St. Stephen's Day around the world in 2024

St. Stephen's Day around the world in 2024
Grafton Street as seen in the reflection of the Christmas Light. Image via Failte Ireland
  How long until St. Stephen's Day?
St. Stephen's Day
  Dates of St. Stephen's Day around the world
2025 Various Dec 26
AndorraFri, Dec 26National Holiday
AustriaFri, Dec 26National Holiday
CroatiaFri, Dec 26National Holiday
Czech RepublicFri, Dec 26National Holiday
FranceFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GermanyFri, Dec 26National Holiday
IrelandFri, Dec 26National Holiday
ItalyFri, Dec 26National Holiday
LiechtensteinFri, Dec 26National Holiday
LuxembourgFri, Dec 26National Holiday
NetherlandsFri, Dec 26National Holiday
PolandFri, Dec 26National Holiday
San MarinoFri, Dec 26National Holiday
Sint MaartenFri, Dec 26National Holiday
SlovakiaFri, Dec 26National Holiday
SpainFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Switzerland 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
Vatican CityFri, Dec 26National Holiday
2024 Various Dec 26
AndorraThu, Dec 26National Holiday
AustriaThu, Dec 26National Holiday
CroatiaThu, Dec 26National Holiday
Czech RepublicThu, Dec 26National Holiday
FranceThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GermanyThu, Dec 26National Holiday
IrelandThu, Dec 26National Holiday
ItalyThu, Dec 26National Holiday
LiechtensteinThu, Dec 26National Holiday
LuxembourgThu, Dec 26National Holiday
NetherlandsThu, Dec 26National Holiday
PolandThu, Dec 26National Holiday
San MarinoThu, Dec 26National Holiday
Sint MaartenThu, Dec 26National Holiday
SlovakiaThu, Dec 26National Holiday
SpainThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Switzerland 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
Vatican CityThu, Dec 26National Holiday
2023 Various Dec 26
AndorraTue, Dec 26National Holiday
AustriaTue, Dec 26National Holiday
CroatiaTue, Dec 26National Holiday
Czech RepublicTue, Dec 26National Holiday
FranceTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GermanyTue, Dec 26National Holiday
IrelandTue, Dec 26National Holiday
ItalyTue, Dec 26National Holiday
LiechtensteinTue, Dec 26National Holiday
LuxembourgTue, Dec 26National Holiday
NetherlandsTue, Dec 26National Holiday
PolandTue, Dec 26National Holiday
San MarinoTue, Dec 26National Holiday
Sint MaartenTue, Dec 26National Holiday
SlovakiaTue, Dec 26National Holiday
SpainTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Switzerland 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
Vatican CityTue, Dec 26National Holiday
2022 Various Dec 26
AndorraMon, Dec 26National Holiday
AustriaMon, Dec 26National Holiday
CroatiaMon, Dec 26National Holiday
Czech RepublicMon, Dec 26National Holiday
FranceMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GermanyMon, Dec 26National Holiday
IrelandMon, Dec 26National Holiday
ItalyMon, Dec 26National Holiday
LiechtensteinMon, Dec 26National Holiday
LuxembourgMon, Dec 26National Holiday
NetherlandsMon, Dec 26National Holiday
PolandMon, Dec 26National Holiday
San MarinoMon, Dec 26National Holiday
Sint MaartenMon, Dec 26National Holiday
SlovakiaMon, Dec 26National Holiday
SpainMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Switzerland 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
Vatican CityMon, Dec 26National Holiday
2021 Various Dec 26
AndorraSun, Dec 26National Holiday
AustriaSun, Dec 26National Holiday
CroatiaSun, Dec 26National Holiday
Czech RepublicSun, Dec 26National Holiday
FranceSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GermanySun, Dec 26National Holiday
IrelandSun, Dec 26National Holiday
ItalySun, Dec 26National Holiday
LiechtensteinSun, Dec 26National Holiday
LuxembourgSun, Dec 26National Holiday
NetherlandsSun, Dec 26National Holiday
PolandSun, Dec 26National Holiday
San MarinoSun, Dec 26National Holiday
Sint MaartenSun, Dec 26National Holiday
SlovakiaSun, Dec 26National Holiday
Spain Dec 26
Balearic IslandsSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
CataloniaSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Switzerland Dec 26
AargauSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Appenzell AusserrhodenSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Appenzell InnerrhodenSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Basel-LandschaftSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Basel-StadtSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
BernSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
FribourgSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GlarusSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
GraubündenSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
LucerneSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
NidwaldenSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ObwaldenSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SchaffhausenSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SchwyzSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
SolothurnSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
St. GallenSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ThurgauSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
TicinoSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
UriSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
ZurichSun, Dec 26Regional Holiday
Vatican CitySun, Dec 26National 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.

  Which countries observe St. Stephen's Day in 2024?
National Holiday Regional Holiday Not a public holiday Govt Holiday
Related holidays

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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