December 26 is a public holiday in many parts of the world, known as Boxing Day in Catholic countries and as “Boxing Day” in Catholic countries. Boxing Day in the Anglo-Saxons.
This day is full of significance, both religious and social, but its origin and accompanying traditions vary from nation to nation.
Saint Stephen, first Christian martyr
In tradition Catholic and in some Protestant churches, December 26 is dedicated to Saint Stephen, considered the first martyr of Christianity. The name “Stephen” derives from the Greek “στεφανος” (stephanos), meaning “crown” or “crowned”, a symbol of his spiritual victory as a martyr. Today, Saint Stephen is the patron saint of deacons, bakers and people with headaches. His main iconographic symbols are the palm and the stones, which recall the martyrdom he suffered.
Boxing Day celebrations in Europe
In many countries, such as Italy, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Denmark, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Romania, December 26 is a recognized public holiday.
In Italythis anniversary has become a public holiday since 1949, even if the decision to do so is not religious. Unlike Christmas, in fact, December 26 is not linked to an ecclesiastical precept, but was established to guarantee an extension of rest and family celebrations in a period of great spiritual importance. This choice reflects a social and cultural need rather than a purely religious one.
In Pays anglo-saxonslike in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, December 26 is known as Boxing Day. Although the exact origin of the term is not certain, one of the most accredited theories links the name to the tradition of donating boxes (“boxes”) with gifts or money to the less fortunate , a practice that dates back to the Middle Ages On Boxing Day, employers would distribute gifts to their employees or make offerings to the poor. Today, Boxing Day is mostly associated with shopping, with big sales and bargains. stores, but it maintains also a link with sport, notably football and horse racing, which characterize this day in the United Kingdom.
December 26 is therefore a date that unites spirituality, tradition and modernity. Whether celebrated as Boxing Day or Boxing Day, it represents an opportunity to reflect on the values of sharing and memory, and to spend time in the company of family and friends, prolonging the festive atmosphere of Christmas.
