Christmas Day

Boxing Day, St Stephen's Day in United Kingdom, for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020.

United Kingdom	2018	2019	2020
Boxing Day, St Stephen's Day	Wednesday 26th December	Thursday 26th December	Saturday 26th December

Boxing Day, St Stephen's Day

The History of Boxing Day, St Stephen's Day

Boxing Day, St Stephen's Day is a holiday taking place on the 26th of December each year and is a national holiday in the UK. The origins of this holiday on the 26th of December are largely shrouded in mystery, but despite the controversy over how St Stephen's Day got its name and meaning it has remained an important national holiday for the UK and its former colonies. Celebrated by Christians as the Feast of Saint Stephen, this holiday has remained popular across Europe and in many countries the Feast of Saint Stephen is celebrated as the second Christmas Day.

The Feast of Saint Stephen and Christmas Boxes

The 26th of December has often been seen in the UK and across Europe as the day when the poor and needy have been provided with charitable donations by churches. St Stephen's Day, which falls on the 26th of December was often the day Churches would provide alms for the needy after Christmas services and collections had been completed. Often given as the reason for the name Boxing Day, the feast of Saint Stephen was often the day collection boxes were opened and the proceeds given to the needy within a community.

Boxing Day saw gifts provided for staff and tradespeople

The many competing theories for the history of Boxing Day include the use of St Stephen's Day as a time when families would serve their staff and provide them with boxed gifts. The Feast of Saint Stephen on the 26th of December was thus renamed Boxing Day because a Holiday bonus would be provided on St Stephen's Day.The 26th of December is a day of rest with the feast of Saint Stephen remaining a national holiday.