Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) continue a cherished tradition of celebrating Christmas far above Earth, blending festive cheer with the unique realities of living in orbit. This year, the Expedition 74 crew and other astronauts are enjoying special meals, decorating their floating home, and connecting with loved ones through video calls, maintaining holiday spirits while traveling 17,500 miles per hour. Since the first crew arrived in November 2000, Christmas has been a yearly event on the ISS.^[1][2][3][4] ### Holiday Traditions in Orbit Celebrating Christmas in space involves adapting familiar traditions to a microgravity environment. Astronauts typically have the day off from their regular duties to enjoy time together. They exchange small gifts, often stashed away for the occasion, and decorate the station with items like a small Christmas tree, stockings, and Santa hats. Sometimes, these decorations are improvised from cargo bags or empty food containers.^{[1][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]} NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, commanding Expedition 74, shared a message about finding joy with his "space family." "It's a great time of year up here," Fincke said in a recent video. "We get to spend it with all of our family up on the International Space Station. There's seven of us up here, and so we're going to get to enjoy company together."^{[2][12][11][13]} Astronauts also use video calls to connect with their families back on Earth, a vital link during the holidays. This connection helps bridge the vast distance and emotional separation.^{[1][5][7][4][14]} ### Festive Feasts and No Alcohol A highlight of Christmas in space is the special holiday meal. Ground teams prepare these feasts, packed in "Holiday Bulk Overwrapped Bags," which often include traditional American dishes like rehydrated turkey, green beans, sweet potatoes, and cornbread dressing. Russian cosmonauts sometimes contribute with specialties like mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce.^{[1][15][7][3][16][4][10]} Astronauts can also request specific treats in their monthly "bonus containers," allowing for personal favorites like certain candies or nuts. French astronaut Thomas Pesquet, for instance, once shared a French Christmas dinner that included ox tongue and chicken supreme with morels.^[17][10] However, alcohol is strictly forbidden on the ISS because it could damage the station's advanced water-processing systems, which recycle urine, breath, and sweat.^[1][5] NASA astronaut Don Pettit, an Expedition 72 flight engineer, previewed the holiday meal. "Christmas is synonymous with food and feasting. And boy do we have a feast packaged up here," Pettit said.^[11][13][18] ### A Diverse Holiday Calendar The International Space Station hosts astronauts and cosmonauts from many different countries, leading to a diverse observance of holidays. While many celebrate Christmas on December 25th, Russian Orthodox cosmonauts observe Christmas on January 7th, following the Julian calendar. This means the crew can sometimes celebrate Christmas more than once during their mission. Other holidays like Hanukkah and New Year's are also recognized in orbit.^{[19][6][3][20]} In 2019, astronaut Andrew Morgan recounted playing Christmas music throughout the station and showing classic holiday movies to create a festive mood. They even projected an image of a Yuletide log burning in a chimney for a cozy touch.^[20] ### Looking to the Future Humans have celebrated Christmas in space for decades, starting with the Apollo 8 crew in 1968, who famously read from the Book of Genesis while orbiting the Moon.^{[1][5][6][20][10]} Since then, every Christmas has been marked by crews living continuously on the ISS since 2000.^[1][3] Even when missions extend unexpectedly, like for astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore in 2024, crews find ways to bring holiday cheer.^[9][14] They wear Santa hats, display small Christmas trees, and share festive messages with Earth.^{[2][9][14][11]} The ability to create these moments underscores the resilience and camaraderie of those living and working in humanity's outpost above the planet.

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