Christmas in Taiwan
Christmas in Taiwan is a commercial and social event rather than a religious holiday. With Christians making up about 5% of the population, the holiday has no official status but is widely celebrated in Taipei and other cities. Department stores and malls create elaborate displays, couples treat it as a date night (similar to Japan), and the exchange of apples on Christmas Eve follows a tradition borrowed from mainland China.
Taiwanese Christmas is Japan-lite: a commercial, romantic, thoroughly secular occasion embraced by young urbanites. Christmas Eve is a date night. Malls compete with displays. Apples are exchanged. December 25 is a regular working day. The small but active Christian community (about 5%, predominantly Presbyterian) celebrates with genuine religious services, but for the majority, Christmas in Taiwan is about atmosphere, aesthetics, and an excuse to eat cake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Christmas a holiday in Taiwan?
No. December 25 is Constitution Day in Taiwan (commemorating the 1947 constitution), which is a memorial day but not a day off. Christmas is celebrated commercially, especially in Taipei.
Traditions & Customs
Commercial Christmas
Taipei's department stores (Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, Breeze Center, Taipei 101) install major Christmas displays. The celebrations are commercial rather than religious.
Couples' Date Night
Like Japan, Christmas Eve is treated as a romantic occasion. Couples exchange gifts, dine at restaurants, and visit illuminated displays.
Apple Exchange
Following the Chinese tradition, wrapped apples are exchanged on Christmas Eve. The Mandarin pun (ping'an/pingguo) makes the custom a natural import.
Church Services
Taiwan's Christian minority (Presbyterian, Catholic, and independent churches) holds genuine Christmas services. The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, rooted in 19th-century Scottish missionary work, is the largest denomination.
Key Dates
Christmas
Not a public holiday. Celebrated commercially and socially, especially in Taipei.
Christmas Carols
Jingle Bells
The most widely known Christmas song in Taiwan, played in malls and public spaces.