Mandatory public holidayFixed date: 1 January every year
New Year's Day
About the holiday
New Year's Day opens the year with the feast of Saint Basil, who brings the presents in the Greek tradition. Families cut the vasilopita, a cake with a hidden coin, and the day is a mandatory public holiday for every business, public service, school and bank.
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 Thursday, so the working week has 4 working days instead of 5.
New Year's Day creates a long weekend from 1 January to 4 January 2026: 4 days off with 1 days of leave.
2027
In 2027 the holiday falls on a Friday, so the working week has 4 working days instead of 5.
New Year's Day creates a long weekend from 1 January to 3 January 2027: 3 days off with 0 days of leave.
2028
In 2028 the holiday falls on a Saturday: it does not reduce the working days of the week and it is not transferred.
New Year's Day creates a long weekend from 30 December to 1 January 2029: 3 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)
- 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 New Year's 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.