When is Second Day of Old-Style Christmas?
In 2026, Second Day of Old-Style Christmas falls on Thursday, January 8, 2026. It is classified here as a Moldovan public holiday.
History of Second Day of Old-Style Christmas
January 8 is the second legally protected day of old-style Christmas in Moldova. It is not an informal bridge day or a substitute for January 7: Article 111 names both dates. The two-day arrangement recognises that a major religious feast unfolds through worship, hospitality and repeated visits rather than ending after one service or meal.
The second day is usually less liturgically concentrated than Christmas Day. Families can visit godparents, grandparents and relatives who could not gather on January 7, while parish communities continue seasonal services and charitable activity. In villages, carolling and household hospitality may extend across both days; urban families often adapt the same pattern around work, travel and diaspora visits.
As an independent statutory date, January 8 closes public institutions and many workplaces even when January 7 has already been observed. There is no standing rule adding another Monday if it falls on a weekend. Only a specific government transfer for the public sector or a lawful employer decision changes the practical work calendar.
How Second Day of Old-Style Christmas is observed
The Second Day of Old-Style Christmas is a nationwide non-working holiday under Article 111 of Moldova's Labour Code. It is fixed on January 8 and remains legally distinct from January 7. A weekend does not automatically create a Monday substitute; the Government may transfer days for public institutions, and employers may make their own lawful transfer after consultation.
Traditions of Second Day of Old-Style Christmas
Godparent visits
Families may visit godparents and grandparents on the second day, carrying food, greetings and small gifts between households.
Continuing carols
Carollers and church groups can continue seasonal songs and visits where local custom extends beyond the first Christmas day.
Shared leftovers and fresh dishes
Households reopen the Christmas table, combining dishes prepared for January 7 with fresh pastries, coffee and food for arriving guests.
Dates and observance rules are checked against the official Moldovan government and labour-calendar guidance. Local, school and private-employer schedules may differ from the national public-holiday calendar.
History sources: Republic of Moldova Labour Code, Article 111, Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 2026 non-working holidays.
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