What is the most celebrated holiday in the world? [Top 10 festive favorites]

Crowded streets, sparkling lights, and family tables remind you that celebrations cut across borders. If you’ve ever wondered what is the most celebrated holiday in the world, you’re not alone—these days shape travel plans, gift lists, and how you share time with people you love.

I bring a global lens to the biggest festive moments, so you can plan with confidence and celebrate with respect.

In this guide, you’ll discover the top 10 most celebrated holidays in the world, quick facts about each, and simple ways to get ready—plus seasonal tips for Halloween, Diwali, Christmas, and New Year that you can use today

Why holidays matter globally

Holidays anchor culture. They carry traditions, stories, and values forward while giving people a reason to gather, pause, and appreciate one another. Whether spiritual or secular, these dates blend rituals with community time, which strengthens family bonds and neighborhood ties.

They also drive travel, gifting, and events. Offices coordinate time off, schools schedule breaks, and cities plan parades that welcome locals and visitors alike. For you, that means clear opportunities to share gratitude, send cards, host dinners, and find common ground with people from different backgrounds.

Most of all, holidays turn everyday life into shared milestones. Across faiths and regions, you’ll find global traditions worth celebrating—year after year.

Top 10 most celebrated holidays around the world

Below are the most widely observed celebrations with brief context so you can prep quickly.
(Add emoji or small flags if your CMS supports them for extra visual polish.)

1. Christmas — Marked in some form across most of the world, often as a religious and cultural celebration, frequently stated as celebrated in 160+ countries
   
2. New Year’s Eve / New Year’s Day — Among the most universally observed occasions, welcoming the start of the calendar year across cultures
   
3. Diwali — A five-day “festival of lights” celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, observed by over a billion people globally
   
4. Eid al-Fitr — Celebration at the end of Ramadan, observed by the world’s ~2 billion Muslims across countries and cultures
   
5. Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) — A 15-day festival celebrated across China and global Chinese communities with parades, fireworks, and family reunions
   
6. Halloween — Rooted in Celtic traditions and now a major modern celebration with growing international popularity through media and community events
   
7. Easter — One of Christianity’s principal feasts, marked worldwide with church services, meals, and local customs
   
8. Thanksgiving — A harvest-inspired holiday primarily in the United States and Canada with growing global recognition via diaspora and media
   
9. Hanukkah — An eight-night Jewish festival of lights observed worldwide by Jewish communities with the nightly lighting of the menorah
   
10. Holi — India’s spring “festival of colors,” now celebrated in many cities worldwide with color throws and music events
    

World holidays in December

December is stacked with celebrations across faiths and cultures. Keep these on your radar for cards, gatherings, and year-end outreach

• Hanukkah — Eight-night festival of lights in the Jewish calendar, often falling in December
  
• Christmas (Dec 25) — Religious and cultural festival observed in many countries
  
• Boxing Day (Dec 26) — Celebrated in the UK and many Commonwealth countries with shopping and sporting traditions
  
• Kwanzaa (Dec 26–Jan 1) — A U.S.-based cultural celebration of African heritage and community values
  
• New Year’s Eve (Dec 31) — Global countdowns, fireworks, and resolutions leading into New Year’s Day 

How to get ready for the next big four

Halloween: quick wins for parties and school-safe fun

Lean into playful themes, community events, and inclusive treats

• Plan a theme and guest list, then create your invite with RSVP tracking
  
• Share a costume or decor color palette to keep photos cohesive
  
• Set a candy-exchange or allergy-aware snack table
  
• Prepare a family-friendly playlist and 2–3 games
  
• Get ready for Halloween with free invites and cards → Start your Halloween party planning
  

Diwali: light, color, and welcoming hospitality

Focus on warm lighting, sweets, and open-door community spirit

• Add diyas or LED candles to entryways and windows
  
• Offer mithai and snacks guests can enjoy or take home
  
• Create a rangoli template guests can help fill with flower petals or color
  
• Share a short message about the meaning of Diwali for your household
  
• Get ready for Diwali with free invites and cards → Send a festive Diwali card
  

Christmas: meaningful, not overwhelming

Center celebration on connection, not perfection

• Decide your gathering type, then send a clear invite with details
  
• Set a simple menu and ask guests to bring one small dish or beverage
  
• Prepare a “gratitude moment” for toasts or card-signing
  
• Plan one shared activity—carols, a cookie swap, or a board game hour
  
• Get ready for Christmas with free invites and cards → Create your Christmas card
  

New Year: fresh starts with intention

Close the year with reflection and a welcoming vibe for the next one

• Choose casual or dressy and say it on the invite so guests feel prepared
  
• Offer a countdown photo spot and a few reflection prompts for conversation
  
• Keep food easy to serve so you can enjoy the night
  
• Share safe-travel info or rideshare codes after midnight
  
• Get ready for New Year with free invites and cards → Make a New Year invite

Regional notes and respectful planning

• Honor dietary and cultural norms by asking guests about needs in advance
  
• Mind time zones and prayer times for global teams and virtual events
  
• Acknowledge multiple calendars (Gregorian, lunar, lunisolar) when scheduling community gatherings
  
• Use inclusive language so everyone feels welcome, even when an event is faith-specific
  
• Share purpose up front—whether it’s gratitude, charity, or togetherness—to set a warm tone

Practical toolkit for hosts and planners

Use these friction-free steps to stay organized

• Pick a date and format: in-person, virtual, or hybrid
• Create the card or invitation, then share by link, email, WhatsApp, or QR
• Collect RSVPs and notes for dietary needs or access accommodations
• Prep a playlist and one centerpiece activity to keep energy consistent
• Save photos and messages in one place to revisit next year

Start with seasonal categories:

• Start your Halloween party planning
• Send a festive Diwali card
• Create your Christmas card
• Make a New Year invite

Conclusion

Across continents and calendars, these are some of the most celebrated holidays in the world because they help people gather, reflect, and renew bonds. Plan early, keep things simple, and lean into small gestures that feel personal.

Your next step: pick one upcoming date, then create your invite or card in minutes using our seasonal templates. Celebrate confidently—and keep those global traditions worth celebrating alive.

Bonus: five ready-to-copy wishes for the next big four

Use these short lines in a card, invite, or group message, and personalize with a name

• Halloween: Wishing you a night of safe thrills, bright pumpkins, and happy memories
• Diwali: May your home glow with light, your heart with joy, and your year with new beginnings
• Christmas: Hope your Christmas brings calm mornings, warm company, and moments that feel like home
• New Year: Here’s to fresh energy, clear goals, and good luck in every step you take
• For everyone, everywhere: Sending love across borders—may your celebrations be inclusive, kind, and full of connection