St.Stephen the Martyr
As the first Christian martyr, St. Stephen was one of seven men of the early church appointed to serve as deacon for the newly formed ministry. He traveled from Jerusalem to Scandinavia spreading the word and the number of new disciples grew rapidly.
But it seems that, then as now, not everyone was receptive to new ideas. For his trouble, Stephen was condemned and stoned to death by an angry mob, among whom ironically, was Saul of Tarsus, later to be known as St. Paul the Apostle. It was later reported by St. Paul that St. Stephen had prayed for his opponents as they stoned him to death.
In 1999, during archaeological excavations at a site called Jiljil, Father Andrzej Strus (Poland) found the remains of a circular structure, that he believes to be a funeral monument to house the relics of St. Stephen. The most recent use of this circular structure had been as a wine press.
St. Stephen's Day is normally celebrated on December 26 in the Western Church, and December 27 in the Eastern Church. Among New Year’s Eve, Christmas, Easter, Ramadan and Buddha Day, St. Stephen’s Day is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world.
St. Stephen’s Day Celebrations Around the World
AUSTRALIA | 26-DEC | St. Stephen's Day is also known as Boxing Day in many commonwealth nations and former British colonies. In Australia, Boxing Day is a federal public holiday. In South Australia, 28 December is a public holiday known as Proclomation Day and Boxing Day is not normally a public holiday. |
AUSTRIA | 26-DEC | In Austria, priests bless the horses because St. Stephen is their patron. In Tyrolese churches early in the morning of Stephanstag there takes place a consecration of water and of salt brought by the people. The water is used by the peasants to sprinkle food, barns, and fields in order to avert the influence of witches and evil spirits, and bread soaked in it is given to the cattle when they are driven out to pasture on Whit Monday. The salt, too, is given to the beasts, and the peasants themselves partake of it before any important journey like a pilgrimage. Moreover when a storm is threatening some is thrown into the fire as a protection against hail. St. Stephen's Cathedral in Viena is the tallest church in Austria. |
Balearic Islands | 26-DEC | Dia de San Estebán or El Segundo Día de Navidad is celebrated within the walled city of Ibiza, traditionally call Dalt Vila, which was fortified by Felipe II to protect it from attacks by the Ottoman Empire and pirate raids. |
BARBADOS | 26-DEC | St. Stephen's Day is also known as Boxing Day in many commonwealth nations, whose name comes from the tradition of giving cash or presents to tradesmen, workers, or those of the lower classes on the day after Christmas. |
CANADA | 26-DEC | St. Stephen's Day is also known as Boxing Day in many commonwealth nations and former British colonies, whose name comes from the tradition of giving cash or presents to tradesmen, workers, or those of the lower classes on the day after Christmas. |
CATALONIA | 26-DEC | Sant Esteve is celebrated right after Christmas, with a big meal including canelons. These are stuffed with the ground remaining meat from the escudella i carn d'olla, turkey, or capó of the previous day. |
CROATIA | 26-DEC | Sveti Stjepan in a national holiday in Croatia. The parish church of Sv. Stjepan (St. Stephen) in Stari Grad on island of Hvar. The church was built in the 17th century, but in its place stood an older church from 9th / 10th the century. |
Czech Republic | 26-DEC | Sv. Štepána den is a national holiday in the Czech Republic. Katedrála Sv. Štepána among the Czech Republic's oldest cathedrals, located in Litoměřice, which was established in the 10th century. |
DENMARK | 26-DEC | Saint Stephen's day is a national holiday in Denmark. |
ENGLAND | 26-DEC | St. Stephen's Day celebrated by the carol Good King Wenceslas. In England in former times they were bled on his festival in the belief that it would benefit them. Also celebrated as Boxing Day in the commonwealth nations. |
ESTONIA | 26-DEC | Saint Stephen Päev is a national holiday in Estonia. |
FINLAND | 26-DEC | Pyhän Tapanin päivä is a national holiday in Finland. Tapani has always been a popular man's name in Finland, including the variations of Tahvo, Tahvana and Teppo. |
FRANCE | 26-DEC | Le jour de St. Étienne is a legal holiday celebrated in Alsace-Moselle. |
GERMANY | 26-DEC | In Munich, formerly, during the services on Stephanstag more than two hundred men on horseback used to ride three times round the interior of a church. The horses were decorated with many-coloured ribbons, and the practice was not abolished till 1876. At Backnang in Swabia horses were ridden out, as fast as possible, to protect them from the influence of witches, and in the Hohenlohe region men-servants were permitted by their masters to ride in companies to neighbouring places, where much drinking went on. In Holstein the lads on Stephen's Eve used to visit their neighbours in a company, groom the horses, and ride about in the farmyards, making a great noise until the people woke up and treated them to beer and spirits. At the village of Wallsbüll near Flensburg the peasant youths in the early morning held a race, and the winner was called Steffen and entertained at the inn. At Viöl near Bredstadt the child who got up last on December 26 received the name of Steffen and had to ride to a neighbour's house on a hay-fork. In other German districts the festival was called “the great horse-day,” consecrated food was given to the animals, they were driven round and round the fields until they sweated violently, and at last were ridden to the blacksmith's and bled, to keep them healthy through the year. The blood was preserved as a remedy for various illnesses. |
GUYANA | 26-DEC | St. Stephen's Day is also known as Boxing Day in many commonwealth nations and former British colonies, whose name comes from the tradition of giving cash or presents to tradesmen, workers, or those of the lower classes on the day after Christmas. |
HONG KONG | 26-DEC | St. Stephen's Day is also known as Boxing Day in many commonwealth nations and former British colonies, whose name comes from the tradition of giving cash or presents to tradesmen, workers, or those of the lower classes on the day after Christmas. |
HUNGARY | 26-DEC | In Hungary the holiday is known as Szent István napja. St. Stephen is credited for introducing Christianity to the entire Carpanian Basin. This first king of Hungary was crowned as Stephen I, on St. Stephen's day in the year 1000. Stephen I was later cannonized in 1083 as another St. Stephen, as the patron saint of Hungary. St. Stephen's Basilica located in the center of Budapest is a dominant architectural masterpiece that embraces worshippers, and visitors alike. It remains today the tallest building in Budapest. |
IRELAND | 26-DEC | In Ireland, on St. Stephens day (known as Lá Fhéile Stiofán, or Wren's Day) boys with blackened faces carry a paper wren, go about begging and "hunting the wren." The hunting of the wren is most likely a carryover from an old belief that the robin, symbolizing the New Year, killed the wren, symbolizing the Old, at the turning of the year. |
ITALY | 26-DEC | It was Italy, in 1947, who first made the Giorno di Santo Stefan a national holiday, the day after Christmas. |
JAMAICA | 26-DEC | St. Stephen's Day is also known as Boxing Day in many commonwealth nations and former British colonies, whose name comes from the tradition of giving cash or presents to tradesmen, workers, or those of the lower classes on the day after Christmas. |
KENYA | 26-DEC | St. Stephen's Day is also known as Boxing Day in many commonwealth nations and former British colonies, whose name comes from the tradition of giving cash or presents to tradesmen, workers, or those of the lower classes on the day after Christmas. |
LATVIA | 26-DEC | Referred to as the 'second day of Christmas', St. Stephen's day is a national holiday in Latvia. |
LITHUANIA | 26-DEC | Šventojo Stepono diena is a national holiday in Lithuania |
LUXEMBOURG | 26-DEC | Stephanitag is a national holiday in Luxembourg |
MACEDONIA | 26-DEC | Свети Стефан ден is celebrated in Macedonia, and there is a famous St. Stephen small cave church, 5 km from Ohrid. |
MONTENEGRO | 26-DEC | Saint Stjepana Nap celebrated on December 26 in Montenegro |
NETHERLANDS | 26-DEC | In Holland, many people spend the second day of Christmas in much the same way as Christmas Day. They spend most of the day preparing and eating a large meal with family members or close friends. Many couples spend Christmas Day at one partner's parents' home and St. Stephen's Day day at the other's parents' home. |
NEW ZEALAND | 26-DEC | St. Stephen's Day is also known as Boxing Day in many commonwealth nations and former British colonies, whose name comes from the tradition of giving cash or presents to tradesmen, workers, or those of the lower classes on the day after Christmas. |
NORWAY | 26-DEC | In the past bands of men rose before dawn and galloped from village to village singing folk songs about the saint. These robust performances awakened householders, who then refreshed Stephen’s men with ale or other alcoholic beverages. Today one can still see bands of young men, often in traditional costumes, singing folk songs from door to door on St. Stephen’s Day. Many Norwegians spend the day visiting with friends and family members. |
PHILLIPINES | 26-DEC | Patron saint of Ligao City Albay and Tuguegaro City. |
POLAND | 26-DEC | In Poland, Christmas Day is spent with family at home. No visiting, no cleaning, no cooking. St. Stephen's Day is the day for visiting, exchanging presents, and caroling. Caroling is often done by a group of young boys, often dressed as King Herod, a knight, a soldier, an angel, a devil, death, a Jew, Mary, shepherds, sometimes Three Kings and an accordionist. They sing pastoral songs, carols, and when let into the house, play scenes from King Herod's life. At the end of the performance, they are offered refreshments and some money. Caroling can last until January 6. On St. Stephen's day, tossing rice at each other symbolizes blessings and recalls Stephen's stoning. |
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA | 26-DEC | St. Stephen's Day is also known as Boxing Day in many commonwealth nations and former British colonies, whose name comes from the tradition of giving cash or presents to tradesmen, workers, or those of the lower classes on the day after Christmas.,In South Africa, Boxing Day was renamed Day of Goodwill in 1994. |
REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA | 9-JAN | In the Republic of Srpska, Saint Stjepana is the patron saint of the republic. |
ROMANIA | 26-DEC | Known as Sfântul Ștefan, in the Romanian principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia there have been as many as seventeen rulers with this name. The most famous was Stephen the Great and Holy (Ştefan cel Mare şi Sfânt) of Moldavia, acknowledged as a saint by the Romanian Orthodox Church. |
SERBIA | 9-JAN | St. Stephen is the patron saint of the Republic of Serbia. St. Stephen's Day (Светог Стефана Дан) falls on 9 January because the Serbian Orthodox Church adheres to the Julian calendar. Serbian medieval rulers title was Stefan. |
SLOVAKIA | 26-DEC | Druhý sviatok vianocný |
SWEDEN | 26-DEC | In Sweden, there was formerly a custom, at one o'clock on morning of Saint Stephen dag, for horses to be ridden to water that flowed northward; they would then drink “the cream of the water” and flourish during the year. There was a violent race to the water, and the servant who got there first was rewarded by a drink of something stronger. There was also an early morning jaunt of the so-called “Stephen's men,” companies of peasant youths, who long before daybreak ride in a kind of race from village to village and awaken the inhabitants with a folk-song called Staffansvisa, expecting to be treated to ale or spirits in return. |
Trinidad and Tobago | 26-DEC | St. Stephen's Day is also known as Boxing Day in many commonwealth nations, whose name comes from the tradition of giving cash or presents to tradesmen, workers, or those of the lower classes on the day after Christmas. |
UNITED STATES | 26-DEC | In Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas, boxing day is observed, but not an official holiday. In New Mexico, The Feast of San Estevan is a harvest dance and annual feast day in the Indian pueblo of Acoma. Acoma was established in the 12th century and is the oldest continuously inhabited community in America. The mesa is dominated by the mission church of San Estevan del Rey, which was completed in 1640 under the direction of Friar Juan Ramirez. A mass and procession begin the feast day. The statue of St. Stephen (the patron saint) is taken from the church to the plaza where the dances are performed. |
WALES | 26-DEC | In Wales, on Gŵyl San Steffan, there was an ancient Welsh custom, discontinued in the 19th century, included bleeding of livestock and "holming" (beating or slashing with holly branches) of late risers. |
St. Stephen’s Birthday Celebrations
1194
Frederick of Hohenstaufen Holy Roman Empire in Italy
1716
Jean-François de Saint-Lambert, French poet
1716
Thomas Gray, British poet
1723
Melchior Grimm, German writer
1738
Thomas Nelson, Jr., American politician
1756
Bernard Germain Étienne de Laville-on-Illon, Count de Lacepede, zoologist and French politician
1769
Ernst Moritz Arndt, German poet
1770
Pierre Cambronne, French military general of the Empire
1791
Charles Babbage, British mathematician
1835
Canestrini Giovanni, Italian naturalist
1837
George Dewey, American naval commander
1853
René Bazin, novelist, French writer
1863
Charles Pathé, French film industry pioneer
1867
Julien Benda, French writer and philosopher
1883
Maurice Utrillo, French painter
1884
Jean Toomer, American writer
1891
Henry Miller, American novelist
1893
Mao Tse-Tung, Chinese politician
1902
Albert Anastasia, American crime boss
1904
Alejo Carpentier, Cuban writer, artist, musician
1914
Richard Widmark, American actor
1921
Steve Allen, American television star
1924
Glenn Davis, Heismann trophy winner from Army
1932
Jesus T. Peralta, Filipino playwright
1935
Gnassingbe Eyadema, President of Togo
1937
John Horton Conway, British mathematician
1939
Phil Spector, American musician
1940
Edward C Prescott, American Nobel prize winning economist
1942
Carlo Benetton, Italian fashion designer
1942
Catherine Coulter, American author
1942
Gray Davis, American politician
1942
Jonathan Barnes, English author
1942
Keith Taylor, Australian author
1944
Bill Ayers, American politician
1947
Carlton Fisk, American baseball player
1949
José Ramos-Horta, Nobel Peace Price winner from East Timor
1953
Leonal Fernández Reyna, president of Dominican Republic
1954
Ozzie Smith, American baseball player
1956
David Sedaris, American writer
1962
James Kottak, Scorpions drummer, U.S.
1963
Lars Ulrich, drummer and founding member of Metallica, U.S.
1971
Jared Leto, American actor and singer
1975
Marcelo Rios, Chilean tennis player
1986
Hugo Lloris, French footballer and goalkeeper
1986
Yohan Blake, Jamaican sprinter
1996
Prodigy, American rapper
Start Your Own St. Stephen's Day Tradition
Whether it's a quiet day to unwind from the holiday craziness, time alone with family and friends, or carrying on the Welsh tradition of spanking late risers with holly branches, consider how you'll spend your St. Stephen's day each year.
We recommend postponing the gift returns, traffic, work, electronic messaging and crowds in general. Take a moment's pause, and block out some quiet time to count your many blessings with those you love. Include a relaxing meal and fine bottle of wine.
Part of the proceeds of each bottle sold of our wine are donated to help improve the planet, if only by a little bit.
Happy St. Stephen's Day!