A day honouring the Mother of God
The Second Day of Christmas falls on 26 December every year. In the church calendar, it is the Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God, a gathering in honour of Mary, who gave birth to the Saviour.
The observance is associated with women who have recently given birth, newborn babies and care for mothers.
Public holiday and substitute days
26 December is an official public holiday and a non-working day in Bulgaria under Article 154 of the Labour Code. If it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the next working day is a substitute day off.
In 2026, 26 December falls on a Saturday, so Monday, 28 December is also a day off. Substitute days can affect the length of the Christmas break, making the calendar for the relevant year important when planning time away.
Between Christmas and New Year
Christmas visits to parents, wedding sponsors and friends usually continue on this day. Many people leave for a winter holiday, while lighter workloads between 26 December and 1 January allow others to take leave and combine the Christmas and New Year holidays into a longer break.
In Bulgarian folk tradition, the period from Christmas to Epiphany is called Mrasni dni, meaning “Dirty Days”. According to folk belief, evil forces wander the earth during this time, so people avoid going out late at night or leaving laundry outdoors.