The Twelve Days of Christmas: Day Two: St Stephen’s day

 The second day of Christmas, 26th December, is ‘St Stephen’s Day.’  It is also known as Boxing Day.

“St Stephen is traditionally venerated as the protomartyr or first martyr of Christianity, and was, according to the Acts of the Apostles, a deacon in the early Church at Jerusalem who angered members of various synagogues by his teachings. Accused of blasphemy at his trial, he made a speech denouncing the Jewish authorities who were sitting in judgment on him and was then stoned to death. His martyrdom was witnessed and participated by Saul of Tarsus, also known as Paul, a Pharisee and Roman citizen who would later become a Christian apostle.”  [from Wiki]

December 26 is the feast of St. Stephen—a traditional day for giving leftovers to the poor (as described in the carol “Good King Wenceslas”). As one of the first deacons, Stephen was the forerunner of all those who show the love of Christ through their generosity to the needy.  

Good King Wences'las looked out,
on the Feast of Stephen,
… "Bring me flesh, and bring me wine,
bring me pine logs hither:
Thou and I shall see him dine,
when we bear them thither."

 

Acts 7:  Stephen the Martyr
54     When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
55    But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
56    and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
57    Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord;
58    and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59    And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60    Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

It was on boxing day that King Edward retired from the festivities. See the Life of Edward.

“But on the morrow, when he could hide it no longer, he began to rest apart, and sent messengers to bid his court be of good cheer and to carry out the dedication of his monestery through fitting persons.”
“But after the banquet he sought the privacy of his inner bedchamber, and bore with patience a distress which grew severer day by day. The close ranks of his vassals surrounded him, and the queen herself was there, in her mourning foretelling future grief.”