Source: National Gallery, London via Wikimedia Commons.
Public Domain in UK and US; may be restricted in other countries.
If you remember the Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas , you heard the name. Stephen was a deacon in the early Christian church who was accused of blasphemy and put on trial by Jewish authorities in Jerusalem. After a trial in which he denounced them, Stephen was stoned to death. One of the witnesses to the event was Saul of Tarsus, who later converted and is known today as the apostle Saint Paul. Stephen is considered the first martyr for the faith, the reason his feast day immediately follows the celebration of Jesus birth. All the major Christian congregations–Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Orthodox–all venerate him as a Saint and celebrate the feast day (Western churches on 26 December, 27 Dec Orthodox, and 8 Jan Oriental Orthodox). In some countries (mainly Western Europe) it is a public holiday.
In the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand it is celebrated as Boxing Day, a secular holiday that falls on the same day as Feast of Stephen. Traditionally it is the day in which servants and tradespeople receive the “Christmas box” from their employers. While that tradition may still hold true, it is either a second Christmas day for some or an extra shopping day (though in some countries it apparently is a day when a lot of returns to retailers takes place). It is also a major sports day as well.
If you are in Italy, it is treated like a second Christmas Day but with a difference. Christmas Day is home with family and streets are mostly empty (and nearly everything is closed except for some restaurants and parafarmacies (pharmacies). December 26th is il giorno di Santo Stefano and a major day for Italians. They go out to eat at restaurants with family and friends. The streets are teeming with people often to see the Presepe (Nativity scene) in their local church or perhaps to see many of them in different churches. Donations to the church usually are made as well. Processions to Santo Stefano take place in many cities and towns. And there are many local traditions as well. Also many seek out the living Nativity scenes as well..
Further Information
“CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Stephen,” http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14286b.htm.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, “St. Stephen | Patron Saint of, Death, Martyr, & Facts,” Encyclopedia Britannica, last modified December 10, 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Stephen.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Boxing Day | Definition, Meaning, Traditions, Activities, & Facts,” Encyclopedia Britannica, last modified December 25, 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Boxing-Day.
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