Today, December 26th, is Boxing Day, so happy Boxing Day.

But what even is Boxing Day, what are its origins and when did Boxing Day start? Also, why is it called Boxing Day, why is it on December 26th and what are you supposed to do on Boxing Day?

Although this day has now become synonymous with avarice and consumption, as people rush to the post-Christmas sales in the western world – not so much in Britain – today is a public holiday; we are not really big on post-holiday sales rush like in America – it is actually a day to donate gifts to those in need; a day of charity and donations. 

In many Christian countries across Europe – UK, Germany, Italy etc – all shops are closed today and it is a public holiday.  I believe it is also the same in Canada, which makes Canada a Christian country too, as it imported most of its Christian/Catholic values from Europe. 

Historically, the rich would package gifts and food in little boxes and give them to the poor, hence the name – Boxing Day.  In Britain, this tradition of boxing up gifts, charitable donations and unwanted Christmas gifts and giving them to the poor continues today.  Boxes of gifts or leftover food are donated to charity organisations, goodwill, and to people who offer service – milkman, postman and so on. 

It is thought that the feast of St Stephen which falls on 26th December, the first Christian martyr,  is the origin of this charitable Boxing Day tradition.
St Stephen was a Christian protomartyr, who had been one of the deacons appointed by the apostles to care for the poor.  He was stoned to death after being falsely accused of blasphemy. The biblical account of Stephen’s trial and martyrdom can be found in Acts 6 and 7. In fact, Boxing Day is also called St Stephen’s Day.  

In the early Church, it became a tradition to collect special offerings for the poor on his feast day.   Historically, on St Stephen’s, the day after Christmas Day, people gave Christmas boxes to their household staff containing money, presents or leftover Christmas food, because back then fridges and freezers didn’t exist, so the excess food from Christmas festivities would have gone bad if they were gifted. Gifts and money were also given to the less fortunate and people in the service industry as a form of gratitude for their service. 

Over the centuries, this tradition developed into the creation of permanent parish poor boxes. Although there is evidence for late medieval poor boxes, most of the surviving examples date to the 17th century. 

Stephen was one of several people whom Peter and the apostles appointed as the first Deacons of the Church, circa 30 Anno Domini. Stephen proved to be an effective proselytizer and he drew the ire of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Rabbinical Court, before whom Stephen was charged with blasphemy against Moses and God (See Acts 6 and 7).
Stephen did not waiver in his faith.  He declared his belief in Christ and described a vision that he had of Christ at the right hand of God.  That did not convince the Sanhedrin, and in 34 A.D., they voted to execute him by stoning. St. Stephen’s execution was itself notable in that Saul, later, “Paul of Tarsus” after his conversion, took part in the stoning.
St. Stephen is the patron of stone masons, those with headaches, and horses. “The reason for this last is unknown, but this patronage is very ancient, and in rural cultures and olden times, horses are/were blessed, adorned, and taken out sleighing, and foods for horses were blessed to be fed to them in times of sickness.”

The Feast of St. Stephen was historically offered in honor of all Deacons of the Church.

And in the UK, the 2nd Day of Christmas is celebrated as Boxing Day. It became customary in medieval England that the priests would empty the alms boxes in all churches on the day after Christmas and distribute the gifts to the poor of the parish. The most famous Christmas Carol mentioning the Feast of St. Stephen is Good King Wenceslas, a 19th-century carol set to a 15th-century melody.

 

This picture below is a 17th-century poor box at St Mary’s, Watton, Norfolk, England.

In fact, there are still donation boxes in many churches that are opened on December 26th to honour St Stephen.  Check your church to see if it has one, especially if it is a Catholic church, 

By the 18th century, the tradition of Boxing Day continued to grow in England, with tradespeople, household staff and employees receiving presents or gratuities in the form of a “Christmas box” from their customers or employers.

This would explain the link between St. Stephen’s Day and the poverty-relieving King Wenceslas, as it is also the day when the Christmas Carol ‘Good King Wenceslas’ takes place.

As you can see, much of ancient church history remains embedded deeply in British culture. 

As Catholics, wherever in the world we are, it is good for us to learn of these ancient traditions and reclaim them by incorporating them in our own lives.  

So even if in your country, Boxing Day isn’t recognised or if it is used as a day to push for post-holiday sales, you can and should, as a Catholic, celebrate it the Catholic way – by giving donations, food and gifts to the poor or less fortunte, and staying away from the post-holiday sales, which is just a demonic way to detract from the true purpose of this day.  You can always go to the sales on the 27th.

Do you celebrate or recognise December 26th in your country?
If so, what name do you call it? And is it also a public holiday in your country?

A very blessed Feast of St. Stephen to all. Pax et bonum.

St Stephen, patron saint of deacons, bricklayers, and stonemasons and who is also invoked against headaches, pray for us

Our Lady, Mother of the newborn Christ Child, pray for us.

 ad Jesum per Mariam

🌹🙏🌹