Gift day

Gift day.The second day of Christmas in the church calendar is dedicated to Saint Stephen. Traditionally, on this day, boxes of donations were opened in churches, and their contents were distributed to the poor. Earlier on this day, servants were sent home for a festive dinner with their family. In fact, the holiday is an additional weekend after Christmas.

In the Middle Ages in rural areas of England on St. Stefan was bloodied by pets. They believed that such a tool works well on the health of animals and retains their strength during heavy work. Previously, some old people on this day let themselves bleed to maintain health for the whole year. Until the end of XIX in some areas of Wales on this day, men whipped naked hands and feet of women in large bundles of prickly sheep - until blood appeared. In Montgomershire, he was beaten with bundles by the last person to rise on that day.

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