Boxing Day & Feast of Stephen

In 2010, Christmas and Boxing Day, (26 December), fell upon Saturday and Sunday - days that most people would not work. To correct the calendar’s injustice, the UK designated Monday as Boxing Day Bank Holiday, and Tuesday as Christmas Day Bank Holiday.
Boxing Day is also Saint Stephen Day. (Stephen was the first Christian martyr, who, before his stoning, saw the heavens open, and Christ standing on the right hand of God. Acts 7:55-56). Long ago in elementary school, I learned the Christmas carol, "Good King Wenceslas", who “looked out on the Feast of Stephen”, and took pity on a poor peasant. It took me over half a century, and two Christmases in England, to realize the connection between King Wenceslas’ generosity and kindness, and St. Stephen Day, or the Feast of Stephen. Wenceslaus, a third generation Christian, (907-935), lived in an era when nobles did not care about anything but their throne. He was a veritable one man Bishop, Mother Teresa, and Home Teacher -- clothing the naked, giving shelter to pilgrims, and buying freedom for those sold into slavery. His generous love extended to rich and poor alike. He was extraordinarily kind and compassionate every day, not just on the Feast of Stephen, and for this, I have come to admire Wenceslas I, Duke of Bohemia.

 Bing Crosby and DC Comics: Good King Wenceslas

Boxing Day originated in England as a day for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for good service throughout the year, and the day for giving money and other gifts to the needy. This English holiday has also evolved into a day to visit the family that wasn’t seen on Christmas day, and a very busy shopping day with after Christmas sales. Because St. Stephen is the patron saint of horses, boxing day was a great day for a fox hunt, but since 2004, it’s been outlawed. It’s still a day for horse racing.

The London Family History Centre never closes on a Bank Holiday. Whereas the patron traffic is very light the last week of December, and whereas we close earlier this week, and whereas the missionaries richly deserve some time off – we’ll operate the Centre with just one couple each day. Gerry and I worked Monday, 27 December.