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Religious holiday · 2030

Saint Stephen's Day 2030

Saint Stephen's Day falls on Thursday, 26 December 2030 in the 9 countries that observe it.

Dates by country

Saint Stephen's Day 2030 by country
CountryDateLocal name
AndorraThu 26 DecSant Esteve
AustriaThu 26 DecStephanstag
CroatiaThu 26 DecSveti Stjepan
IrelandThu 26 DecSaint Stephen's Day
ItalyThu 26 DecSanto Stefano
LiechtensteinThu 26 DecStephanstag
LuxembourgThu 26 DecStiefesdag
San MarinoThu 26 DecSanto Stefano
Vatican CityThu 26 DecSanto Stefano

What is Saint Stephen's Day?

Saint Stephen's Day honours Stephen, described in the Acts of the Apostles as one of seven men chosen to serve the early Christian community in Jerusalem and as the first Christian martyr. According to Acts he was stoned to death after a speech before the Jewish council, and he is remembered for asking forgiveness for his killers. Stephen is regarded as a patron of deacons, and in popular devotion of horses, and many churches and several cities bear his name. The feast has long been associated with charity and kindness to the poor.

The feast comes straight after Christmas Day in the Western calendar, which gave it a natural place in the Christmas season. In 2027 it is a public holiday on this site in Austria, Italy, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City and Ireland, in most Swiss cantons and in the French region of Alsace-Moselle. In Ireland it is the name by which the day is known, rather than Boxing Day, with horse racing, football and visits to family as typical ways of spending it. The carol Good King Wenceslas is set on the feast.

Why it is observed

Devotion to Stephen is among the oldest in Christianity, and the Western church keeps his feast on 26 December, the day after the birth of Christ, so that the first martyr follows the Lord at once. In Ireland and the Isle of Man the day was also called Wren Day: groups of Wren Boys paraded a wren on a decorated staff or bush and collected donations, a custom that survives in a few places with a fake wren. In Austria, Bavaria and parts of Switzerland Stephen's day brings horse rides and blessings of horses, because he is held to be patron of horses. The Orthodox churches that follow the Julian calendar honour Stephen on 27 December, which is 9 January in the civil calendar; Stephen is also the patron saint of Republika Srpska, which marks 9 January as its day.

How the date is set

Saint Stephen's Day is fixed on 26 December in the Western church calendar. Orthodox churches commemorate Stephen on 27 December in the Julian calendar, which currently falls on 9 January in the civil calendar.

How it is observed

In countries where it is a public holiday, 26 December works like a Sunday: shops, banks and offices are closed and public transport is reduced. In rural parts of Austria and Bavaria the day has traditional horse blessings and rides, while in towns it is mostly a family day and a time for post-Christmas travel. In the holiday period many people use it to continue journeys, so airports and railways can be busy even though services are reduced. In Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and elsewhere the same date is the Second Day of Christmas, and in Britain it is Boxing Day. The rules for extra pay or a substitute day vary by country and by employment contract.

Sources

Questions

Good to know

When is Saint Stephen's Day in 2030?

Thursday, 26 December 2030 in all 9 countries that observe it (Andorra, Austria, Croatia, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, …).

Which countries observe Saint Stephen's Day?

In our coverage: Andorra, Austria, Croatia, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, San Marino, Vatican City. Only holidays that apply across a whole country are counted.

Why is Saint Stephen's Day observed?

Devotion to Stephen is among the oldest in Christianity, and the Western church keeps his feast on 26 December, the day after the birth of Christ, so that the first martyr follows the Lord at once. In Ireland and the Isle of Man the day was also called Wren Day: groups of Wren Boys paraded a wren on a decorated staff or bush and collected donations, a custom that survives in a few places with a fake wren. In Austria, Bavaria and parts of Switzerland Stephen's day brings horse rides and blessings of horses, because he is held to be patron of horses. The Orthodox churches that follow the Julian calendar honour Stephen on 27 December, which is 9 January in the civil calendar; Stephen is also the patron saint of Republika Srpska, which marks 9 January as its day.

How is the date of Saint Stephen's Day set?

Saint Stephen's Day is fixed on 26 December in the Western church calendar. Orthodox churches commemorate Stephen on 27 December in the Julian calendar, which currently falls on 9 January in the civil calendar.