Boxing Day in Andorra: Sant Esteve
Andorra’s labour calendar names 26 December Sant Esteve, rather than Boxing Day. It is a paid public holiday, with arrangements for workers in tourism sectors that can differ from those in other industries.[1]
The Andorran name and calendar
In Andorra, the official labour calendar lists the 26 December holiday as Sant Esteve. “Boxing Day” is a label used on some English-language calendars, but Sant Esteve is the name used by the Andorran government.[1]
The date is fixed on 26 December. The government’s labour calendar includes it among the country’s compulsory holidays; it is not a substitute day for Christmas.[1]
Who gets a paid day off
Andorran labour law gives employees the right to enjoy the holidays set by the labour calendar as paid days, subject to the rules and established practices of their sector. The government identifies offices, banks, transport and other listed industries among the sectors covered by its compulsory, paid and non-recoverable holidays.[1][2]
Tourism-related work has a different scheduling rule: holidays may be moved to another day by agreement between the employee and employer. The government names four holidays that cannot be moved—New Year’s Day, Constitution Day, Our Lady of Meritxell and Christmas Day—and Sant Esteve is not among them.[1]
Shops and services
The public holiday does not itself require shops across Andorra to close. The government’s commercial-hours guidance lists four mandatory shop-closure dates: 1 January, 14 March, 8 September and 25 December. Sant Esteve is not on that list, and the guidance says that permitted opening hours do not oblige a shop to open.[3]
For visitors, this means shops may be open, but hours depend on each business. Offices and banks may observe the paid holiday, while tourism services can follow agreed holiday schedules. Check directly with a particular business or service before travelling.[1][3]
Observing Sant Esteve
The official material cited here confirms the holiday’s name, date and labour status, but does not document a particular ceremony, meal or countrywide custom for Sant Esteve. The holiday’s Andorran distinction in these sources is therefore its place in the labour calendar and the rules that apply to work and shop opening.[1][2][3]
Frequently asked questions
When is Sant Esteve in Andorra?
It is observed on 26 December, and the Andorran labour calendar calls it Sant Esteve.[1]
Is Sant Esteve a paid day off?
Do shops have to close?
No. The government’s required shop-closure list does not include 26 December, though individual businesses choose their own opening hours.[3]
Is Boxing Day the official Andorran name?
The government’s labour calendar uses Sant Esteve for 26 December.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Boxing Day in Andorra:
- S’aprova el calendari laboral per al 2026- Govern d’Andorra
- Llei 31/2018, del 6 de desembre, de relacions laborals (Text refós sense caràcter oficial)- Portal Jurídic d’Andorra
- Horaris comercials- Govern d’Andorra