Public holiday in Greece
Epiphany in Greece
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
Epiphany is a nationwide public holiday in Greece marked on 6 January. In Greece it is closely associated with the blessing of waters and the annual ceremony of the cross blessing at ports, rivers, and other bodies of water.
About Epiphany in Greece
In Greece, Epiphany is observed as a public holiday across the country on 6 January. It comes soon after the New Year period and is one of the first fixed dates in the calendar year that many people notice as a day off. The day is especially visible in coastal and riverside communities, where the blessing of the waters is the best-known public observance.
History
The holiday reflects the Christian feast of Epiphany, which commemorates the baptism of Jesus. In Greece, its public observance has long been tied to the Orthodox calendar and to the blessing of water as a symbol of purification and renewal.
Traditions
The best-known Greek tradition is the Blessing of the Waters, during which a priest blesses the sea, a river, or another body of water and a cross is thrown in for divers or swimmers to retrieve. In many places this is followed by the return of the cross to the priest, after which the water is considered blessed for the year.
How Epiphany is celebrated in Greece
In towns and ports, the ceremony is often held in public and attended by local residents, municipal representatives, and church members. It is a visible winter event rather than a private family feast, and in coastal areas it can draw people to waterfronts early in the day.
Interesting facts
The celebration is especially familiar in places with a strong maritime life, because the water-blessing rite is commonly performed at the sea. It is one of the fixed-date public holidays that can fall during the post-Christmas period and before the normal working rhythm of the year fully resumes.
Dates in published calendars
| Year | Holiday date | Observed date | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 Jan 2026 | — | Nationwide |
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.