Christmas Eve Dec 24, 2023

There"s a certain magic in knowing that in towns around the world, shops are closing, streets are emptying and friends and families are gathering together to take comfort in the company of one another on Christmas Eve. Each of us has our own traditions, from filling stockings to hosting parties and playing festive music. Today"s snapshot portrays the annual celebration in the Town Hall Square of Tartu, Estonia, which is illuminated with gleaming lights and adorned with a display of Christmas trees. Tartu"s Christmas fair has a merry atmosphere, featuring sleigh rides, fire kettles and wooden animal carousels. All of this is accompanied by smoked meats, hot drinks and crispy gingerbread. Whether you"re watching a classic holiday movie or cozying up with a cup of hot cocoa as the clock strikes twelve, let the Christmas spirit reign on this peaceful night—and don"t forget the milk and cookies!

© Westend61/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

All is calm
Dec 24, 2024Silent night, sparkling lights and hearts full of joy
Dec 24, 2025Christmas Eve

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Pearl among the emeralds
Apr 24, 2024The white trilliums in Ontario, Canada
Shell-ebrating sea turtles
What’s blooming so brightly?
Sep 30, 2023Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Oct 19, 2025Apples ready for harvest, Minnesota, United States
Blue Skies in Beautiful Bavaria
What are these unique creatures?
Dec 23, 2023Chinstrap penguins
Dec 3, 2024Amber Fort, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Back to the future
Aug 5, 2024Lavender field, Hertfordshire, England
May 13, 2026Arch and Milky Way, Alabama Hills, California, United States
This island is more than a mile high
‘The hills have a power to soothe and heal...’
Jul 13, 2024Fairy chimneys and cave dwellings in Cappadocia, Türkiye
Jul 27, 2025Barracudas at Shark Reef, Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
Nov 19, 2024Tasmans Arch, Tasman National Park, Tasmania, Australia
Apr 23, 2026Shakespeare Day
Meet an expert on the dog days of summer
May 8, 2025World Donkey Day
Feb 16, 2025Happy World Whale Day!
Feb 14, 2026Happy Valentines Day!
Dec 22, 2025The Nutcracker performed by the Turkish State Opera and Ballet in Türkiye
A pink moon over Arizona
Jan 4, 2025Bản Giốc – Detian Falls, Vietnam
Feb 19, 2026Dragons Eye, Uttakleiv Beach, Norway
Feb 7, 2026Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia
The mystery of Stonehenge
Aug 17, 2025Lyngvig Lighthouse, Hvide Sande, Denmark