Public holiday in Czechia
St. Stephen's Day in Czechia
Saturday, December 26, 2026
Local name: 2. svátek vánoční
Nationwide public holiday
St. Stephen's Day is a nationwide public holiday in Czechia on 26 December. It follows Christmas Day and is one of the country’s winter holidays.
About St. Stephen's Day in Czechia
In Czechia, St. Stephen's Day is observed nationwide on 26 December as a public holiday. Its main practical relevance is that it extends the Christmas period into the next day, so it sits alongside Christmas Day and other late-December time off in the annual holiday calendar.
History
The day commemorates Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, a feast that has long been part of the Christian calendar in Europe and was retained in Czechia as a public holiday.
Traditions
Because the holiday falls within the Christmas period, it is commonly associated with family visits, festive meals and time spent at home. In Czech households, it is also a day when people may continue enjoying leftover holiday food and sweets from Christmas.
How St. Stephen's Day is celebrated in Czechia
For many people in Czechia, the day is quieter than Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It is typically spent resting, meeting family or friends, and continuing the seasonal holiday break rather than marking it with a separate large public event.
Interesting facts
It is one of the few December public holidays in Czechia that falls immediately after Christmas Day. The holiday is observed on the fixed date of 26 December each year.
Dates in published calendars
Sources and verification
- 2027: Czech Act No. 245/2000, sections 1–4 (MPSV) · checked 20 Oct 2026
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.