Saint-Étienne Festival of Wissembourg

December 26th: A Unique Public Holiday in France

While most French people return to their daily lives the day after Christmas, Alsace and Moselle enjoy a rare privilege: December 26th is a legal public holiday. This peculiarity, enshrined in the local Alsatian-Mosellan law, dates back to an imperial ordinance by William II in 1892, when these territories were part of the Alsace-Lorraine Reichsland. In 1918, when Alsace and Moselle became French again, the inhabitants refused to give up this day of rest, just like Good Friday. French law ratified this acquisition, which continues to this day.

Wissembourg, a Medieval Gem at the Gates of Germany

Wissembourg, a charming town nestled in the far north of Alsace, on the German border, offers an enchanting setting to experience Saint Stephen's Day. Dominated by the majestic Saints-Pierre-et-Paul Abbey Church, one of the largest Gothic churches in Alsace, the town unfolds its cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, and canals, earning it the nickname "Little Venice of the North." It is in this postcard-perfect setting that the festival takes on its full meaning, blending tradition and authenticity.

Saint Stephen, the First Christian Martyr

The festival honors Saint Stephen (Stephanus in Latin, meaning "crowned"), a deacon and the first martyr of Christianity, stoned to death in Jerusalem for professing his faith. Patron saint of masons, architects, and carpenters, his name is borne by no less than 28 churches in Alsace, a testament to the region's deep devotion to this saint.

Alsatian Traditions and Art de Vivre

Saint Stephen's Day is above all a day for family gatherings and conviviality. After the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve, December 26th offers a suspended moment to reunite with extended family around the table. You can savor bredele, those delicious little Alsatian Christmas cookies flavored with spices, cinnamon, and almonds, prepared throughout Advent. Children sometimes receive additional gifts, extending the joy of Christmas for an enchanted day.

In the Middle Ages, the new year began on Christmas Day, and festivities lasted for twelve consecutive days. December 26th marked the beginning of what was called the "little year", a festive period ending on New Year's Day. It was also the "bag day", the servants' fair, where farm boys and girls left their jobs to find a new employer, with the day concluding with festivities at their new employers'.

A Living Tradition That Endures

Today, Saint Stephen's Day remains a strong marker of identity for Alsatians. In Wissembourg, as in all communes in Alsace and Moselle, schools and shops close, and the day is experienced in a spirit of winter sweetness. Strolls through streets still adorned with their Christmas decorations, visits to family, hearty meals: it is a natural extension of the Christmas magic, a moment of grace that the rest of France envies Alsace. A tradition comparable to the British Boxing Day or the German Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag, it recalls Alsace's position at the crossroads of European cultures.