Cover Across the world, the festive season begins on strikingly different timelines. From lanterns in Asia to market squares in Europe, these are the places where the Christmas spirit arrives ahead of the calendar (Photo: Mos Design/Unsplash)
Across the world, the festive season begins on strikingly different timelines. From lanterns in Asia to market squares in Europe, these are the places where the Christmas spirit arrives ahead of the calendar (Photo: Mos Design/Unsplash)
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These countries that start Christmas early mark the season with markets, lights and music weeks ahead of others
Across the world, the timing of Christmas differs far beyond its official date. While some cities wait for Advent to begin, others start their celebrations months ahead, long before December’s cold sets in. For travellers, this means that the lights, rituals and seasonal flavours of Christmas can be found earlier than expected. In the tropics, celebrations often stretch over several months, blending faith and festivity, while in northern cities, early markets and retail displays mark the changing of the season. From early September to late November, these variations mark the start of the world’s longest-running festive season.
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1. Philippines: the ‘Ber months, beginning in September
In the Philippines, Christmas begins with the arrival of the “‘Ber months”—September through December—marking the world’s longest Yuletide season. By the first of September, carols by singer Jose Mari Chan are playing on the radio, malls display parols, and countdown clocks appear in city squares. The tradition has both cultural and commercial roots: most Filipinos begin preparing months in advance for reunions and Simbang Gabi, the pre-dawn church masses leading to Christmas Eve. The celebrations peak in December but remain visible through the Feast of the Three Kings in January.
2. Singapore: retail spectacle from early November
Singapore’s Orchard Road officially lights up for Christmas in early November, with the 2025 season running from November 8 to January 1. The annual “Christmas on a Great Street” transforms the shopping boulevard into a corridor of art installations, LED arches and nightly performances. A 14-metre tree towers above Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza, while an open-air Christmas Village features live music, rides and food stalls. The display, organised by the Orchard Road Business Association with support from the Singapore Tourism Board, attracts around five million visitors each year and has become a signature city event well before December begins.
3. Martinique: Chanté Nwèl and community singing from November
In Martinique, the Christmas season unfolds through Chanté Nwèl, a tradition of Creole carolling that begins soon after All Saints’ Day on November first. Families and neighbours gather weekly to sing carols in Antillean French, accompanied by drums, guitars and ti-bois percussion. The gatherings, which date to the 19th century, turn homes and community halls into informal concert venues serving boudin and local rum punch. The practice blends Catholic devotion with island rhythms, creating a festive build-up that runs right through Advent.
4. Germany: markets open in late November
In Germany, the Advent season begins early, often signalled by the opening of Christmas markets in late November. Cities like Nuremberg, Dresden and Munich open their Weihnachtsmärkte in the last week of the month, transforming squares into clusters of stalls selling crafts, ornaments and Glühwein. Many markets date back centuries, reflecting both Christian tradition and civic pride. While Advent marks the spiritual countdown, for most visitors, Christmas in Germany is already well underway once the first lights switch on before December.
5. United States: commercial festivities from October
In the United States, Christmas appears on the calendar earlier each year. Retail chains launch holiday displays and marketing in late October or early November, coinciding with Halloween’s end. Major cities unveil light festivals by mid-November, such as New York’s Rockefeller Center tree and Chicago’s Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. The religious and cultural focus remains on Christmas Eve and Day, but commercially, the “holiday season” has become a two-month affair stretching from Thanksgiving through to New Year’s.
6. Japan: winter illuminations from mid-November
Japan’s approach to Christmas is secular and aesthetic, focused on romance, light and design. Major cities like Tokyo and Osaka launch their winter illumination events in mid-November. Marunouchi’s tree-lined avenue lights up on November 13, 2025, while Kobe’s Luminarie begins in late November. Restaurants and patisseries release limited-edition Christmas cakes, and hotels offer “couples’ stay” packages for the 24th and 25th. Though few celebrate Christmas religiously, the cityscape by mid-November already gleams with the atmosphere of the season.
Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
