Overview
- Kiritimati in Kiribati was among the first places on Earth to reach December 25.
- Auckland became the first major city to welcome Christmas at 11:00 GMT on December 24.
- The date then reached Tokelau, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu.
- Timeanddate identifies Hawaii and the Cook Islands among the last to switch dates, followed by American Samoa and others, with Baker and Howland islands last.
- Pacific islands mark the holiday with church-centered communal gatherings and shared dishes, while New Zealand’s summer traditions favor outdoor barbecues and seafood.