St. Stephen, December 26
One of the first seven deacons of the Church of Jerusalem, Stephen preached boldly and was accused of blasphemy. He was stoned to death around 36, forgiving his killers, while a young man named Saul, the future St. Paul, looked on. He is the first Christian martyr.
On the General Roman Calendar, December 26 is a feast: Saint Stephen, the first martyr.
Name days on December 26
In countries that keep name days, December 26 is the day for people named Stephen, Steven, Stephanie, and Steve. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Stephen | December 26 |
| Steven | December 26 |
| Stephanie | December 26 |
| Steve | December 26 |
December 26 on the calendar
December 26 is the 360th day of the year (the 361st in a leap year), with 5 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday |
| 2027 | Sunday |
| 2028 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | Thursday |
Keeping December 26
December 26 falls in the Christmas season. As a feast, it is kept by the whole Church with its own readings and the Gloria at Mass. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Stephen, Steven, Stephanie, and Steve, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around December 26
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| December 23 | St. John of Kanty |
| December 24 | Sts. Adam and Eve |
| December 25 | Christmas |
| December 27 | St. John the Apostle |
| December 28 | Holy Innocents |
| December 29 | St. Thomas Becket |
The day before, December 25, is the day of Christmas. The day after, December 27, belongs to St. John the Apostle. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.