Happy Feast of Stephen. Happy 2nd Day of Christmas. Happy Boxing Day. Happy Day of Clergy Rest. Happy Holidays.
#Stephen
#Wenceslas
#BoxingDay
#Rest

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bMmxhhfQw0c

Good King #Wenceslas looked out….today.

#Christmas
#feastofstephen
#ststpehen

Today’s my favourite day in the #ChristmasTide — the feast of Stephen (#BoxingDay or #WrenDay as it commonly known).
But why do I like the #FeastOfStephen so much? Two reasons and it’s not really about the Saint or the day:
1. My favourite #Christmas song is #GoodKingWenceslas — it is a beautiful song, with an iconic melody; the song is set on this day “Good King #Wenceslas looked out, On the Feast of Stephen” In fact I like St Wenceslas far more than St Stephen, but that’s another story.
2. This reason is the one I like the most. There is an odd tradition in #England to give unnamed parliamentary buildings the name of “St Stephen’s (insert building here)” — why? Well let’s look at who St Stephen was (in brief).
He is considered the first #Christian #Martyr or known as “Protomartyr”. He he was a deacon in the early #Church at Jerusalem who angered members of various synagogues by his teachings. Accused of blasphemy at his trial, he made a speech denouncing the authorities and was stoned to death in 36 AD.
I was told by an officer of the Houses of Parliament the #myth is that his name is used because he stood for justice and truth, as the Mother Parliament should. An irony — even from its inception and especially today.

And there we go; happy Boxing Day / Feast of Stephen.

#Histodon #histodons #folklore #MythologyMonday @folklore @histodons @mythologymonday @mythologybot

I think a 70s childhood made one very used to melancholy / tragic story endings. I was an adult when I realized that Good King #Wenceslas and his page don't actually walk to their deaths in the storm, and there's nothing to suggest that they and the peasant don't have a Merry Christmas and live happily ever after. I spent years with a lump in my throat about their sacrifice... 🤦‍♂️

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64078143 Sponsoring winter fuel - a bit early for the Feast of Stephen though #wenceslas

A Spotify playlist of 18 different versions of the best #Holiday song ever, Good King #Wenceslas?

You are welcome

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4zNXLOpGRoFsEHns4T9nhe?si=O_W68t7UR8mX8rVqoPQ4zA&pt=877d7bbce9b98dc88a84dd4c4099f242