Saint Joseph's Day 2026 in Switzerland

St. Joseph's Day is a Christian holiday celebrated every year on March 19. It is a public holiday in those parts of Switzerland that boast a predominantly Catholic population. In Christian belief, Saint Joseph is the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Is Saint Joseph's Day a Public Holiday?

Saint Joseph's Day is a public holiday in 7 cantons, where it is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.

What Do People Do?

Although St. Joseph's Day still is a public holiday in large areas of Switzerland, it has received less and less attention in past years. Many businesses remain open for the day.

Background

According to the gospels, Saint Joseph of Nazareth was a carpenter. For this reason, he is considered the patron saint of craftspeople.

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.