BOXING DAY
THE
FEAST OF
SAINT
STEPHEN
DECEMBER 26
There is much folklore associated with the origins of Boxing Day. As best determined, the Holiday has its origins in Britain. It is associated with Saint Stephen, whose feast day is December 26, and with the opening of the alms boxes in the churches. The day after Christmas, the Christmas offering was opened and distributed to the poor.
Others believe Boxing Day had its origin with the practice of many in the merchant class and landowners of giving boxes of food, money and necessities to the tradespeople and servants the day after Christmas. There was also a tradition that servants would be given small boxes containing coins by their employers on the day after Christmas.
Saint Stephen was martyred around AD 36. According to the New Testament he was the first Christian martyr. He was noted for the strength of his faith and was the first of the decans of the early church. He was stoned to death for blashpemy.
Good King Wenceslas
Good King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen. When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even. Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel, When a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel. Hither page and stand by me if thou knowst it telling Yonder peasant, who is he, where and what his dwelling? Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain, Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes' fountain. Bring me flesh and bring me wine, bring me pinelogs hither Thou and I will see him dine when we bear them thither Page and monarch forth they went, forth they went together Through the rude winds wild lament, and the bitter weather. Sire the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger Fails my heart I know now how, I can go no longer. Mark my footsteps my good page, tread thou in them boldly Thou shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly. In his master's steps he trod where the snow lay dinted Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed Therefore Christian men be sure, wealth or rank possessing, Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing
Born in 902 AD, he was the Duke of Bohemia, known today as the Czech Republic. At the age of 20, this devote Christian succeeded to the thrown. Educated in Christian ways by his Grandmother, he was benevolent to his subjects. He worked with the Church to bring religion and education to his people. Although Wenceslas and his Grandmother were Christians, his mother and siblings were non-Christians. This division in the family led to hostilities and eventually Wenceslas' younger brother murdered him in 929 AD. After his death, his subjects often went to his grave to offer prayers. From the beginning, there were reports of miracles occuring after his subjects had prayed at the tomb. His tomb became the sight of great pilgrimages. By 985 AD he was being honored as a Saint and his likeness has appeared on many of the country's currency. The Crown of Wenceslas (which was probably designed and made in the 1300's) stands as a symbol of Czech Indpendence.
