Boxing Day is celebrated on the first or second day after Christmas, usually December 26th depending on national or regional laws. It is a constitutional holiday in many countries such as in United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and some other Commonwealth nations. According to Wikipedia it is “a day (…) when wealthy people in the United Kingdom would give a box containing a gift to their servants.” If it falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the working day immediately preceding or following Boxing Day is considered a legal holiday.
Boxing Day is also known as the Feast of St. Stephen (after the first Christian martyr), started in England in the nineteenth century. It originated as a holiday for members of the market people to give boxes containing food and fruit, clothing, and/or money to poor people and servants. The gifts were an expression of gratitude comparable to the bonuses many employers offer their employees today. These gifts, usually given in boxes, gave the holiday its name, “Boxing Day.”
Also related to the origin of Boxing Day is the tradition of opening the donation boxes in churches due to the Christmas season. The contents of these boxes were distributed for the poor, by the clergy, the following day after Christmas.
Today, Boxing Day is a time for family and friends to be together sharing food and fun. Outdoor sports such as soccer, horse racing and hunting are popular on this holiday. Retailers offer huge savings on many items on this day, making it the biggest shopping day of the year in Canada.
Throughout the Christmas season, many organizations keep the original tradition of Boxing Day alive by donating their time, energy, and money to fill the Food Bank and provide gifts for the poor.
Sources: Wikipedia and calendar-updates – Picture: http://homepages.tesco.net/~derek.berger/holidays/boxingday.html
Hey ya,
It is interesting to know about this. I had never heard of the Boxing Day. Thanks for sharing one more cultural thing with us. It makes me feel like I’ve been learning even when I’m vacaitioning. Miss classroom already!
See you.
Excellent article, thanks!