Key Highlights
- Taiwan will observe Christmas as a public holiday for the first time in 25 years.
- The move follows new legislation passed by the opposition Kuomintang, which added five public holidays.
- The decision carries political symbolism tied to Taiwan’s constitutional history and labour policy debates.
Taiwan is set to observe Christmas as a public holiday for the first time in a quarter-century after lawmakers approved legislation reinstating Constitution Day on December 25, a move that blends political symbolism with long-standing labour concerns.
The change follows the passage of a law earlier this year that restored or added five public holidays, backed by opposition parties led by the Kuomintang (KMT).
Constitution Day commemorates the adoption of the Republic of China’s constitution in 1947, a milestone dating back to the period when the KMT governed China from Nanjing before retreating to Taiwan following the Chinese civil war.
Opposition Push Reshapes Taiwan’s Holiday Calendar
The legislation was driven primarily by the KMT, now Taiwan’s main opposition party, which argued that restoring historical holidays was necessary to honour the island’s constitutional legacy. In statements supporting the bill, the party said the additional holidays would help “commemorate the history of national development,” reinforcing its long-held narrative linking modern Taiwan to the Republic of China’s founding on the Chinese mainland.
The move marks a rare legislative success for the KMT in a political environment largely dominated by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which has traditionally emphasised a Taiwan-centric identity distinct from China.
Why December 25 Matters Politically
December 25 was originally designated Constitution Day under Chiang Kai-shek, who ruled Taiwan for more than two decades after the KMT’s retreat. Chiang, a baptised Christian, once framed the date as deeply symbolic. In a 1947 radio address, he described the adoption of the constitution coinciding with Christmas as the beginning of a new chapter for the Republic of China, invoking ideals of unity, independence, equality and freedom.
While the constitutional significance of the date predates Taiwan’s modern democratic era, its reinstatement has revived debates over how history, identity and governance intersect in contemporary Taiwan.
From Constitutional Marker to Cultural Celebration
Although Constitution Day ceased to be a public holiday in 2001 when Taiwan transitioned to a five-day work week, Christmas itself never disappeared from public life. Over the past two decades, it evolved into a widely celebrated cultural and commercial occasion, particularly in urban centres such as Taipei, where shopping districts host elaborate decorations and seasonal events each year.
The reinstatement formalises what had already become an informal observance for many, bringing legal recognition to a day that had long held social and economic relevance.
Labour Concerns Drive Public Support
Beyond politics, the return of Christmas Day as a public holiday reflects mounting pressure over work-life balance. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor, the average worker logged approximately 2,030 working hours in 2024, ranking fourth-highest among 37 major economies, highlighting persistent concerns about long working hours.
Labour groups have long argued that Taiwan’s holiday calendar lagged behind other advanced economies, particularly as productivity gains failed to translate into more rest days. The addition of public holidays is widely seen as a modest but meaningful response to those concerns.
Symbolism Meets Practical Governance
The reinstatement of Constitution Day on December 25 carries layered significance. Politically, it reinforces the KMT’s historical narrative at a time when cross-strait relations and national identity remain sensitive issues. Practically, it offers workers an additional statutory break in a high-pressure labour environment.
For the government, the move illustrates how labour policy, historical memory and political positioning increasingly intersect in Taiwan’s legislative debates. As the island continues to recalibrate its identity amid domestic and regional pressures, even changes to the holiday calendar are taking on broader meaning.
The return of Christmas as a public holiday, after 25 years, thus represents more than a calendar adjustment it reflects Taiwan’s ongoing negotiation between history, politics and everyday life.
