Boxing Day, The Feast of St Stephen, Good King Wenceslaus, and what it means Today

Maybe like me as I was just a few days ago, you do not know the history of this day. I have been so moved that I want to share.

What I did know was that on December 26 "Boxing Day" is celebrated in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and is a national holiday for them. This seemed like so little so I went digging. I learned that the name refers to the practice, as legend has it, of nobles "boxing up" and distributing food and gifts to their servants and to the poor on the day after Christmas. Boxing Day was also traditionally when the alms box at every English church was opened and their contents given to the poor. Servants were also given the day off to celebrate Christmas with their families, on the day after Christmas having served their employers on Christmas Day. But I also learned that Boxing Day was celebrated on the Feast of St. Stephen.

Reading this summary and so much more here, I wanted to know more about St Stephen. I remembered the Christmas Carol, Good King Wenceslaus. I had sang it for my whole life. (Although admittedly I did not know who he was or how to spell his name.) That carol says that Good King Wenceslaus went out on the Feast of Stephen although I did not know who he was or why. (Turns out he was a duke of Bohemia who went out to give to the poor.) There it was again. Stephen.

I knew Stephen from the Bible, but the details were fuzzy. So I went to the source.... The Bible, or in this case Acts 6-7.

From Acts 6:1-5...."In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, 'It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.'

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.."


Acts 6:8-10 "Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke."

Acts 6:12 "So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin."

Acts 6:15"All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel."

In Acts chapter 7 we hear Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin. He gave the history of God's workings right up through Christ and pulled no punches. He finished saying in 51-53, "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."

Not surprisingly at hearing this painful truth that they did not want to face, acknowledge or believe, they became enraged.

Acts 7:55-60 "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 'Look,' he said, 'I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'

At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Then he fell on his knees and cried out, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' When he had said this, he fell asleep."



I don't know about you but this day seems different now. OK... maybe it is only tradition that says he was martyred on this day.. it is certainly only tradition that says Christ was born on Christmas day... but I believe there is value in remembering Boxing Day now. And not simply for the day after Christmas sales. For something much more.

After reading all this I find myself wanting to go and give to the poor. I know that is what the early church valued. Do we in our churches look after the widows? Or orphans? Somewhat perhaps. In part, the need has diminished but it is far from gone... and we are clearly instructed to do so. There is much to learn in church history. We have thrown so much out. In part because not all is good... but traditions help us.

Look to the feasts of the Old Testament.... which btw I believe we should probably still be following. They were there because we humans need constant reminders and teaching so that we remember what God has taught us. The traditions of the church can do this also for us. I know that for me, Christmas is a time when I really focus anew on what Christ did for us... coming to Earth from the Heavens for our sake. And that renewed knowledge and appreciation will be carried forward for quite a while now after such intense focus on it for this season.

And now Boxing Day will help me remember Stephen as a Biblical example of what I should be like. Filled with the Holy Spirit and living that way. Speaking boldly for God, living a life of service to help those in need, being willing to pay any price for my Lord, without compromise. Good lessons worth remembering.