BOXING DAY HISTORY Boxing Day is a holiday traditionally celebrated the day following Christmas Day, when servants and trades people would receive gifts, known as a Christmas box, from their bosses or employers, in the United Kingdom, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, South Africa, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and other Commonwealth nations. Today, Boxing Day is the bank holiday that generally takes place on 26 December. In South Africa, Boxing Day was renamed Day of Goodwill in 1994. Due to the Roman Catholic Churchs liturgical calendar, the day is known as St. Stephens Day to Catholics, and in Italy, Finland, and Alsace and Moselle in France. It is also known as both St. Stephens Day and the Day of the Wren or Wrens Day in Ireland. In many European countries, including notably Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and those in Scandinavia, 26 December is celebrated as the Second Christmas Day. Origins The exact etymology of the term boxing day is unclear. There are several competing theories, none of which is definitive. The European tradition, which has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions, has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown. It is believed to be in reference to the Alms Box placed in places of worship to collect donations to the poor. Also, it may come from a custom in the late Roman/early Christian era, wherein metal boxes placed outside churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen, which in the Western Church falls on the same day as Boxing Day. In Britain, it was a custom for trades people to collect Christmas boxes of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. This is mentioned in Samuel Pepys diary entry for 19 December 1663. This custom is linked to an older English tradition: since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 06:48:41 +0000
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