San Esteban en Balearic Islands

When is it celebrated

It is celebrated on 26 December, the day after Christmas. In the Balearic work calendar it is officially called Second Christmas party; The same date corresponds in the Western Christian calendar to the festival of Saint Stephen, the first martyr.

Is it a holiday or a working day?

It is a holiday throughout the autonomous community when established in the annual work calendar. The general calendar of the Balearic Islands for 2026 includes Saturday, 26 December, as the Second Christmas Holiday. The selection of holidays is renewed every year, so the resolution corresponding to the year of interest must be verified.

Origin and geographical link

The religious memory of Saint Stephen is a Christian celebration extended outside the archipelago. In the Balearic Islands, the day has its own connection as the second Christmas festival, a name that underlines the continuity of Christmas and its island roots. The Balearic Government has expressly pointed out this strong roots when discussing the 2026 commercial calendar.

Regular events

The day is lived mainly through family gatherings and meals, festive rest and religious celebrations. Municipalities, parishes and cultural spaces can add concerts, performances and Christmas activities. The programmes are not uniform in Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, so the specific events must be consulted in each local agenda.

Usual duration of events

The public holiday occupies the entire 26 December. Meals and meetings usually take place between noon and after dinner, while religious or cultural events normally last a few hours. Being part of the Christmas cycle, some activities begin before or continue after, without there being a common programme for the entire archipelago.

Traditions and history

The Balearic tradition understands the date as a continuation of Christmas coexistence, hence the name Second Christmas Party. The celebration combines a family table, gastronomy typical of the holidays and, for believing communities, the liturgical memory of Stephen. Vatican News identifies him as one of the first seven deacons and the first Christian martyr, killed by stoning according to the Acts of the Apostles. Recipes and ways of gathering vary between islands, localities and homes.

Where is it celebrated

His work area includes Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. It is celebrated mainly in homes, restaurants and parishes, in addition to theaters, auditoriums, residences and community centres that maintain Christmas programming. Each town council and entity announces its own spaces and schedules.

Who participates

Families, residents and visitors, parish communities and the public participate in cultural activities. The Government sets the general work calendar after the corresponding processing, while town councils, island councils, associations, parishes and cultural facilities can organise the events. Businesses and workers are also governed by the applicable regulations and sectoral calendars.