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Christmas 2026 falls on Friday, December 25, 2026. With Christmas on a Friday, the holiday weekend runs through Sunday December 27th — one of the better calendar placements for a full extended holiday.
September 16th is 100 days before Christmas — and it's the ideal starting point for anyone who wants to avoid the December scramble. Starting your shopping in September means:
100+ days out (September): Set your budget. Write your gift list. Order anything custom or personalized — these have 3–5 week lead times. Book travel now if you're going anywhere for the holidays.
60–90 days out (October): Complete most of your gift shopping. Wrap gifts as they arrive rather than saving it all for December. Order holiday cards.
30–60 days out (November): Finish remaining purchases. Mail cards. Confirm shipping deadlines for gifts going to out-of-town family. Plan your holiday menu.
December: Decorate. Attend events. See people. The work is done.
For Christmas 2026 delivery, standard ground shipping typically needs to be placed by December 15–17th depending on the retailer. Express shipping extends that to December 20–22nd. International shipping deadlines are significantly earlier — often late November for some destinations. Check your retailer's specific cutoff dates and build in a buffer — shipping delays are common in December.
Whatever the current day count shows above, here's what's worth doing today:
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