St Stephen’s feast Day (Il giorno di Santo Stefano) is celebrated as a public holiday across Italy on December 26. It is the day after Christmas Day (Natale).
Is St. Stephen's Day a Public Holiday?
St. Stephen's Day is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.
What Do People Do?
In some places, St Stephen’s feast day is traditionally a day for many Italians to visit the Nativity scenes at the churches. Other events on St Stephen’s Day in different parts of Italy include markets, carnivals and festivals.
Public Life
St Stephen’s Day is a national public holiday in Italy. Organizations and businesses that are closed include:
- Government offices.
- Post offices.
- Banks.
- Schools and other educational institutions.
Transport options, such as taxis, rail services between major cities and major long-route bus lines, are available but travelers are advised to check routes and timetables with the local transport authorities.
Background
St Stephen is believed to be the first Christian martyr. He was stoned to death sometime around the year 33 CE. St Stephen’s feast day was made a public holiday in Italy in 1947.
Symbols
The presepe (Nativity scene) is often seen outdoors, particularly at churches. The Nativity scene is popular custom that has spread across to many countries.St. Stephen's Day Observances
| Year | Weekday | Date | Name | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Thu | Dec 26 | St. Stephen's Day | National holiday |
| 2020 | Sat | Dec 26 | St. Stephen's Day | National holiday |
| 2021 | Sun | Dec 26 | St. Stephen's Day | National holiday |
| 2022 | Mon | Dec 26 | St. Stephen's Day | National holiday |
| 2023 | Tue | Dec 26 | St. Stephen's Day | National holiday |
| 2024 | Thu | Dec 26 | St. Stephen's Day | National holiday |
| 2025 | Fri | Dec 26 | St. Stephen's Day | National holiday |
| 2026 | Sat | Dec 26 | St. Stephen's Day | National holiday |
| 2027 | Sun | Dec 26 | St. Stephen's Day | National holiday |
| 2028 | Tue | Dec 26 | St. Stephen's Day | National holiday |
| 2029 | Wed | Dec 26 | St. Stephen's Day | National holiday |
While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.
