St. Stephen's Day

The next dates

• 2026Saturday, 26 DecemberWeekend
• 2027Sunday, 26 DecemberWeekend
• 2028Tuesday, 26 December

In which cantons is St. Stephen's Day a holiday?

• 11cantonspublic holiday throughout the canton
• 5cantonspublic holiday only in parts or under conditions
• 2cantonscantonal rest day
• 2cantonscustomary day off
• 6cantonsnot a holiday

Origin

26 December is dedicated to St. Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity. According to the Acts of the Apostles, he was one of the seven deacons of the early church in Jerusalem. After a speech before the Sanhedrin, he was taken outside the city and stoned; his death marked the beginning of the first great persecution of Christians. Stephen is, among other things, the patron saint of horse breeders, coachmen and stonemasons; in many places horses were blessed on his day. In most cantons, St. Stephen's Day is a day off, so that Christmas there comprises two holidays.

Sources: Land Salzburg: Der heilige Stefanus

What the three types mean

Public holiday

Treated like a Sunday (Art. 20a Labour Act). Employees have the day off.

Cantonal rest day

Public rest day under cantonal law, e.g. shops are closed. Under employment law it is a working day.

Customary day off

Not a public holiday, but many employers give the day off. Your employment contract decides whether you are off.