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Evergreen date guide

What is celebrated on December 26?

See the observances and verified observance-history milestones attached to December 26. Each observance keeps its own source and date details.

Verified history

On this date in observance history

Today in history →

Selected observance milestones connected to this date, based on reviewed sources.

1991
First observance

Independence and Unity Day

The 1991 Act was adopted before 26 December and established that date as Independence Day and a work-free holiday, making 26 December 1991 the first statutory occurrence under the…

1941
Institutional decision

Thanksgiving Day

National Archives states that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the resolution on December 26, 1941.

About this date

What this date contains

8 observances

Each observance is shown once in this view, with its own source and scope details available on the guide page.

0 repeat predictably

0 use a fixed annual date and 0 follow a reusable calendar rule.

0 are edition-specific

These dates are shown only for the year or edition that has been confirmed.

4 have a country-specific scope

Country-specific observances are not presented as worldwide events.

8 have in-depth guides

These pages include reviewed meaning, history, activities, facts and FAQs.

Reviewed depth

Other in-depth guides on December 26

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Boxing Day

26 December; substitute bank-holiday dates apply when scheduled · United Kingdom / bank-holiday calendars

GOV.UK current bank-holiday calendars list Boxing Day and substitute-day treatment across the UK. The Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 provides the statutory December 26 bank-holiday…

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Day of Goodwill

26 December · South African statutory public holiday

South African public-holiday framework / government source verification

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Independence and Unity Day

26 December annually · Slovenia / national holiday

The Government of Slovenia states that Independence and Unity Day is celebrated every year on 26 December, marking the announcement of the 1990 independence plebiscite results.

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Kwanzaa

26 December through 1 January · African American and Pan-African cultural holiday

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture describes Kwanzaa as a week-long African American and Pan-African cultural celebration observed from December 26 to J…

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

National Thank You Note Day

26 December · Informal gratitude/letter-writing observance with multi-reference and stationery-industry calendar corroboration

National Day Archives, AnyDayGuide and Hallmark planning material independently place National Thank You Note Day on December 26.

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

National Whiners Day

26 December · United States / informal humor-and-gratitude observance created by Rev. Kevin C. Zaborney in 1986

A December 1995 Washington Post/Newsday report identifies December 26, quotes Rev. Kevin C. Zaborney, and states that he started National Whiner’s Day in 1986; National Day Calendar preserv…

Explore the mix

Topics represented on December 26

All topics →
Celebrations & Social 3Faith, Tradition & Spirituality 3Civic, Remembrance & History 2
8 observances

All observances on this date

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Boxing Day

26 December; substitute bank-holiday dates apply when scheduled · United Kingdom / bank-holiday calendars

GOV.UK current bank-holiday calendars list Boxing Day and substitute-day treatment across the UK. The Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 provides the statutory December 26 bank-holiday…

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Day of Goodwill

26 December · South African statutory public holiday

South African public-holiday framework / government source verification

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Independence and Unity Day

26 December annually · Slovenia / national holiday

The Government of Slovenia states that Independence and Unity Day is celebrated every year on 26 December, marking the announcement of the 1990 independence plebiscite results.

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Kwanzaa

26 December through 1 January · African American and Pan-African cultural holiday

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture describes Kwanzaa as a week-long African American and Pan-African cultural celebration observed from December 26 to J…

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

National Thank You Note Day

26 December · Informal gratitude/letter-writing observance with multi-reference and stationery-industry calendar corroboration

National Day Archives, AnyDayGuide and Hallmark planning material independently place National Thank You Note Day on December 26.

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

National Whiners Day

26 December · United States / informal humor-and-gratitude observance created by Rev. Kevin C. Zaborney in 1986

A December 1995 Washington Post/Newsday report identifies December 26, quotes Rev. Kevin C. Zaborney, and states that he started National Whiner’s Day in 1986; National Day Calendar preserv…

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

St. Stephen’s Day

26 December · Ireland / statutory public-holiday framework

Irish statutory sources and current Workplace Relations Commission guidance establish St. Stephen’s Day as a December 26 public holiday while keeping religious tradition distinct from legal…

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God

26 December annually · Orthodox Church in America / liturgical commemoration

OCA’s saints calendar states that the Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God is commemorated on 26 December.

How dates are selected

This page combines fixed annual dates, reusable calendar rules and year-specific dates confirmed for 2026. Variable or historical dates are included only when they are clearly supported.

Read the methodology →