Do They Celebrate Christmas in Nepal? (Christmas Markets & Things to Do 2025)
Are you wondering “Do they celebrate Christmas in Nepal”?
You’ve come to the right place! I live in Kathmandu and yes, people celebrate Christmas in Nepal!
Christianity is not the main religion in Nepal, but there is still a low number of Nepali people who follow the Christian religion. Plus, the younger generation in Nepal have started to celebrate Christmas due to western influence.
If you are planning to spend Christmas in Nepal and want to visit Christmas markets, have a proper Christmas dinner, drink mulled wine or shop for Christmas decorations, than Kathmandu is the best place for it.
Some of the best things to do at Christmas in Kathmandu is to visit the Christmas markets, drink mulled wine, have a big Christmas dinner and shop for handicrafts and decorations.
Here is everything you need to know about celebrating Christmas in Nepal!
Nepal in December
Winter in Nepal run from December to February. While December is considered cold in Nepal, it does not get too.
In most places there is still sunshine during the day (Kathmandu, Pokhara) and it only gets cold at nights.
Does it Snow in Nepal at Christmas?
Want to know if it snows in Nepal at Christmas? Well, the short answer is that it depends where in Nepal you are.
Nepal has 3 geographic areas: Mountainous Region, Hilly region and Tarai. There is no chance of snow in the Tarai region and very little chance for snow in the Hilly Region (Kathmandu).
It sometimes snows in the hilly areas around Kathmandu (Chandragiri, Kakani) or Kalinchowk, but the snow usually melts straight away.
In the mountainous region, if you go trekking above 3,000 meters in December, than you will experience snowfall in Nepal.
What is the weather like in Kathmandu at Christmas?
The average high temperature is 20 C, while the average low temperature is 4 C in Kathmandu in December.
The temperature is still warm and sunny during the day but the nights can get very cold. There is no central heating in Kathmandu, so if you want to stay warm, it is best to book a hotel with AC that you can use as a heater.
Do They Celebrate Christmas in Nepal?
Yes, people celebrate Christmas in Nepal!
The major religion in Nepal is Hinduism (81.2%), followed by Buddhism (8.2%). Only 1.8% people of the population follow Christianity, but Christmas is still celebrated in Nepal.
Due to Western influence, holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Eve are also celebrated in Nepal.
Many restaurants and hotels in Kathmandu run Christmas markets and Christmas dinners.
So, Kathmandu is a great place during Christmas if you are looking to get into the Christmas spirit, drink mulled wine, eat Christmas food or shop for handicrafts and Christmas decorations.
Christmas Traditions in Nepal
Of the total population in Nepal, only 1.8% follow Christian religion. Nevertheless, due to western influence, Christmas is celebrated more and more in recent years.
There are many Christmas markets set up in Kathmandu, restaurants host special christmas dinner menus, and if you want to see a Nepali Christmas mass, you can even go to church.
Christmas in Kathmandu
If you are planning to spend Christmas in Nepal and want to visit Christmas markets, have a proper Christmas dinner, drink mulled wine or shop for Christmas decorations, than Kathmandu is the best place for it.
Some of the best things to do at Christmas in Kathmandu is to visit the Christmas markets, drink mulled wine, have a big Christmas dinner and shop for handicrafts and decorations.
Things to Do in Kathmandu at Christmas
Celebrate Christmas Day in Nepal
Christmas Day (25 December) is usually declared as a national holiday in Nepal. Although Nepal is not a majority Christian country, it still celebrates some of the Christian holidays.
It is also due to Western influence, that even the non-Christian younger population in Nepal started to celebrate Christmas.
Visit the Christmas Markets in Kathmandu
Many of the hotels and international schools run Christmas markets in Kathmandu in December.
They are not always advertised well in advance and it is hard to find information online, so you have to check for it on Facebook.
Some of the places that usually have Christmas markets in Kathmandu are the International French School (EFIK), the British School, Le Sherpa Market, Yellow House and the Soaltee Hotel.
Have Christmas Dinner in Kathmandu
Some of the restaurants in Kathmandu have special a Christmas menu during Christmas. If you are looking for a big Christmas dinner, check out Moksh (Lalitpur) or Le Sherpa (Lazimpat).
Go to Christmas Mass
There are Christian churches in Nepal and in most big cities (Kathmandu, Pokhara), you can attend a Christmas mass.
The churches in Nepal don’t look like for example the churches in Europe. Most of the churches are inside regular houses.
Christmas mass is also different to that of the ones in Europe. I once went to a Christmas mass in Kathmandu to see what it’s like, and it was a more like a big celebration with live music and singing, than the “serious” Christmas masses in Europe.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve
Nepal follow the lunar calendar and the dates are totally different than the Gregorian calendar. Nepal has its own New Year in the middle of April every year.
Nevertheless, there are many New Year’s Eve parties in Kathmandu and Pokhara on 31 December.
For New Year’s Eve parties in Kathmandu, check out Thamel, Lazimpat or Jhamsikhel. For celebrations in Pokhara, the Lakeside area is the most popular place.
Christmas Markets in Kathmandu
There is usually a good number of Christmas markets in Kathmandu every year. The Christmas markets are mainly organised by international schools and hotels in Kathmandu.
The schools and hotels usually advertise the Christmas markets on their facebook page, so that’s the best place to check where and when the Christmas markets are happening each year.
If you want to get into the Christmas festive vibes, eat Christmas food, drink mulled wine, play Christmas games and shop for handicrafts, here are the must-visit Christmas markets in Kathmandu:
Fare Trade Christmas Bazaar at The British School (Lalitpur)
- Time and Date: 11 am – 6 pm, 30 November 2024
- Event info here
The Fare Trade Christmas Bazaar is organized every year in Kathmandu. It is a great place to shop for Christmas gifts, decorations, organic food, natural cosmetics, and mulled wine.
Christmas Night Market at the Yellow House (Lalitpur)
- Time and Date: 4 pm – 9 pm, 7 December 2024
- Event info here
The Yellow House is a great restaurant in Lalitpur and for Christmas, they usually organize a Christmas Night Market. They have a live DJ, handicrafts stalls, Christmas food and drinks.
International French School (EFIK) Christmas Market
- Time and Date: 9:30 am – 3 pm, 7 December 2024
- Event info here
EFIK is located in Lazimpat, which is just north of Thamel. They usually have a Christmas market every year with stalls selling Christmas food, cakes, Christmas decorations and more!
Le Sherpa Christmas Market
- Time and Date: 7 am – 1 pm, every Saturday (special Christmas Market edition on Saturdays in December)
- Event info here
Le Sherpa is a restaurant in north of Kathmandu and every Saturday they have a Farmers Market.
During December, they have special Christmas stalls in addition to the regular weekly market. In the restaurant, they also have a special Christmas dinner menu.
Goethe-Zentrum Christmas Market
The Goethe-Zentrum in Kathmandu also organizes a small Christmas market every year. They usually have Christmas food, mulled wine, and performances.
The Christmas Market dates change every year, so it is better to check Goethe-Zentrum’s Facebook for the dates each year.
Soaltee Hotel Christmas Fair
The Soaltee Hotel in Kathmandu usually have a big Christmas market each year with mostly Christmas gifts and decorations.
The Christmas Market dates change every year, so it is better to check Soaltee Hotel’s Facebook for the dates each year.
Christmas Dinner in Kathmandu
Some restaurants also have tasty Christmas menus that include 3 courses of meal and drinks.
Restaurants that usually have Christmas dinners are Le Sherpa Restaurant, Chez Caroline at Babar Mahal, and New Orleans Cafe (Thamel).
Festivals in Nepal in December
Yomari Punhi
The Yomari Punhi Festival is usually celebrated in Nepal in December. Yomari is a Newari dessert made out of rice flour and filled with either molasses or milky yogurt.
The Yomari Punhi festival celebrates the rice harvest season and is a day spent with eating a lot of yomari.
Christmas in Nepal
Although Christmas is not a Nepali holiday, it is still celebrated in Nepal.
Usually, 25 December is declared as a national holiday and there are many Christmas markets in Kathmandu leading up to Christmas.
New Years’ Eve
Nepal does not follow the Gregorian calendar and the Nepali New Year usually falls in the middle of April.
However, 31 December has become a big celebration in Nepal. A lot of Nepali go out to celebrate New Year’s Eve. If you are staying in Thamel, Patan or Lazimpat, you will find many parties in the bars and restaurants.
Hotels in Kathmandu
📍Best Budget Option: Rest Up Hostel
📍Best Mid-Range Option: Bodhi Boutique Hotel
📍Best High-End Option: The Dwarika’s Hotel
FAQs: Do They Celebrate Christmas in Nepal?
Do people celebrate Christmas in Nepal?
Yes, people celebrate Christmas in Nepal. There is a low number of Nepali people who follow the Christian religion, plus the younger generation in Nepal have started to celebarte Christmas due to western influence.
How is Christmas celebrated in Nepal?
Christmas is celebrated in Nepal by having christmas markets, christmas food, mulled wine, christmas decorations and gift giving.
What do Nepalese eat for Christmas?
Many restaurants in Kathmandu organize Christmas dinners with a special Christmas menu.
If you are visiting Kathmandu during Christmas, check out the Le Sherpa, Chez Caroline, or New Orleans Café for a Christmas dinner.
What is the biggest celebration in Nepal?
The biggest celebration in Nepal is during the Dashain and Tihar festivals. Dashain and Tihar normally falls around October each year and it’s like a Nepali Christmas.
During Dashain and Tihar, people travel home to celebrate with their families and there are celebrations going on for a month.
Conclusion
In conclusion, people celebrate Christmas in Nepal. There is a low number of Nepali people who follow the Christian religion, plus the younger generation in Nepal have started to celebarte Christmas due to western influence.
If you are planning to spend Christmas in Nepal and want to visit Christmas markets, have a proper Christmas dinner, drink mulled wine or shop for Christmas decorations, than Kathmandu is the best place for it.
Some of the best things to do at Christmas in Kathmandu is to visit the Christmas markets, drink mulled wine, have a big Christmas dinner and shop for handicrafts and decorations.
