Public holiday in Ireland
St. Stephen's Day in Ireland
Saturday, December 26, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
St. Stephen’s Day is a nationwide public holiday in Ireland on 26 December. It follows Christmas Day and is one of the country’s two December public holidays.
About St. Stephen's Day in Ireland
In Ireland, St. Stephen’s Day is the day after Christmas Day and is observed nationwide as a public holiday. It sits at the centre of the late-December holiday period, when many people are away from work and school and family routines continue after Christmas celebrations. The day is also closely associated with the Boxing Day holiday name used in other countries, though in Ireland the St. Stephen’s Day name is the normal one. As a public holiday, it has practical significance for travel, shopping and leisure plans around the Christmas period, and it marks the continuation of the year-end break rather than a separate civic occasion.
History
The holiday takes its name from Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, reflecting the older religious calendar behind the date. In Ireland, the name and date have long been established in common use, and the day is now treated primarily as part of the Christmas holiday period rather than as a separate religious observance.
Traditions
One of the best-known Irish customs linked with the day is the wren tradition, historically associated with St. Stephen’s Day in parts of the country. In modern Ireland, the day is also closely linked with visiting family and friends, using leftover Christmas food, and making the most of the break after Christmas Day.
How St. Stephen's Day is celebrated in Ireland
Many people in Ireland spend the day at home or with relatives, continue Christmas gatherings, or use it for outings and informal visits. Sporting fixtures and other leisure activities are common features of the day’s calendar, and some towns and communities still hold wren-related events.
Interesting facts
The date is fixed on 26 December in Ireland, so it always falls immediately after Christmas Day. It is one of the two nationwide public holidays in Ireland that fall in December, alongside Christmas Day.
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.