holiday to the next working day.[1]
Are shops and attractions open on Christmas Day?
Opening hours vary by business and venue. The public-holiday rules cover employee leave and pay, not a universal opening schedule, so check directly with the place you plan to visit.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Christmas Day in Singapore:
- Public holidays: entitlement and pay- Ministry of Manpower, Singapore
- Celebrate Christmas in Singapore 2026- Singapore Tourism Board
- Everything Is Illuminated- National Heritage Board, Singapore