THE FEAST OF STEPHEN. Yes, that's the one that Good King Wenceslaus looked out upon. In much of the British Empire, the Feast of Stephen, 26 December, is also Boxing Day. Econoclast explains that Boxing Day is not a primitive form of re-gifting for altruistic purposes. This Boxing Day page explains one version of the tradition. Snopes compiles several explanations.

And what happens in the U.K. when Christmas or the Feast of Stephen come at weekends? Extra Bank Holiday Mondays, which sometimes last until Tuesday.

In the States, when Christmas comes on a Sunday, the Packers may be compelled to play. Bah and humbug. Pro football is supposed to be done before January 1, in order for the college season to end on January 1. Oh, and preferably in a genuinely warm-weather location. The early forecast for Thursday has warmer game-time temperatures in DeKalb than in San Jose.