For the first time in 25 years, the people of Taiwan will enjoy a day off on December 25th. This marks a significant shift, ending a long period where Christmas was celebrated unofficially as a cultural event without official holiday status.
The Political History Behind the Date
The change stems from legislation passed earlier this year by opposition parties, which added or restored five public holidays. One of these is Constitution Day, which falls on December 25th. This day commemorates the 1947 adoption of the constitution of the Republic of China, the formal name of the government in Taipei.
Historically, the date was chosen by Chiang Kai-shek, the baptized Christian leader who ruled Taiwan for decades. In a radio address just before the constitution took effect, Chiang declared that “the Christmas of 1947, marking the birth of Jesus, will be the day that ushers in a new beginning for the Republic of China.” For decades, this dual significance meant Taiwanese people unofficially celebrated Christmas on the public holiday for Constitution Day.
The Shift to a Five-Day Workweek
This informal tradition was interrupted in 2001 when Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy, began moving toward a standard five-day workweek. As part of this reform, several public holidays were eliminated, including the day off for Constitution Day on December 25th. This move separated the political commemoration from the cultural Christmas celebrations for a generation.
The recent push to restore the holiday was led by the Kuomintang (KMT), now an opposition party, which originally governed China from Nanjing. The KMT framed the restoration as a way to “commemorate the history of national development,” a narrative that emphasizes its historical links to China.
Cultural Celebration Meets Worker Relief
Despite the lack of an official day off, Christmas has remained a popular cultural and commercial phenomenon in Taiwan. Friends gather for festivities, and Taipei's shopping malls are famously decorated with lights and holiday cheer, filled with the sounds of classic Christmas music.
The return of this holiday, along with four others, has been warmly welcomed by the island's workforce. Taiwanese employees labor some of the longest hours in the developed world. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor, the average worker put in approximately 2,030 hours in 2024, ranking as the fourth-highest among 37 major economies. The additional days off provide much-needed respite for the archipelago's 23 million residents.
Thus, December 25th in Taiwan once again becomes a day with layered meaning: a formal recognition of constitutional history, a long-awaited official break for hard-working citizens, and the vibrant, unofficial celebration of a global holiday.
