Make a Christmas countdown calendar that children can color in, one day at a time, until December 25. Choose 10 to 100 days, a grid of squares or circles, or a paper chain to cut and loop, then print it free on US Letter or A4. Start on December 1 for a classic 24-day Advent-style countdown, or count down from the first day of the holidays.
Christmas countdown printable: 4 ready versions
Download a Christmas countdown printable straight away: 24 color circles from December 1, 24 outline squares with the dates for children to color, a 24-day paper chain, and a 50-day grid that starts on November 5. Each one prints on a single page.
How to use a Christmas countdown calendar
- Pick the length: 24 days from December 1 is the classic choice; 10 or 14 days suits toddlers, and 50 or 100 days suits older children who love a big project.
- Choose a style: a color-in grid of squares or circles, or a paper chain.
- Print and hang it at a child’s eye level, on the fridge or next to the tree.
- Color one space each morning, or tear off one loop of the chain, and say how many days are left.
- Save the last space for Christmas Eve, so the final square is colored the night before the big day.
Turn on “Show the date” and set a start date in the maker, and each space shows its date as well as the number of days to go.
Days until Christmas from key dates
| Start date | Days until Christmas | Countdown to print |
|---|---|---|
| September 16 | 100 | 100 days |
| October 31 (Halloween) | 55 | 50 days, starting November 5 |
| November 5 | 50 | 50 days |
| November 30 | 25 | 25 days |
| December 1 | 24 | 24 days (Advent style) |
| December 11 | 14 | 14 days |
| December 15 | 10 | 10 days |
The live counter above the maker always shows the exact days until Christmas from today. The days calculator counts the days between any two dates.
Christmas countdown for kids: activity ideas
A Christmas countdown for kids is more fun when each day has a small surprise. Write one idea in pencil next to each space before you start:
- Make a paper snowflake or a paper chain for the tree.
- Write a letter to Santa or draw a Christmas card for a grandparent.
- Bake and decorate cookies, or make a gingerbread house.
- Read a Christmas story at bedtime, or watch a favorite holiday movie.
- Donate a toy, or bake something for a neighbor.
- Go for an evening walk to look at the lights.
- Wrap a present for a brother, sister or friend.
- Count backwards from the number of days left, a quick math warm-up.
Teachers can print one countdown for the whole class and let a different child color each day’s space, finishing on the last day before winter break.
Paper chain Christmas countdown
The paper chain is a tradition that goes back generations. Print the chain version on colored paper, or print in color on white, then cut along the lines. Loop the first strip into a ring and tape it, thread the next strip through, and keep going with the numbers in order, ending with the biggest number at the bottom. Hang the chain near the tree and tear off one loop each day. When the last loop is gone, it is Christmas. Print on thicker paper so the loops last the whole month.
From Advent calendars to printable countdowns
Counting the days before Christmas started with Advent, the season of waiting that begins four Sundays before December 25. In 19th-century Germany, families marked the days with chalk lines on a door or by lighting a candle each day, and printed Advent calendars with little doors became popular in the early 20th century. Wikipedia’s Advent calendar article tells the full story. A Christmas countdown calendar keeps the same idea, without any chocolate, and works for families of any faith who celebrate the holiday.
Christmas countdown traditions around the world
Many countries have their own way of counting down to Christmas, and children love adding these days to their countdown:
- Advent wreath: four candles, one lit on each Sunday of Advent, with a fifth white candle in the middle for Christmas Day in some churches.
- St Nicholas Day, December 6: in Germany and parts of Europe, children leave a shoe out the night before and find small treats in the morning; in the Netherlands the big celebration is on the evening of December 5.
- St Lucia Day, December 13: in Sweden, a girl in a white dress with a crown of candles leads a procession with songs and saffron buns.
- Las Posadas, December 16 to 24: in Mexico, nine nights of processions remember Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay.
- Simbang Gabi, December 16 to 24: in the Philippines, nine dawn masses lead up to Christmas.
Mark these days with a star on your Christmas countdown calendar and learn a little about each tradition when you reach it.
Why countdowns help children
Young children find it hard to picture “three weeks away”. A countdown turns time into something they can see and touch: the spaces left to color are the days left to wait. It also practices counting backwards, number recognition and reading dates, and it cuts down on “how many more sleeps?” questions at breakfast.
Christmas countdown calendar: frequently asked questions
When should a Christmas countdown start?
Most families start on December 1 for 24 days. Younger children manage 10 to 14 days best; older children enjoy 50 or 100 days.
How many days until Christmas from December 1?
24 days, which is why traditional Advent calendars have 24 doors.
Can I use a paper chain instead of a grid?
Yes. Choose “Paper chain” in the maker to print numbered strips to cut out and loop.
Is there a version for kids to color?
Yes. Choose “Outline to color in” so children color each day themselves.
Can I print the Christmas countdown printable in black and white?
Yes. The outline version prints cleanly in black and white and saves ink.
Is the Christmas countdown calendar free?
Yes. Print as many as you like for home or school, with no sign-up.
More calendar tools
- Countdown calendar maker for birthdays, school, trips and any other date
- Birthday countdown printable for children
- Coloring calendar for December or any month
- December 2026 calendar and December 2027 calendar
- Christian holidays 2027 with the Advent dates