December marks the official start of the winter break season for students across India. While the entire country observes a mandatory holiday for Christmas on December 25th, the actual duration of school closures varies significantly from a single day in some regions to an extended 8 to 12-day vacation in others, especially those facing intense cold or observing regional festivals.
The question of schools being closed for exactly "8 days" is highly dependent on the state and the type of institution (government, private, or minority-run). Many schools, particularly Christian-minority institutions in states like Andhra Pradesh and certain regions in the North East, are scheduling an extended Christmas break spanning from approximately December 21 to December 28, 2025, which forms an 8-day block including two weekends.
December 2025 Holiday Breakdown (State-Wise)
Most of the major holiday time in December comes from the federally mandated Christmas holiday and the subsequent start of the annual Winter Break.
1. Universal Holiday (Across India)
| Date | Day | Holiday / Event | Status |
| December 25 | Thursday | Christmas Day | National School Holiday |
| December 7 | Sunday | Weekly Holiday | Universal Closure |
| December 14 | Sunday | Weekly Holiday | Universal Closure |
| December 21 | Sunday | Weekly Holiday | Universal Closure (may overlap with Winter Break start) |
| December 28 | Sunday | Weekly Holiday (overlaps with Winter Break) | Universal Closure |
2. Extended Winter/Christmas Breaks (State-Specific)
| State / Region | Expected Vacation Period | Approximate Duration | Key Reason |
| Uttar Pradesh (UP) | Dec 20, 2025, to Dec 31, 2025 | 12 Days | Annual Winter Break due to cold weather. |
| PM Shri Schools | Dec 23, 2025, to Jan 1, 2026 | 10 Days | Standard Winter Break and New Year. |
| Jammu & Kashmir (Winter Zone) | Dec 1, 2025, onwards (Classes 1-8) | Long Break (until Feb 2026) | Severe cold conditions; staggered schedule. |
| Andhra Pradesh | Dec 21 to Dec 28, 2025 (Minority Schools) | 8 Days | Extended Christmas and Festive Break. |
| Punjab, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh | Expected Dec 20 to Dec 31, 2025 (tentative) | 12 Days | Cold Wave and Annual Winter Break. |
| North-Eastern States (e.g., Meghalaya, Mizoram) | Extended Christmas Week (Dec 24, 25, 26, and/or 31) | Multiple Days | Christmas Eve, Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve (Regional Holidays). |
3. Regional and Local Holidays
Schools in specific states may observe additional local holidays in December:
- Goa: Feast of St. Francis Xavier (Dec 3), Goa Liberation Day (Dec 19).
- Arunachal Pradesh: Indigenous Faith Day (Dec 1).
- Haryana, Punjab: Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti (Dec 27).
- Tamil Nadu/Coastal Regions: Schools may declare sudden holidays on Dec 1st due to rain or cyclonic activity (always check local district administration updates).
Crucial Advice for Parents and Students
The most significant takeaway for parents is that the holiday schedule is not uniform across India.
- Check Official Circulars: Always rely on the official circulars, school websites, or SMS messages from your specific school or district education board for the most accurate dates.
- Winter vs. Christmas Break: The Christmas break is usually short (1-3 days), while the Winter Break (10-15 days) is declared separately for cold weather, typically beginning in the third or fourth week of December and extending into early January.
- Staggered Breaks: Some schools, especially in very cold areas, may have staggered breaks where primary classes start their vacation earlier than senior classes.
