Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada Happy Boxing Day.

Just that, anyone care to explain the day?

Merry Christmas, Richard.

Boxing Day is very hard to describe. These days, it's a holiday that many European and Commonwealth nations observe. It is based on a religious celebration, St. Stephen's Day, which is December 26th.

Stephen lived at the time of Jesus. He was a Jew who converted to Christianity. Stephen was stoned to death a few years after Jesus was crucified for defending the old and criticizing the religious leadership of the day. Their anger resulted in his death for speaking out.

Many people sing about him, but are unaware of his significance. Stephen was recognized by older Christian churches as the first Christian martyr. He died in service of God.

In the first verse of the song, Good King Wenceslas, it mentions that Wenceslas looks out on his people the day after Christmas, sees their difficulties and calls his servant to fetch food, drink and wood to bring comfort to the poor. This "King" was actually a real life prince who lived about 1200 years ago in what is now Czechoslovakia.

Good King Wenceslas looked out
on the feast of Stephen,
when the snow lay round about,
deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shown the moon that night,
though the frost was cruel,
when a poor man came in sight,
gathering winter fuel.

The Feast of Stephen is celebrated mostly in Europe but was big in the UK, so places like Canada, Australia and other Commonwealth nations observe it. The original theme has changed however. What used to be a day when the 'well to do' gave money and food to the poor (and the rich gave money to their servants) has changed.

It became a holiday in many places around the world. The religious significance of it is only observed by a few, primarily Europeans.

In Canada, stores open and people return or exchange items. That morphed into 'Boxing Day Sales', so, like other religious observances, business found a way to turn a profit. No doubt, if Stephen was alive today he would speak out against the commercialism of the birth of Christ.

Thank you Steve.

My pleasure. Happy New Year!

I knew about St Stephen, but I didn't connect the two.

I don't think too many people do. In the Catholic faith, there are more than 800 saints and the path to sainthood confuses almost everyone. I think most of us just wait until the Vatican announces the new ones and don't think too much more about it.

All Christians are saints.