Mandatory public holidayFixed date: 26 December every year
Second Day of Christmas (Synaxis of the Theotokos)
About the holiday
26 December honours the Mother of God (Synaxis of the Theotokos) and continues the Christmas celebrations. Law 4554/2018 added it to the mandatory public holidays of the private sector, so businesses, public services, schools and banks are all closed.
Who is off?
What the holiday means for each sector.
- Private sector
- Day off (mandatory)
- Public sector
- Closed
- Schools
- Closed
- Banks
- Closed
Every business must close; employees are paid without working (Law 4808/2021, art. 60).
Upcoming dates
The next years at a glance.
Impact on working days
2026
In 2026 the holiday falls on a Saturday: it does not reduce the working days of the week and it is not transferred.
Boxing Day creates a long weekend from 25 December to 27 December 2026: 3 days off with 0 days of leave.
2027
In 2027 the holiday falls on a Sunday: it does not reduce the working days of the week and it is not transferred.
2028
In 2028 the holiday falls on a Tuesday, so the working week has 3 working days instead of 5.
Boxing Day creates a long weekend from 23 December to 26 December 2028: 4 days off with 0 days of leave.
Sources
Dates and legal status were checked against:
- Law 4808/2021, article 60 — days of mandatory public holiday (Government Gazette A' 101/19.06.2021)Hellenic Republic — Government Gazette (via e-nomothesia.gr)
- Law 4554/2018, article 42 — 26 December added to the mandatory holidaysHellenic Republic — Government Gazette (via taxheaven.gr)
- GSEE – KEPEA: Which days are mandatory public holidaysΚΕΠΕΑ / ΓΣΕΕ (Information Centre for Employees and the Unemployed of the Greek General Confederation of Labour)
- Law 1157/1981, article 1 — holidays and half-days of public servicesHellenic Republic — Government Gazette (via taxheaven.gr)
Last verified: 7 October 2026
Plan your leave
Taking leave around Boxing Day?
Pick your days on the calendar: weekends, public holidays and school breaks are already marked, so you see at once how many leave days you need and how long the break becomes.