Most people are too distracted thinking about Christmas sales and promos, they tend to forget the celebration of Epiphany. The Epiphany is the time after Christmas when the 3 Magi visited the Child Jesus. Back then, the Epiphany celebration had the twelve days Christ's birth when the church celebrates Christ being shown as the Light of the world and remembers the journey of the three wise men.
Families in countries different from the US start the Epiphany celebration by remembering others on St. Stephens Day. St. Stephen's Day is on December 26 and commemorates Stephen, Christianity's first martyr. You might read Stephen's life story in Acts 6, 7, & 8.
His convictions about the revelation of Christ in the world brought about his death. In the book of Acts, he was considered the first martyr among Christians. For hundreds of years, people of the Christian faith have remembered his faithfulness on December 26, the day after Christ's birth is celebrated. This day is for selfless care for people in need, the unwanted, who have no people to love them.
Along with your family, it's nice to also find a needy family or support group to render services the day after Christmas. When most people are out shopping, you can be different by showing that you care by bringing food or gifts to an impoverished family.
In countries like Britain and Canada, December 26th is known as Boxing Day and considered an official holiday there. When my kids first heard of it, they were thinking of celebrating boxing as a sport. They never thought that Boxing day was about the service of love.
During this day, boxes of food are given to people in. Back then food and necessities were given to servants from their masters. The Wenceslaus' spirit is shown when people celebrate with great happiness the manifestation of the Good News of Jesus' coming to the world.
Most of the time churches plan for this day by specifically rendering humanitarian services to the needy and thus show that God's Word requires good deeds to people near them. On this day, you can visibly see true love as people give to their fellow man.
Kris King offers free advent calendars with daily Christmas activities to prepare your family for Christmas. Your family will learn more about holiday traditions with some of the daily activities
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