Public holiday in Greece
Synaxis of the Mother of God in Greece
Saturday, December 26, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
In Greece, Synaxis of the Mother of God is the public holiday that follows Christmas Day and is observed nationwide. It gives the Orthodox feast cycle a second day of liturgical focus on Mary.
About Synaxis of the Mother of God in Greece
In Greece, this holiday is observed nationwide on the day after Christmas in years when it falls within the annual calendar. Its place in the holiday season is closely tied to the Orthodox religious calendar: it follows the Nativity feast and keeps attention on the Mother of God within the Christmas cycle. For many people, it marks the continuation of the festive period rather than a separate civic occasion.
Traditions
Because the day is part of the Orthodox Christmas season, customary observance is mainly religious rather than secular. Many Orthodox Christians attend liturgy or visit church services connected with the feast, and families continue the Christmas period in a quieter way than on Christmas Day itself.
How Synaxis of the Mother of God is celebrated in Greece
As a nationwide public holiday, the day is generally one of lower routine activity than an ordinary working day. In practice, it is spent with church observance, family time, and the continuation of Christmas meals and visits started the previous day.
Interesting facts
The holiday comes immediately after Christmas Day in the Greek calendar. Its Greek setting reflects the Orthodox liturgical sequence, where the feast after the Nativity is dedicated to the Mother of God.
Dates in published calendars
| Year | Holiday date | Observed date | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 26 Dec 2026 | — | Nationwide |
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.