St. Stephen's Day in Switzerland in 2024

St. Stephen's Day in Switzerland in 2024
  How long until St. Stephen's Day?
St. Stephen's Day
  Dates of St. Stephen's Day in Switzerland
2026 Dec 26
AargauSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Appenzell AusserrhodenSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Appenzell InnerrhodenSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Basel-LandschaftSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Basel-StadtSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
BernSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
FribourgSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GlarusSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GraubündenSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
LucerneSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
NidwaldenSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ObwaldenSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SchaffhausenSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SchwyzSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SolothurnSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
St. GallenSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ThurgauSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
TicinoSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
UriSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ZurichSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday
2025 Dec 26
AargauFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Appenzell AusserrhodenFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Appenzell InnerrhodenFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Basel-LandschaftFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Basel-StadtFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
BernFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
FribourgFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GlarusFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GraubündenFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
LucerneFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
NidwaldenFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ObwaldenFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SchaffhausenFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SchwyzFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SolothurnFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
St. GallenFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ThurgauFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
TicinoFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
UriFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ZurichFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
2024 Dec 26
AargauThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Appenzell AusserrhodenThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Appenzell InnerrhodenThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Basel-LandschaftThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Basel-StadtThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
BernThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
FribourgThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GlarusThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GraubündenThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
LucerneThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
NidwaldenThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ObwaldenThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SchaffhausenThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SchwyzThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SolothurnThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
St. GallenThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ThurgauThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
TicinoThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
UriThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ZurichThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
2023 Dec 26
AargauTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Appenzell AusserrhodenTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Appenzell InnerrhodenTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Basel-LandschaftTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Basel-StadtTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
BernTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
FribourgTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GlarusTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GraubündenTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
LucerneTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
NidwaldenTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ObwaldenTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SchaffhausenTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SchwyzTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SolothurnTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
St. GallenTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ThurgauTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
TicinoTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
UriTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ZurichTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
2022 Dec 26
AargauMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Appenzell AusserrhodenMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Appenzell InnerrhodenMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Basel-LandschaftMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Basel-StadtMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
BernMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
FribourgMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GlarusMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GraubündenMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
LucerneMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
NidwaldenMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ObwaldenMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SchaffhausenMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SchwyzMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SolothurnMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
St. GallenMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ThurgauMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
TicinoMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
UriMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ZurichMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
  Summary

December 26th is the Feast of St. Stephen in Western Christianity. It is observed as a second day of Christmas holidays in several countries.

  Local name
Stephanstag
  St. Stephen's Day in other countries
St. Stephen's Day internationally
  Which regions observe St. Stephen's Day in 2024?
National Holiday Regional Holiday Not a public holiday Govt Holiday
Related holidays

St. Stephen's Day in Switzerland

St. Stephen's Day is a regional public holiday in all Swiss Cantons, with the exception of Geneva, Jura and Neuchâtel. It is always observed on December 26th no matter what day of the week that falls on.

When is St. Stephen's Day?

Saint Stephen's Day, December 26th is the Feast of St. Stephen in Western Christianity. It is observed as the second day of the Christmas holidays (Christmastide) in several countries.

In commonwealth countries, the day after Christmas day is a holiday but known as Boxing Day. In some countries, the day after Christmas Day may also be known as the 'Second Day of Christmas' or the 'Day after Christmas'.

History of St. Stephen's Day

In non-Commonwealth countries, the day is more commonly referred to as St Stephen's Day or the Feast of Stephen as mentioned in the carol 'Good King Wenceslas'.

Did you know?

St. Stephen is the patron saint of Bricklayers. He is also the patron saint of horses, which might explain why there is so much horseracing the UK and Ireland on December 26th.

There are two Saints called Stephen. St. Stephen's Day on December 26th commemorates St. Stephen who was the first Christian Martyr.

Stephen was a Greek Jew who had converted to Christianity. He was appointed as one of seven deacons to help with organizing the early Christian church.

Due to his preaching about Christianity, he was accused of blasphemy and stood trial at a Jewish court in about 34 CE.

During the trial he made a long speech, saying that Christianity supported the teachings of Moses. This so enraged the crowd at the trial, that he was dragged away and stoned to death by a mob. It is said that the mob was encouraged on by Saul of Tarsus, who later became Saint Paul.

In depictions of the saint, Stephen carries a martyr's palm in one hand and a stone in the other.

The other St. Stephen was St. Stephen of Hungary, who was the first king of Hungary and is noted for converting the Magyar people to Christianity.

Good King Wenceslas

The feast of St. Stephen is probably best known for its appearance in the famous Christmas Carol, Good King Wenceslas.

"Good King Wenceslas looked out On the feast of Stephen When the snow lay round about Deep and crisp and even"

Wenceslas was a King in Bohemia in the 10th century CE. Like Stephen, Wenceslas became a Saint after his death and like Stephen, even has his own public holiday.

The words to the carol were written by John Mason Neale in 1853. The music was originally from a song about spring, popular in the 14th century.


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