The name St Stephen's Green originates from a church called St Stephen's in that area in the thirteenth century. Attached to the church was a leper hospital.
Stephen's Green was used to dig trenches during 1916. “The rebels dug trenches, probably at the four entranceways and other places – the written sources aren't very specific about where they were.” Dr. Brück added that with it being a Victorian park, the Irish Citizens Army takeover of the area was quite symbolic.
Once a marshy common, it was the site of witch burnings, cattle grazing, and centuries of reinvention. From its 17th-century enclosure to its 19th-century transformation by Lord Ardilaun, the Green has evolved into a park rich with history, monuments, and curious corners that tell Dublin's story in miniature.
Saint Stephen's Day is the second day of Christmastide and is celebrated in honour of one of the first Christian martyrs, Saint Stephen, who was stoned to death in 36 AD.
Why is Boxing Day called St. Stephen's Day in Ireland?
Explanations for the origin of the name have varied, with some believing that it derived from the opening of alms boxes that had been placed in churches for the collection of donations to aid the poor. Others, however, have held that it came from the boxes of gifts given to employees on the day after Christmas.
Sites of 1916: St Stephen's Green & the Royal College of Surgeons
What does wren mean in Irish?
The Irish for wren, dreoilín, evolved from draoi-éan, meaning prophetic bird or druid bird and this reiterates that fact. Of course, this bird was also associated with the betrayal of St Stephen and thus was hunted on the saint's feast day.
Boxing Day appears to be a culmination of a series of related events, rather than one singular entity. It arguably stems from the giving of boxed alms on St Stephens Day and the later tradition of the wealthy giving gifts to their servants on the day after Christmas.
A Marshy Common. The name St Stephen's Green originates from a church called St Stephen's in that area in the thirteenth century. Attached to the church was a leper hospital.
Stephen, or Saint Stephen, was a learned preacher known for his articulate speeches. He was condemned to death by stoning in Jerusalem for blasphemy, making him the first Christian martyr after the death of Christ.
In the Western Christian church Boxing Day is celebrated on 26 December, the Feast of St Stephen. Saint Stephen was the first Christian martyr and one of seven deacons appointed by the Apostles to distribute food and charitable aid to the poor.
Due to its association with the British Army, it was nicknamed "Traitor's Gate" by Irish nationalists. During the 1916 Easter Rising, the arch was damaged by gunfire, and bullet holes can still be seen on the north side of the arch, serving as a reminder of its tumultuous history.
The Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed city park in Europe with an area of 707 ha. It is also one of Dublin's oldest parks. The park was created in 1662 when James Butler, Duke of Ormonde enclosed the lands and stocked it with fallow deer from England.
St Stephen's Green. In the very centre of Dublin's shopping district lies one of Ireland's best-known public parks. Lord Ardilaun opened it for the citizens of the city in 1880.
24 April 1916: The Rising begins on Easter Monday. Padraig Pearse reads the proclamation of the Irish Republic outside the General Post Office, the rebels' headquarters. 24–29 April: Around 2500 republicans occupy strategic positions around Dublin and engage in battle with 20,000 British soldiers.
During the Easter Rising of 1916, a group of rebels made up mainly of members of the Irish Citizen Army, under the command of Commandant Michael Mallin, his second-in-command Kit Poole, and Constance Markievicz, established a position in St Stephen's Green. They numbered between 200 and 250.
Saint Augustine relates that the blessed Stephen was glorified by numberless miracles. Seven times he brought back the dead to life, and cured a multitude of the sick.
As Stephen was being brutally stoned, he spoke his last words, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Words which echoed the very words of Jesus on the Cross. Following those words, Stephen died, in the Lord.
a seated statue of (Arthur Edward Guinness), also known as Lord Ardilaun (the man who gave the park to the city as a gift) a bronze statue of Theobald Wolfe Tone, the leader of the 1798 rebellion, as well as a statue of later rebel leader of Robert Emmet which faces the house where he was born.
Stephen's Green is one of Dublin's premier shopping centres, offering shoppers a wealthy selection of shops and eateries right in the heart of the city centre. One of Dublin's most prominent shopping centres, Stephen's Green is located in the heart of the city centre at the south end of Grafton Street.
Boxing Day, celebrated the day after Christmas on December 26th, is a cherished holiday for many, especially in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In the UK, we've had official bank holidays since 1871, when they were formally recognised by an Act of Parliament. On these days, banks were allowed to close, which is where the name comes from.
Although Americans don't recognize Boxing Day as a holiday, people in many other parts of the world, including Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, and Australia, look forward to the day after Christmas each year. Let's take a look at a few of the theories about the origins of Boxing Day.
