[1][2] It is an official public holiday in Alsace-Moselle, Austria, the Balearic Islands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Catalonia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Madeira, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine, Switzerland and Newfoundland.

It was traditional to hunt a wren, which would be paraded around the neighbourhood on top of a staff decorated with holly, ivy and ribbons.

[4] In the Republic of Ireland, Saint Stephen's Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Stiofáin) is one of ten official public holidays.

Traditionally, men and boys hunted a wren and placed it on top of a staff decorated with holly, ivy and ribbons.

This was paraded around the neighbourhood by a group of 'Wrenboys'—typically dressed in straw masks and costumes—who sang songs and played music in exchange for donations.

[13][14] Saint Stephen's Day in Wales is known as Gŵyl San Steffan, celebrated every year on 26 December.

One ancient Welsh custom, discontinued in the 19th century, included bleeding of livestock and "holming" by beating with holly branches of late risers and female servants.

The pasta tubes are stuffed with ground meat that may include the leftovers of the previous day's escudella i carn d'olla, turkey, or capó.

Similar to the adjacent regions of Bavaria, numerous ancient customs still continued to this day, such as ceremonial horseback rides and blessing of horses, or the "stoning" drinking rite celebrated by young men after attending Mass.

They told their good wishes, and sang songs to match the young, while the other boys asked for donations from the hosts and girls gave bokréta's.

These merry rides along village streets were seen in contrast to the silent and pious mood of the preceding Christmas days.