Saint Stephen's Day 2031

What is Saint Stephen's Day?

Saint Stephen's Day honours Stephen, described in the Acts of the Apostles as one of seven men chosen to serve the early Christian community in Jerusalem and as the first Christian martyr. According to Acts he was stoned to death after a speech before the Jewish council. Stephen is regarded as a patron of deacons and of stonemasons, and many churches and several cities bear his name. In the Gospel accounts and Acts, Stephen is remembered for forgiving those who killed him, and the feast has long been associated with charity and kindness to the poor.

The feast comes straight after Christmas Day in the Western calendar, which gave it a natural place in the Christmas season. In Austria, Italy, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Andorra, San Marino and the Vatican it is a public holiday, and in Ireland it is the name by which the day is known, rather than Boxing Day, with horse racing, football and visits to family as typical ways of spending it. In the Christmas context, the day also brings out folk customs such as carol singing, visits and blessings, depending on region, and it extends the festive period by one more day.

Why it is observed

Devotion to Stephen is among the oldest in Christianity, and the Western church placed his feast on 26 December, the day after the birth of Christ, as early as the fourth or fifth century, the idea being that the first martyr should follow immediately after the Lord. The carol Good King Wenceslas begins on the Feast of Stephen. In Ireland the day is associated with the Wren Boys, groups in costume who once went from door to door carrying a decorated bush or pole and collecting money, a custom that survives in a few places. In the Orthodox calendar, the feast of Stephen follows Christmas on the Julian calendar.

How the date is set

Saint Stephen's Day is fixed on 26 December in the Western church calendar. Orthodox churches commemorate Stephen on 27 December in the Julian calendar, which currently falls on 9 January in the civil calendar.

How it is observed

In countries where it is a public holiday, 26 December works like a Sunday: shops, banks and offices are closed and public transport is reduced. In rural parts of Austria, Italy and Croatia the day has traditional blessings of horses or wine linked to Stephen's name, while in towns it is mostly a family day and a time for post-Christmas travel. In the holiday period many people use it to continue journeys, so airports and railways can be busy even though services are reduced. The rules for extra pay or a substitute day vary by country and by employment contract.