Christmas in Sri Lanka: Where to Go and What to Expect

Christmas in Sri Lanka at a glance

How Sri Lanka celebrates Christmas

Church services Churches across the island hold midnight mass on Christmas Eve and services on Christmas morning. Churches are decorated with lights, flowers and nativity scenes, and congregations sing carols in Sinhala, Tamil and English. Visitors are welcome; dress modestly and arrive early, as churches fill up.

Lights and decorations In Colombo, hotels, shopping streets, malls and offices put up Christmas trees, lights and decorations from early December. Galle Face Green and the city centre are especially festive. Colombo has even built giant Christmas trees in past years.

Carols and caroling Choirs and carol groups perform in churches, hotels and public spaces. Some neighbourhoods have groups that go caroling from house to house.

Food and family Christmas is a time for family gatherings and special food (see below). Many Sri Lankans of all faiths enjoy the holiday spirit, exchanging gifts and greetings.

Papa Christmas Santa Claus, known locally as "Christmas Seeya" (Christmas Grandfather), visits shops, hotels and parties, often wearing his full red suit in the tropical heat.

Sri Lankan Christmas food

Christmas cake Sri Lankan Christmas cake is rich and spicy, made with semolina, cashew nuts, preserved fruits such as pumpkin preserve ("puhul dosi") and ginger preserve, plus spices and often a splash of brandy. It's usually covered in marzipan and royal icing. Families make it weeks in advance.

Love cake A sweet, moist cake made with semolina, cashews, rose water, honey and spices. It's linked to the Portuguese and Burgher communities.

Breudher A Dutch-influenced yeasted bread-cake, eaten at Christmas and New Year, often with butter and Dutch cheese.

Christmas lunch Lunch may include yellow rice, chicken or pork curries, cutlets, and Western dishes such as roast chicken or turkey in hotels.

Arrack and drinks Coconut arrack and toddy may be part of adult celebrations. Note that alcohol isn't sold on Poya days.

See Sri Lankan food to try and our food tour.

Where to celebrate Christmas in Sri Lanka

1. Colombo

Colombo is the most festive city at Christmas, with decorated streets and hotels, carol services and Christmas markets. Historic churches include St. Lucia's Cathedral in Kotahena, St. Anthony's Shrine in Kochchikade, popular with people of all faiths, and the Wolvendaal Church, a Dutch Reformed church from the 18th century. See Colombo and one day in Colombo.

2. Negombo, "Little Rome"

Negombo, close to the airport, has a large Catholic community and so many churches that it's called "Little Rome". Christmas here is joyful, with beautifully lit churches, nativity scenes and processions. It's perfect for your first or last night in Sri Lanka. See Negombo and things to do in Negombo.

3. Galle Fort

Galle Fort's historic churches, including the Dutch Reformed Church built in the 1750s, hold Christmas services. The fort's restaurants and cafés serve festive menus, and the ramparts are perfect for a Christmas sunset. See Galle Fort and things to do in Galle.

4. Kandy

Kandy has several churches, including St. Paul's Church beside the Temple of the Tooth. December is a good time to visit the hill country, with cool evenings. See Kandy.

5. Jaffna

Jaffna has a large Christian community and historic churches, including St. Mary's Cathedral. It's a different side of Christmas in Sri Lanka, with Tamil carols and celebrations. December can be rainy in the north, so keep plans flexible. See Jaffna.

6. The beach

Many travellers spend Christmas Day on the south or west coast: Mirissa, Unawatuna, Bentota, Hikkaduwa or Tangalle. Hotels often host Christmas dinners and parties. See best beaches in Sri Lanka.

Weather at Christmas

See Sri Lanka in December and January and the best time to visit Sri Lanka.

A sample Christmas and New Year trip (12 days)

We'll adjust this to your dates and pace. See our Sri Lanka itinerary and holiday to Sri Lanka.

New Year's Eve in Sri Lanka

New Year's Eve is celebrated with fireworks, parties at hotels and beach bars, and crowds on Galle Face Green in Colombo. Mirissa, Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa have beach parties. Book dinners and events early.

Sri Lanka also has its own traditional New Year, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, in April. See Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

Unduvap Poya

Each full moon is a Buddhist holiday called Poya. In December, Unduvap Poya marks the arrival of a sapling of the sacred Bodhi tree in Sri Lanka. Temples are busy, and alcohol and meat may not be sold on Poya days. If Poya falls close to Christmas, plan celebrations accordingly. See the Sri Lanka festivals calendar.

Booking tips for Christmas

• Book early: late December to early January is the busiest time of the year.
• Expect higher hotel prices and minimum stays over the holidays.
• Book drivers and tours early; good guides are in demand.
• Book Christmas and New Year dinners at your hotels in advance.
• Check that your ETA is approved before you fly. See the Sri Lanka ETA visa guide.

Christmas with children

Sri Lanka is a fun Christmas destination for families: beaches, elephants, safaris, train rides and friendly hotels with Christmas activities. Santa sometimes arrives by tuk-tuk or boat. See Sri Lanka with kids and our family tour.

Christmas for couples

A Christmas honeymoon in Sri Lanka could include a hill country bungalow, Galle Fort at sunset and a quiet beach on the south coast. See our honeymoon tour.

Respectful celebrations

Sri Lanka is a multi-faith country. Christmas is joyful, but remember: - Dress modestly at churches and temples. - Ask before photographing worshippers. - Respect Poya day rules if one falls during your trip.

See our responsible travel guide.

Christmas gifts from Sri Lanka

Bring home tea, spices, masks or batik for Christmas presents next year. See souvenirs from Sri Lanka.

Christmas Eve and midnight mass

On Christmas Eve, churches are packed for midnight mass, with carols, candles and nativity plays. Many families then share a late-night meal or cake and tea at home. In Negombo and Colombo, streets near the churches are lively until late. If you'd like to attend, dress modestly, arrive early and ask your hotel or driver which churches hold services in English.

Christmas Day ideas

• Morning: church service or a relaxed breakfast with Sri Lankan Christmas cake.
• Midday: the beach, a pool or a boat trip.
• Afternoon: whale watching from Mirissa or a sunset walk on Galle Fort's ramparts.
• Evening: a festive dinner at your hotel.

Christmas and the season's events

Late December and early January are also a good time for whale watching off Mirissa, the start of the Adam's Peak pilgrimage season, and the Duruthu Perahera procession at the Kelaniya temple near Colombo in January. See Adam's Peak and whale watching in Mirissa.

A Christmas beach break

If you want a relaxed Christmas, spend the holiday week on the south coast. A typical plan is three or four nights between Galle and Tangalle, with Galle Fort, whale watching from Mirissa, quiet beaches and festive dinners. Combine it with a week of sightseeing before. See the south coast and our beach holidays.

Christmas in the hill country

For a cooler Christmas, spend a few days in the tea country. Evenings in Nuwara Eliya can be chilly, and old colonial hotels sometimes host traditional Christmas dinners by a fireplace. See Nuwara Eliya.

What to pack for Christmas in Sri Lanka

• Light, breathable clothes for the heat on the coast.
• A modest outfit with covered shoulders and knees for church services and temples.
• A warm layer for the hill country.
• Swimwear and sun protection.
• A small gift or sweets if you're invited to a Sri Lankan home.

See our Sri Lanka packing list.

Christmas on a budget

Prices rise over the holidays, so travel just before or after the peak if you can. Early December and the second week of January are often better value, with the same good weather on the south and west coasts.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Booking too late for the Christmas and New Year peak.
• Planning an east coast beach holiday in December, when it's rainy there.
• Forgetting Poya day restrictions on alcohol.
• Arriving late to midnight mass; churches fill up.
• Packing too much into the holiday week; leave time to relax.