This page lists 6 holidays that start with X, from “Xmas” to “Xiuhmolpilli.” Most come from Chinese and Aztec traditions, and one is a familiar nickname for a worldwide celebration. You can use the list to learn what each holiday marks, when it happens, and how people observe it.
Holidays are special days set aside to mark a religious belief, a season, a historic event, or a cultural tradition. The “New Fire Ceremony,” called “Xiuhmolpilli,” took place only once every 52 years, when the Aztecs relit every fire to start a new cycle.
Below you’ll find the table with the holiday, date, country or region, traditions, and description for each entry.
Holiday: The name of each celebration, so you can quickly find the one you want and see how it is usually spelled.
Date: When the holiday takes place, whether it is a fixed day, a lunar calendar date, or a long cycle of years.
Country/Region: Where the holiday is or was celebrated, which helps you place each tradition in its cultural and geographic setting.
Traditions: The main customs, foods, and rituals people take part in, so you can picture how the day is actually celebrated.
Description: A short summary of the holiday’s meaning, origin, and background, giving you the context behind the customs and why people still remember it.
Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Country/Region | Traditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xmas | December 25 | Worldwide (Christian and secular cultures) | Gift giving, decorated trees, family meals, church services |
| Xiaonian | 23rd or 24th day of the 12th lunar month (usually late January or early February) | China | Sweeping the house, offering sweets to the Kitchen God, setting off firecrackers |
| Xishuangbanna Water-Splashing Festival | Mid-April (around April 13-15) | Yunnan, China | Splashing water, dragon boat races, folk dances, releasing lanterns |
| Xocotl Huetzi | Late summer (traditionally the 10th Aztec month) | Mexico (Aztec/Nahua) | Climbing a tall pole, bonfires, offerings to the fire god |
| Xochilhuitl | Annual festival in the Aztec calendar (traditionally the 9th month) | Mexico (Aztec/Nahua) | Flower offerings, dancing, feasting |
| Xiuhmolpilli | Every 52 years | Mexico (Aztec/Mesoamerica) | Extinguishing all fires, lighting a new fire on a priest’s chest, spreading flame across the land |