Today is Boxing Day in much of the English speaking world, so I thought I’d share a bit on its origins that I just came across.
“Boxing Day is so called because on this day it was the customary for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for good service throughout the year. Also, it included giving money and other gifts to charitable institutions, and the needy.
The holiday may date from as early as the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is not known. It may have begun with the Lords and Ladies of England, who gave there Christmas boxes/gifts to their servants on December 26, or maybe by priests, who opened the church’s alms (charity boxes), and distributed the contents to the poor and needy.”
The holiday may date from as early as the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is not known. It may have begun with the Lords and Ladies of England, who gave there Christmas boxes/gifts to their servants on December 26, or maybe by priests, who opened the church’s alms (charity boxes), and distributed the contents to the poor and needy.”
1 comment on “Boxing Day”
its interesting to read this today. Last night, at christmas dinner, my stepfather (who is English) and my stepbrother (who lived in England for 2 years recently) were in a long and tedious argument about whether or not England has its Boxing Day on the 26th or the 27th.
Now, on the one hand, my s.father was born and raised in England, it would seem he would know what he is saying. But he left in the 70’s – and as far as I know has not been back – whereas my s.brother was living there much more recently, and it is possible something changed over there in the interval.
Personally, I’ve only been there in the summer, so my position was just to grown more and more bored and annoyed by their combined lack of proof or persuasive arguments…. any ideas here?