The 2025 work calendar faces its final stretch with one of those curiosities that often generate doubts among those who have friends or relatives in different parts of the peninsula. After December 25, activity in Spain does not resume uniformly.
This Friday, December 26, while many people are returning to their jobs, several areas of the Mediterranean are celebrating a festive day to extend the Christmas celebrations.
Where is the holiday this Friday, December 26th?
It is not a national holiday, so its application depends on the competences of each autonomous community. This year, the places where it is a non-working day are:
-
Catalonia: It is one of the most sacred dates in the calendar, celebrating the day of Sant Esteve.
-
Balearic Islands: Here the day is officially known as the “Segunda Fiesta de Navidad”(Segona Festa de Nadal), a day fully recognized in their work calendar.
The origin of St. Stephen: history and tradition in Catalonia
The feast of December 26 in Catalonia pays tribute to St. Stephen, considered the first martyr of Christianity. Tradition has it that he was a deacon of the early church in Jerusalem who was stoned to death for his faith, becoming a symbol of resistance.
Although the religious devotion dates back to the ninth century, over time the day has evolved into a deeply familiar and gastronomic celebration. The star dish of this day is homemade cannelloni, traditionally prepared using leftover meat from the Christmas feast.
It is a day for more relaxed gatherings, often with the “other side” of the family or with close friends.
Balearic Islands and the “Second Christmas Party”.
In the Balearic archipelago, the holiday has a slightly different nuance although they share the same date. It is called “Segunda Fiesta de Navidad” (or even Mitjana Festa) and is established as a fixed regional holiday.
As in Catalonia, the aim is to prolong the Christmas spirit and allow citizens to have enough time to complete the trips and family visits that cannot be covered on the 25th.
Why is it not a holiday in the rest of Spain?
The answer lies in the organization of the Spanish work calendar, which divides national, regional and local holidays. While dates such as December 25 or October 12 are fixed for the whole territory, the communities are free to choose certain days according to their cultural and historical identity.
As San Esteban is not a figure with the same roots in regions such as Madrid, Andalusia or Galicia, these communities choose to place their holidays on other dates (such as May 2 in Madrid or July 25 in Galicia), with a diversity of traditions that coexist in the country.
