Why do Northern Irish Nationalists call St.Stephens or Stephens Day, Boxing Day?

[ONeill]

Boxing Day for me. Im a fundamentalist.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

To those who say its all irrelevant....

The St Stephen's Day/Boxing Day thing is a small example of how the "Irishness" of northern nationalists has been eroded away. On its own, its a tiny matter, but its death by a thousand cuts. I thank the Irish News for their persistance with the name.

We're working on that, though in reverse, something like (misplaced) restitution by a thousand-and-a-half bandages...

Craic --> from crack, ye olde English folk worde, for example 

[Evil Genius]

Even Evil Genuis seems to use less Britishisms than many so called Irish nationalists I meet, tbh lots of these types up in Dublin too.

Do you mean by that that my posts are composed in the language/terminology/vernacular which I was brought up to use, rather than, say, something which a poster from England, or Scotland or Wales might come up with?

If so, why should that be any surprise? For as I seemingly can never repeat enough, I am Irish - something which would be immediately obvious if you were to hear me speak.

Of course, if you want to be more specific, I am actually Northern Irish, which means that I am also British, both by birth and by (continuing) choice, but that does not detract from my essential Irishness, it is merely recognition that I come from one of the four nations which make up the United Kingdom.  Therefore, whilst I can have absolutely nothing against any of my fellow Britons (obviously), nonetheless I resent any attempt to suggest that by asserting my Britishness when appropriate, that is in some way making me "more English" (or Scottish or - God Forbid - Welsh).

In other words, the UK is a Union, not a Merger or an Amalgamation.

Oh and as for those Irish Nationalists or Dublin types you meet who frequently do employ what you term "Britishisms" in preference to their native idiom, then I can only assume that they are what my old history teacher would have called "amadauns". I occasionally meet their equivalent in England, too, where they are known as "prats" - the world is full of them.

P.S. The Wren Boys may appear to be a quaint old custom and I remember my mother telling me it was common enough in parts of the country in her childhood, but she didn't altogether approve, since it actually involved hunting and killing the poor defenceless and inoffensive "crettur" itself.

[theskull1]

How the hell did this get to 6 pages?

[armaghniac]

I am actually Northern Irish, which means that I am also British

you should look at the snow thread, there are also some geographically challenged posters there!

[leaveherinsir]

Why do Northern Irish Nationalists call St.Stephens or Stephens Day, Boxing Day? Cannot understand this, have met quite a few recently who didn't even know what I was talking about when I said Stephens Day.

Is it more common up in the 6 to call it Boxing Day rather than Stephens Day?

YES! End of thread then? 

[ONeill]

We speak, and are writing, in English so we may as well embrace their holidays too, and TV programmes, and soccer teams, and supermarkets.

[Evil Genius]

I am actually Northern Irish, which means that I am also British

you should look at the snow thread, there are also some geographically challenged posters there!

Eh? 

P.S. I might have mentioned earlier that growing up in NI, I always knew it as Boxing Day, though coming from a mixed area, I would occasionally hear "themmuns" refer to it as St. Stephen's Day. I don't know how I managed to withstand the trauma, offence and confusion...

[Zapatista]

 
Just talking to the woman about this today. Was listening to the wireless and ad for Leopardstown came on. Big race on stephens's day The Saint has been dropped day and as someone else pointed out they can't say it properly. Rather than call it St. Stephen's Day it's called Stephens's day. I had her practicing saying St. Stephen's Day which she did well when she tried but eventually reverted back to Stephens's Day

[Evil Genius]

Just talking to the woman about this today. Was listening to the wireless and ad for Leopardstown came on. Big race on stephens's day The Saint has been dropped day and as someone else pointed out they can't say it properly. Rather than call it St. Stephen's Day it's called Stephens's day. I had her practicing saying St. Stephen's Day which she did well when she tried but eventually reverted back to Stephens's Day

Leopardstown?

Don't you mean Kempton Park? 

http://www.kinggeorgechase.com/

[mylestheslasher]

Even Evil Genuis seems to use less Britishisms than many so called Irish nationalists I meet, tbh lots of these types up in Dublin too.

Do you mean by that that my posts are composed in the language/terminology/vernacular which I was brought up to use, rather than, say, something which a poster from England, or Scotland or Wales might come up with?

If so, why should that be any surprise? For as I seemingly can never repeat enough, I am Irish - something which would be immediately obvious if you were to hear me speak.

Of course, if you want to be more specific, I am actually Northern Irish, which means that I am also British, both by birth and by (continuing) choice, but that does not detract from my essential Irishness, it is merely recognition that I come from one of the four nations which make up the United Kingdom.  Therefore, whilst I can have absolutely nothing against any of my fellow Britons (obviously), nonetheless I resent any attempt to suggest that by asserting my Britishness when appropriate, that is in some way making me "more English" (or Scottish or - God Forbid - Welsh).

In other words, the UK is a Union, not a Merger or an Amalgamation.

Oh and as for those Irish Nationalists or Dublin types you meet who frequently do employ what you term "Britishisms" in preference to their native idiom, then I can only assume that they are what my old history teacher would have called "amadauns". I occasionally meet their equivalent in England, too, where they are known as "prats" - the world is full of them.

P.S. The Wren Boys may appear to be a quaint old custom and I remember my mother telling me it was common enough in parts of the country in her childhood, but she didn't altogether approve, since it actually involved hunting and killing the poor defenceless and inoffensive "crettur" itself.

Good post EG.

I get of work next Thursday and I can tell Ye I won't have a clue what day it us between then and the 4th Jan when I go back.  Once the order goes out of the week I am lost.

[Bogball XV]

P.S. I might have mentioned earlier that growing up in NI, I always knew it as Boxing Day, though coming from a mixed area, I would occasionally hear "themmuns" refer to it as St. Stephen's Day. I don't know how I managed to withstand the trauma, offence and confusion...

I almost never heard anyone refer to the day as Stephen's Day until I arrived in Dublin.  Now, I call it whichever term I think the other party/(ies) in the conversation will understand.  It is yet another major difference between north and south, but I think with work, this is one that can be overcome.

[Zapatista]

Leopardstown?

Don't you mean Kempton Park? 

http://www.kinggeorgechase.com/

No, if I was I wouldn't have needed to be so specific.

It is yet another major difference between north and south, but I think with work, this is one that can be overcome.

No way. It's one of the few things I have left

[BennyHarp]

Why do Southern Irish Nationalists call St Patricks Day, Paddys Day!

[Bogball XV]

Leopardstown?

Don't you mean Kempton Park? 

http://www.kinggeorgechase.com/

No, if I was I wouldn't have needed to be so specific.

It is yet another major difference between north and south, but I think with work, this is one that can be overcome.

No way. It's one of the few things I have left

Obviously I meant that I refer to the day in question in the opposite way to that which I know the other party/(ies) in the conversation will understand, it's better craic and often leads to an argument like the last 7 pages.