26 December is the second Christmas holiday (2. svátek vánoční) in Czechia and is also associated with Saint Stephen (svatý Štěpán), traditionally remembered as the first Christian martyr.
English-speaking visitors sometimes call it “Boxing Day” for convenience, but that British term does not describe the Czech tradition particularly well. The Czech day is better understood as the final part of the three-day Christmas sequence that begins on 24 December.
Saint Stephen and the second Christmas holiday
In the Christian calendar, 26 December is the feast of Saint Stephen. Churches may refer explicitly to Saint Stephen in services and liturgy.
In everyday Czech family life, however, the religious identity is often secondary to the simple fact that the Christmas holiday continues. After the intensive Christmas Eve celebration and Christmas Day visits, 26 December remains a day for relatives, friends, food, television, walks and rest.
Visiting family and friends
CzechTourism describes 25 and 26 December as days when families, friends and neighbours visit one another. This remains one of the most recognisable patterns of the holiday period.
A family might spend Christmas Eve with one side of the family, Christmas Day at home and 26 December visiting grandparents or other relatives. The exact order varies, but the important point is that Christmas socialising extends well beyond the evening of the 24th.
For visitors, this also explains why some restaurants and services remain closed: the staff themselves are often taking part in family celebrations.
Food on 26 December
By the second Christmas holiday, Czech households are usually surrounded by food. Christmas cookies, vánočka and chocolates remain on the table, while leftovers from previous meals are common.
Festive lunches on the first and second Christmas days may include roast duck, goose or chicken with dumplings and cabbage. Other families simply finish Christmas Eve dishes or prepare something easy after several days of cooking.
There is no single dish unique only to 26 December. The food tradition is better understood as continued Christmas feasting rather than a separate Saint Stephen menu.
Older traditions and modern life
Historically, Saint Stephen’s Day in Central Europe was associated with visiting and carolling traditions. In modern Czechia, such customs survive unevenly and are much less universally visible than Christmas Eve traditions.
Today the day is often practical and relaxed:
- visit relatives;
- take children outside after several indoor days;
- go hiking or skiing if conditions allow;
- watch Christmas fairy tales on television;
- visit a nativity scene or church;
- attend a seasonal concert.
Winter trips and outdoor activities
26 December can be a good day for an excursion because many people are ready to leave the house after two days of large meals. Mountain resorts, ski areas and winter walking destinations can be busy if snow conditions are good.
City travellers can look for churches with nativity scenes, Christmas concerts, zoos or selected castles and châteaux that advertise winter opening.
Do not improvise a long itinerary without checking hours: many attractions operate special Christmas schedules.
Are shops open on 26 December?
Large retail stores over 200 m² must normally remain closed, just as on 25 December. Statutory exception categories and some small shops may operate.
This means the Czech Christmas closure period can catch unprepared visitors: large stores close early on 24 December and remain closed through both 25 and 26 December.
Buy essential groceries in advance and use the retailer table on this page to check the major chains.
How the three Czech Christmas days fit together
A useful summary is:
- 24 December – Štědrý den: the main family celebration, festive dinner, Ježíšek and gifts;
- 25 December – Christmas Day: rest, family visits and festive lunch;
- 26 December – Saint Stephen / second Christmas holiday: more visiting, eating, walking and a gradual end to the Christmas pause.
Seeing the holidays as a sequence rather than three isolated dates makes Czech Christmas customs much easier to understand.