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Saint Stephen's Day

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152: 368: 331: 814: 44: 1000: 440:. People dress up in old clothes, wear straw hats and travel from door to door with fake wrens (instead of the real, recently killed wrens that were used traditionally), and they dance, sing and play music. This tradition is less common than it was a couple of generations ago. Depending on which region of the country, they are called "wrenboys" and 606:, as it is in Germany and other German-speaking countries. The reason for the public holiday in Italy, not required by the Catholic Church despite the fame of the saint, is to be found in the intention of prolonging the Christmas holiday, creating two consecutive public holidays, which also happens in the case of 589:
a tradition is to eat with the mother's side of the family on 25 December, and on the 26th with the father's side. Historically, the Catalan holiday on the day after Christmas may be related to the practical need for time to return home after a Christmas Day gathering and may date back to the days of
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Another old tradition was parades with singers and people dressed in Christmas suits. At some areas these parades were related to checking forthcoming brides. Stephen's Day used to be a popular day for weddings as well. These days a related tradition is dances of Stephen's Day which are held in
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The remainder of Christmas Day is spent snacking, playing with toys, reading new books, or napping. December 26 is a legal holiday, and is called "Second Day Christmas." It is also Saint Stephen's Day—the feast day of a Christian missionary, once a stable boy, who came to Sweden around A.D.
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and a chained stick to make music. The ritual was also a fertility charm, a custom of ancient pagan origin. They told their good wishes, and sang songs to match the young, while the other boys asked for donations from the hosts and girls gave
151: 974: 1276: 661:, numerous ancient customs still continued to this day, such as ceremonial horseback rides and blessing of horses, or the "stoning" drinking rite celebrated by young men after attending Mass. 970: 602:
In Italy, Saint Stephen's Day became a public holiday in 1947, where previously it was a normal working day; the Catholic Church also celebrates it as a religious holiday, even if not as a
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ride with horses. These merry rides along village streets were seen in contrast to the silent and pious mood of the preceding Christmas days.
936: 610:, a non-religious holiday, but which only wants to lengthen Easter. Before 1947 the two days were working days, with banks and offices open. 646: 322:
on the day in addition to or instead of Saint Stephen's Day, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
1088: 395:, the day is one of ten official public holidays. Its name is sometimes shortened to "Stephen's Day", particularly in informal contexts. 310:, Italy, Luxembourg, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine, Switzerland and 1434: 908: 871: 127: 108: 80: 1188: 87: 65: 367: 1419: 1424: 915:
On Saint Stephen's Day (December 26, "Second Christmas Day"), families make traditional visits to friends and relatives.
837: 578: 94: 295: 1072: 642: 557: 76: 54: 1439: 343: 284: 802:), on the third day after Christmas - December 27. On this day, the ones who have a nameday are given gifts. 540: 268: 1040: 1414: 1305: 749: 603: 445: 280: 275:
mark Saint Stephen's Day on 27 December according to that calendar, which places it on 9 January of the
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https://www.donegaldaily.com/2017/12/29/donegal-couple-devastated-after-losing-home-in-boxing-day-fire
1138: 1108: 468:. Saint Stephen's Day is a popular day for visiting family members and going to the theatre to see a 264: 260: 256: 24: 553:. The pasta tubes are stuffed with ground meat that may include the leftovers of the previous day's 1393: 1383: 832: 819: 626:) is marked as a public holiday as part of its shared culture across the Rhine River with Germany. 586: 392: 307: 101: 32: 795: 591: 519:, discontinued in the 19th century, included bleeding of livestock and "holming" by beating with 276: 1300: 932: 904: 867: 1228: 1054: 900: 720: 706: 1370: 767: 741: 516: 488: 461: 351: 299: 1022: 710:(a custom that also appears in different versions at various times of the year). They wore 1359: 689: 665: 429: 272: 1354: 1100: 758:, though mainly as an anniversary of the 1992 events rather than as a religious feast. 681: 673: 523:
branches of late risers and female servants. The ceremony reputedly brought good luck.
492: 399: 315: 244: 1408: 1310: 1245: 893: 607: 564: 449: 347: 335: 288: 248: 224: 20: 752:. St. Stephen's Day, 9 January, is celebrated as the Day of the Republika Srpska or 330: 1349: 1162:"Fêtes de fin d'année : pourquoi le 26 décembre est-il férié en Alsace ?" 952: 753: 737: 704:
On this day, the men of the villages went to the girls' houses for a Stephen's Day
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https://donegalnews.com/2019/12/boxing-day-tragedy-in-donegal-as-man-dies-in-crash
696:) – a public holiday in Poland, Germany, The Netherlands and the Czech Republic. 1388: 1378: 794:, the Orthodox Church celebrates Saint Stephen's Day, also called Stefanov Den ( 654: 306:, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, the 43: 1120: 594:. Although this lacks historical evidence and may be construed as revisionism. 827: 809: 547: 484: 319: 220: 1254: 1320: 813: 711: 469: 303: 842: 791: 715: 422:). When used in this context, "wren" is often pronounced "ran". The name 419: 372: 228: 23:, the martyr of Jerusalem. For the feast day of the Hungarian saint, see 997:"Why is Stephen's Day called Boxing Day? 12 yuletide questions answered" 444:. A Mummer's Festival is held at this time every year in the village of 1315: 1292: 658: 480: 384: 630:
Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland
1344: 1189:"Pourquoi le 26 décembre est-il férié en Alsace et en Moselle ?" 775: 476: 465: 453: 376: 252: 543:. It is traditionally celebrated with a festive meal that includes 1109:
https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/63643567#Comment_63643567
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Donegal couple devastated after losing home in Boxing Day fire (
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stands in a Catholic church in Italy dedicated to the martyr.
1215:"STEFANOVDEN (St. Stephen or Stefan's Day) - December 27" 1099:
Boxing Day / St. Stephen's Day - Which is more common in
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the day is also known as the Second Christmas Day or the
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The 26th of December is – as Second Day of Christmas (
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The best-known tradition linked to the Stephen's Day (
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Catalonia, Balearic Islands, Valencian Country (Spain)
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Saint Stephen is even celebrated on the feast of the
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alludes to several legends, including those found in
1139:"Santo Stefano: perché si festeggia il 26 dicembre?" 1121:"Wales on Britannia: Welsh Culture & Traditions" 1067:
Boxing Day tragedy in Donegal as man dies in crash (
515:, celebrated every year on 26 December. One ancient 1368: 1334: 1290: 774:) is "the ride of Stephen's Day" which refers to a 354:, Saint Stephen, who was stoned to death in 36 AD. 216: 208: 182: 174: 166: 158: 144: 68:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 892: 350:and is celebrated in honour of one of the first 973:. www.citizensinformation.ie. 16 January 2017. 198:7 January (Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem) 1270: 569: 555: 545: 533: 8: 1023:"Christmas and New Year in Ireland Long Ago" 635: 620: 509: 423: 412: 404: 1430:Public holidays in the Republic of Ireland 1337:Public holidays in the Republic of Ireland 1277: 1263: 1255: 700:Hungary, Szekler Transylvania, Csángó land 150: 141: 195:27 December (Eastern; Gregorian calendar) 128:Learn how and when to remove this message 891:Crump, William D. (15 September 2001). 854: 19:This article is about the feast day of 1160:Barreiro, Nicolas (26 December 2020). 1037:"Christmas in Ireland: The Wren Boys" 1003:from the original on 19 December 2018 782:several restaurants and dance halls. 657:. Similar to the adjacent regions of 460:. Mumming is also a big tradition in 7: 1187:Zaugra, Nicolas (26 December 2017). 294:It is an official public holiday in 201:9 January (Eastern; Julian calendar) 66:adding citations to reliable sources 432:which link episodes in the life of 279:used in secular contexts. In Latin 929:The Top 40 Traditions of Christmas 318:in those countries that celebrate 14: 999:. Irish Times. 18 December 2018. 899:(3 ed.). McFarland. p.  862:Lopez, Jadwiga (1 January 1977). 16:26 December in the Western church 1055:"Saint Stephen's Day in Ireland" 977:from the original on 7 July 2017 812: 283:, Saint Stephen's Day marks the 42: 259:, celebrated on 26 December in 53:needs additional citations for 641:is a public holiday in mainly 483:, the day is usually known as 1: 1369:Additional Bank holidays in 971:"Public holidays in Ireland" 579:Catalan-speaking territories 1291:Public holidays across all 1229:"27 Декември - Стефановден" 866:. World Book Encyclopedia. 342:Saint Stephen's Day is the 1458: 1435:Public holidays in Croatia 1285:Public holidays in Ireland 927:McLaughlan, David (2012). 895:The Christmas Encyclopedia 736:Saint Stephen is also the 670:Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag 302:, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 18: 838:Saint Stephen's Day bandy 799: 410:(Saint Stephen's Day) or 269:Eastern Orthodox churches 149: 864:Christmas in Scandinavia 402:, the holiday is called 957:Encyclopædia Britannica 558:escudella i carn d'olla 503:Saint Stephen's Day in 358:Celebrations by country 281:Christian denominations 931:. Barbour Publishing. 771: 750:Bosnia and Herzegovina 693: 685: 677: 669: 636: 621: 570: 556: 546: 539:) on 26 December is a 534: 510: 424: 413: 405: 388: 339: 251:, the first Christian 241:Feast of Saint Stephen 162:Feast of Saint Stephen 1087:, 29 December 2017). 1071:, 26 December 2019). 647:Archdiocese of Vienna 618:Saint Stephen's Day ( 531:Saint Stephen's Day ( 370: 333: 314:. The date is also a 192:26 December (Western) 189:25 December (Armenia) 77:"Saint Stephen's Day" 27:. For the episode of 1420:December observances 686:druhý svátek vánoční 541:holiday in Catalonia 265:Eastern Christianity 261:Western Christianity 62:improve this article 25:Stephen I of Hungary 1425:January observances 1394:Summer Bank Holiday 1384:Spring Bank Holiday 1326:Saint Stephen's Day 1306:Saint Patrick's Day 1246:Saint Stephen's Day 1217:. plovdivguide.com. 953:"St. Stephen's Day" 833:Good King Wenceslas 820:Christianity portal 393:Republic of Ireland 344:second or third day 308:Republic of Ireland 271:that adhere to the 263:and 27 December in 237:Saint Stephen's Day 145:Saint Stephen's Day 33:The Feast of Steven 1345:Saint Brigid's Day 1250:IrishFestivals.net 1107:, December 2009). 1057:. TimeAndDate.com. 614:Alsace and Moselle 592:Carolingian Empire 406:Lá Fhéile Stiofáin 389: 340: 277:Gregorian calendar 239:, also called the 1402: 1401: 1125:www.britannia.com 938:978-1-62029-108-5 694:drugi dzień świąt 352:Christian martyrs 243:, is a Christian 234: 233: 138: 137: 130: 112: 1447: 1371:Northern Ireland 1279: 1272: 1265: 1256: 1233: 1232: 1225: 1219: 1218: 1211: 1205: 1204: 1202: 1200: 1184: 1178: 1177: 1175: 1173: 1157: 1151: 1150: 1148: 1146: 1135: 1129: 1128: 1117: 1111: 1097: 1091: 1081: 1075: 1065: 1059: 1058: 1051: 1045: 1044: 1043:on 3 April 2013. 1039:. Archived from 1033: 1027: 1026: 1019: 1013: 1012: 1010: 1008: 993: 987: 986: 984: 982: 967: 961: 960: 949: 943: 942: 924: 918: 917: 898: 888: 882: 881: 859: 822: 817: 816: 801: 742:Republika Srpska 732:Republika Srpska 714:furs and used a 643:Catholic Austria 639: 624: 622:la Saint Étienne 575: 561: 551: 537: 513: 511:Gŵyl San Steffan 489:Northern Ireland 487:, especially in 479:in the north of 462:County Fermanagh 427: 416: 408: 300:Balearic Islands 167:Observed by 154: 142: 133: 126: 122: 119: 113: 111: 70: 46: 38: 1457: 1456: 1450: 1449: 1448: 1446: 1445: 1444: 1405: 1404: 1403: 1398: 1364: 1360:October Holiday 1330: 1286: 1283: 1242: 1237: 1236: 1231:. imen-den.net. 1227: 1226: 1222: 1213: 1212: 1208: 1198: 1196: 1186: 1185: 1181: 1171: 1169: 1159: 1158: 1154: 1144: 1142: 1137: 1136: 1132: 1119: 1118: 1114: 1098: 1094: 1082: 1078: 1066: 1062: 1053: 1052: 1048: 1035: 1034: 1030: 1021: 1020: 1016: 1006: 1004: 995: 994: 990: 980: 978: 969: 968: 964: 951: 950: 946: 939: 926: 925: 921: 911: 890: 889: 885: 874: 861: 860: 856: 851: 818: 811: 808: 788: 764: 734: 702: 678:Tweede kerstdag 632: 616: 600: 529: 501: 430:Irish mythology 365: 360: 328: 298:, Austria, the 273:Julian calendar 247:to commemorate 217:Related to 204: 134: 123: 117: 114: 71: 69: 59: 47: 36: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1455: 1454: 1451: 1443: 1442: 1437: 1432: 1427: 1422: 1417: 1407: 1406: 1400: 1399: 1397: 1396: 1391: 1386: 1381: 1375: 1373: 1366: 1365: 1363: 1362: 1357: 1355:August Holiday 1352: 1347: 1341: 1339: 1332: 1331: 1329: 1328: 1323: 1318: 1313: 1308: 1303: 1301:New Year's Day 1297: 1295: 1288: 1287: 1284: 1282: 1281: 1274: 1267: 1259: 1253: 1252: 1241: 1240:External links 1238: 1235: 1234: 1220: 1206: 1179: 1152: 1130: 1112: 1092: 1076: 1060: 1046: 1028: 1014: 988: 962: 944: 937: 919: 909: 883: 872: 853: 852: 850: 847: 846: 845: 840: 835: 830: 824: 823: 807: 804: 787: 784: 763: 760: 733: 730: 701: 698: 631: 628: 615: 612: 599: 596: 528: 525: 500: 497: 493:County Donegal 425:Lá an Dreoilín 414:Lá an Dreoilín 400:Irish language 364: 361: 359: 356: 327: 324: 316:public holiday 296:Alsace-Moselle 232: 231: 223:(concurrent), 218: 214: 213: 210: 206: 205: 203: 202: 199: 196: 193: 190: 186: 184: 180: 179: 176: 172: 171: 168: 164: 163: 160: 156: 155: 147: 146: 136: 135: 50: 48: 41: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1453: 1452: 1441: 1438: 1436: 1433: 1431: 1428: 1426: 1423: 1421: 1418: 1416: 1415:Christmastide 1413: 1412: 1410: 1395: 1392: 1390: 1387: 1385: 1382: 1380: 1377: 1376: 1374: 1372: 1367: 1361: 1358: 1356: 1353: 1351: 1348: 1346: 1343: 1342: 1340: 1338: 1333: 1327: 1324: 1322: 1321:Christmas Day 1319: 1317: 1314: 1312: 1311:Easter Monday 1309: 1307: 1304: 1302: 1299: 1298: 1296: 1294: 1289: 1280: 1275: 1273: 1268: 1266: 1261: 1260: 1257: 1251: 1247: 1244: 1243: 1239: 1230: 1224: 1221: 1216: 1210: 1207: 1194: 1190: 1183: 1180: 1167: 1163: 1156: 1153: 1140: 1134: 1131: 1126: 1122: 1116: 1113: 1110: 1106: 1102: 1096: 1093: 1090: 1086: 1085:Donegal Daily 1080: 1077: 1074: 1070: 1064: 1061: 1056: 1050: 1047: 1042: 1038: 1032: 1029: 1024: 1018: 1015: 1002: 998: 992: 989: 976: 972: 966: 963: 958: 954: 948: 945: 940: 934: 930: 923: 920: 916: 912: 910:9780786468270 906: 902: 897: 896: 887: 884: 880: 875: 873:9780716620037 869: 865: 858: 855: 848: 844: 841: 839: 836: 834: 831: 829: 826: 825: 821: 815: 810: 805: 803: 797: 793: 785: 783: 779: 777: 773: 769: 761: 759: 757: 756: 755:Dan Republike 751: 747: 743: 739: 731: 729: 727: 724: 723: 717: 713: 709: 708: 699: 697: 695: 691: 687: 683: 679: 675: 671: 667: 662: 660: 656: 652: 649:, the day of 648: 644: 640: 638: 629: 627: 625: 623: 613: 611: 609: 608:Easter Monday 605: 597: 595: 593: 588: 587:Valencia area 584: 583:Festa Mitjana 580: 576: 574: 573: 566: 562: 560: 559: 552: 550: 549: 542: 538: 536: 526: 524: 522: 518: 514: 512: 506: 498: 496: 494: 490: 486: 482: 478: 473: 471: 467: 463: 459: 455: 451: 450:County Galway 447: 443: 439: 435: 431: 426: 421: 417: 415: 409: 407: 401: 396: 394: 386: 382: 378: 374: 369: 362: 357: 355: 353: 349: 348:Christmastide 345: 337: 336:Saint Stephen 332: 325: 323: 321: 317: 313: 309: 305: 301: 297: 292: 290: 289:Christmastide 286: 282: 278: 274: 270: 266: 262: 258: 254: 250: 249:Saint Stephen 246: 242: 238: 230: 226: 225:Christmastide 222: 219: 215: 211: 207: 200: 197: 194: 191: 188: 187: 185: 181: 177: 173: 169: 165: 161: 157: 153: 148: 143: 140: 132: 129: 121: 118:December 2016 110: 107: 103: 100: 96: 93: 89: 86: 82: 79: –  78: 74: 73:Find sources: 67: 63: 57: 56: 51:This article 49: 45: 40: 39: 34: 30: 26: 22: 21:Saint Stephen 1440:Saints' days 1350:June Holiday 1325: 1223: 1209: 1197:. 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In the 585:. In the 470:pantomime 304:Catalonia 209:Frequency 178:Christian 1001:Archived 975:Archived 843:Wren Day 806:See also 792:Bulgaria 786:Bulgaria 548:canelons 420:Wren Day 373:Wren Day 229:Wren Day 1316:May Day 1293:Ireland 1193:actu.fr 1101:Donegal 768:Finnish 762:Finland 722:bokréta 716:bagpipe 707:regélés 659:Bavaria 604:precept 481:Ireland 446:New Inn 442:mummers 436:to the 398:In the 391:In the 385:Ireland 363:Ireland 326:History 102:scholar 935:  907:  870:  776:sleigh 690:Polish 666:German 565:turkey 477:Ulster 466:Ulster 454:Dingle 452:, and 377:Dingle 267:. The 253:martyr 212:Annual 104:  97:  90:  83:  75:  31:, see 879:1050. 682:Czech 674:Dutch 598:Italy 577:. In 567:, or 521:holly 505:Wales 499:Wales 434:Jesus 109:JSTOR 95:books 1201:2022 1174:2022 1147:2022 1009:2020 983:2017 933:ISBN 905:ISBN 868:ISBN 590:the 572:capó 491:and 438:wren 183:Date 175:Type 81:news 1248:at 1166:RTL 1103:? 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Index

Saint Stephen
Stephen I of Hungary
The Feast of Steven

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"Saint Stephen's Day"
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Boxing Day
Christmastide
Wren Day
saint's day
Saint Stephen
martyr
protomartyr
Western Christianity
Eastern Christianity
Eastern Orthodox churches
Julian calendar
Gregorian calendar
Christian denominations
second day
Christmastide

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