What is the history of Boxing Day?
What is Boxing Day all about?
- It always falls on December 26 each year
- As for the Boxing Day history: in the UK it has been a national holiday since 1871.
- In the Victorian era Christmas gift boxes were handed out to staff from their employers as they were thanked for their work throughout the year. ...
What is the origin of Boxing Day?
There are a few theories as to how boxing day began, the most common amongst them dating back around 800 years to the Middle Ages. During this period, it was common practice for churches to open alms boxes on the day after Christmas, distributing all the money inside amongst the poor.
What is the meaning of Canadian Boxing Day?
December 26, the day after Christmas, is the Feast of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr. It is also known as Boxing Day, a secular holiday celebrated in parts of the Commonwealth, including Canada. December 26, the day after Christmas, is the Feast of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
Why is Boxing Day called Boxing Day?
Why is Boxing Day called Boxing Day? In spite of its name, there is no direct link to the sport of fisticuffs, repackaging of presents or even stuffing all your prized possessions into boxes ready for the big house move. Instead, its name seems to stem from charitable acts from the Victorian age.
Why was Stephen chosen as a deacon?
What is the day after Christmas?
Where did mumming originate?
What is the day of St Stephen's Day?
Where did Boxing Day come from?
Is Boxing Day a secular holiday?
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Boxing Day in Canada in 2022 - Statutory holidays
Boxing Day in Canada In 2022 Boxing Day is on Monday, December 26th. Since Boxing Day is on a weekend, you will likely get a day off on the following Monday if you normally receive a day off for Boxing Day but you should check this with your employer.
Boxing Day in Canada - Monday, December 26, 2022
Boxing Day Facts & Quotes. According to retailresearch.org, in 2020, Boxing Day sales were down by -36.6% compared to sales made in 2019. 26 December is also St Stephen’s Day; commemorating the first Christian martyr Saint Stephen.According to the Acts of the Apostles Stephen was a deacon accused of blasphemy for his teachings.
What did the lords and aristocrats give to their servants and employees?
Another theory is on the day after Christmas, lords and aristocrats distributed holiday boxes to their servants and employees. Similar to holiday bonuses, Boxing Day gifts could have included money, small gifts such as a child’s toy, or leftover food from Christmas dinner.
What is the drink at a boxing party?
Common drinks at Boxing Day parties include red wines or ginger cocktails. However, a pint of beer at the pub is also a popular way to celebrate.
Why is it important to make a phone call?
A phone call can be a meaningful way to catch up and preserve relationships. Phone calls can be especially important for the elderly or isolated, having a tremendous impact on their well being. Boxing Day deals: Get started with Ooma.
What is the significance of December 26th?
One theory is that December 26th, also known as St. Stephen’s Day, was when the church distributed donations to the poor. These charitable gifts were collected throughout the Christmas season via alms boxes.
Where did Boxing Day originate?
It’s a secular holiday that occurs during the year-end holiday season. Although Boxing Day is celebrated in many countries, it originated in the United Kingdom. The holiday remains a tradition in many places that were formerly part of the British Empire.
When is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day is on December 26, the day after Christmas. In 2019, the day falls on a Thursday.
Is Boxing Day a federal holiday in Canada?
It’s easy to take Canadian Boxing Day for granted. It shows up on the calendar and we know that it’s a federal holiday in Canada, but what exactly is Boxing Day, what are its traditions and how do you celebrate? Let’s find out.
Why do churches put alms in boxes?
The tradition may come from a custom in the late Roman/early Christian era wherein alms boxes placed in churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen, which, in the Western Christian Churches, falls on the same day as Boxing Day, the second day of Christmastide.
Why is Boxing Day celebrated in Massachusetts?
Weld declared every 26 December is Boxing Day, in response to the efforts of a coalition of British citizens to "transport the English tradition to the United States", but not an employee holiday.
What is Boxing Day in New Zealand?
In East Donegal and Inishowen, the day is also popularly known as Boxing Day. In New Zealand, Boxing Day is a statutory holiday. On these holidays, people who must work receive 1 1/2 times their salaries and a day in lieu is provided to employees who work.
Why do people collect Christmas boxes?
In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen 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 British tradition where the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families since they would have had to serve their masters on Christmas Day. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts, bonuses, and sometimes leftover food. Until the late 20th century there continued to be a tradition among many in the UK to give a Christmas gift, usually cash, to vendors, although not on Boxing Day as many would not work on that day.
What is the meaning of the word "boxing day"?
For the genus of shrubs, see Sarcococca. For other uses, see Boxing Day (disambiguation). Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated the day after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide. Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts to the poor, today Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday.
Where did the alms box come from?
The tradition may come from a custom in the late Roman/early Christian era wherein alms boxes placed in churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen, which, in the Western Christian Churches, falls on the same day as Boxing Day, the second day of Christmastide. On this day, it is customary in some localities for the alms boxes to be opened and distributed to the poor.
Which countries play Boxing Day cricket?
In Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, Test cricket matches are played on Boxing Day. For more details see Boxing Day Test. In Australia, the first day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race are on Boxing Day.
Is Boxing Day a Public Holiday?
Boxing Day is a public holiday in 6 provinces and 3 territories, where it is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.
What is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day is a holiday in the United Kingdom and many countries (including Canada) that were once part of the British Empire. The origin of this holiday's name is not clear. In feudal times in the United Kingdom, the lord of the manor would 'pay' people who worked on his land in the past year with boxes practical goods, such as agricultural tools, food and cloth. These were often distributed on the day after Christmas Day. More recently, employers traditionally gave their servants a gift of money or food in a small box on the day after Christmas Day. Some people in Canada still give gifts to people who provide them with services.
Is Boxing Week open on Christmas Day?
Now, the sales often last for a whole week between Christmas Day and New Year's Eve and are known as the "Boxing Week Sales" instead of the "Boxing Day Sales". In some areas, particularly in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario, stores are not open on Boxing Day and the post-Christmas sales start ...
Where is the Spengler Cup played?
The Spengler Cup ice hockey tournament, which is played in Davos, Switzerland, is also shown on major sports television channels. The Canada national men's team has performed well in this event in recent years.
Is the post office closed on Boxing Day?
Post offices across the country are closed. As Boxing Day falls in the Christmas holiday period, schools are closed. Public transport services may run a normal or reduced service, or provide no service. When Boxing Day falls on a Sunday or Saturday that is a non-working day, workers are entitled to a holiday with pay on ...
Why are servants allowed to work after Christmas?
According to this theory, because the work of servants was required for the Christmas Day celebrations of their employers, they were allowed the following day for their own observance of the holiday.
What is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day, in Great Britain and some Commonwealth countries, particularly Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, holiday (December 26) on which servants, tradespeople, and the poor traditionally were presented with gifts. By the 21st century it had become a day associated with shopping and sporting events.
What is the official holiday of December 26?
When December 26 comes on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is designated as the official public holiday. December 26 is also the feast day of St. Stephen ( St. Stephen’s Day ), the patron saint of horses, and Boxing Day has come to be a day of sporting events, including horse races, foxhunting, and rugby.
What countries are Boxing Day in?
Boxing Day, in Great Britain and some Commonwealth countries, particularly Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, ...
Where did the name Fox Hunt come from?
Explanations for the origin of the name have varied, with some believing that it derived from the opening of alms boxes that had been placed in churches for the collection of donations to aid the poor.
Is December 26 a public holiday?
When December 26 comes on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is designated as the official public holiday. December 26 is also the feast day of St. Stephen ( St. Stephen’s Day ), the patron saint of horses, and Boxing Day has come to be a day of sporting events, including horse races, foxhunting, and rugby. Traditional foxhunting was modified in 2005 after the enactment of legislation in England and Wales that largely banned the use of hounds in hunts. The holiday was not perpetuated by the English in the American colonies.
How Is Boxing Day Celebrated Today?
These days, Boxing Day is regarded as a time to spend with family and friends, particularly those who you weren’t able to see on Christmas. This can include gathering for meals, drinking at pubs, or simply relaxing at home and enjoying the day off. In addition to the holiday’s emphasis on social connection, there are several other Boxing Day traditions that have evolved over the years.
What is the charity run on Boxing Day?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac explains that this includes everything from charity runs to the Boxing Day Dip, which is when adventurous participants dress in fancy clothes and take a dunk in the freezing cold sea.
What is the theme of Boxing Day?
It’s clear, however, that what they all have in common are themes of charity, gift-giving, and celebrations , which have lived on and is present in how this holiday is observed today.
Why is Boxing Day called Boxing Day?
Instead, the name derives from a time when wealthier people boxed up presents as offerings for the poor.
Is Boxing Day a day to overindulge?
Finally, Boxing Day is also recognized as a day to overindulge on Christmas leftovers. Families might invite guests over for a casual lunch featuring baked ham, Christmas cake, turkey sandwiches, roasted vegetables and other festive foods enjoyed the day before. In that sense, you might have already been celebrating the spirit of Boxing Day for years, without even knowing it!
Is Boxing Day a holiday?
For many Americans, Boxing Day is that holiday that always shows up on the calendar between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. The day might otherwise be pretty mysterious to most people around the U.S., where the holiday is not widely observed and where its origin and significance are not well known. In other parts of the world — like in the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand — residents widely observe the holiday.
Is Boxing Day a sport?
While Boxing Day still has nothing to do with the sport of boxing, it has now come to be associated with watching football. The BBC notes that before the days of television, Christmas Day would feature a full schedule of football matches for fans to attend after they had eaten. During the 1950’s however, attitudes towards playing sports on Christmas changed, and the last football match to take place on Christmas occurred in 1957. Since then, Boxing Day has become the time for sports fans to get their fix.
Why do people give Christmas boxes?
In 17th century in the UK, employers would give servants and public workers a ‘Christmas box’ on the first weekday after Christmas. A gift of gratuity to show appreciation for their yearlong work. Usually this gift was money, but children were also given sweets, fruit, or nuts. The servants were given 26th December the day off to go home and visit their family, this is possibly the origin of leftovers on Boxing Day as the cook probably was off duty!
What to do with leftovers from Christmas dinner?
We love to use the leftover meat to make some quick sandwiches, or a tasty pasta salad, an easy leftovers pie, or perhaps a delicious curry.
What is the day of goodwill in South Africa?
In South Africa, it’s known as the Day of Goodwill. It was previously known as Boxing Day until 1994. As a result of new leadership, the switch to Day of Goodwill was made.
What is the day after Christmas called?
The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day in several countries around the world. Have you ever wondered why is it called Boxing Day ?
What is St Stephen's Day?
Outside of the commonwealth, the 26th of December is known as Saint Stephens Day. St Stephen was first martyr of Christianity, killed for believing in Jesus. Saint Stephen is mentioned in the Christmas carol ‘Good King Wenceslas’. St Stephen has long been associated with charity and giving. Some believe this carol inspired Victorian vicars to collect food donations to give out on the day after Christmas.
When is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day is held on 26th December, the day after Christmas Day. In many countries that celebrate Boxing Day this is also a public holiday (also known as a bank holiday). If Boxing Day falls on a weekend then the next week day will be assigned as the public holiday.
What is the best roast for Boxing Day?
Others use Boxing Day as another Christmas opportunity to see family and friends with another feast. A popular roast meat on Boxing Day is Glazed Ham.
Why was Stephen chosen as a deacon?
The ecclesiastical celebration stems from the appointment of Stephen by the Apostles as one of seven deacons to attend to the distribution of alms to the poorer members of the Church. A Jew who converted to Christianity, Stephen usually preached among Hellenist Jews and was known as a powerful orator. His selection as a deacon identified him as a man of Christian faith and of good reputation. He became a target of those unwilling to be converted and ultimately was charged with blasphemy and arrested, cast out of the community and stoned to death.
What is the day after Christmas?
Boxing Day. December 26, the day after Christmas, is the Feast of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr. It is also known as Boxing Day, a secular holiday celebrated in parts of the Commonwealth, including Canada. December 26, the day after Christmas, is the Feast of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
Where did mumming originate?
In Canada, mumming, or mummering, is a tradition mainly in Newfoundland, with mumming practices having come from Ireland and the UK as early as 1583. It went out of practice in Canada after the First World War and was resurrected in the early 1970s after scholarly researchers rediscovered it.
What is the day of St Stephen's Day?
In Ireland, December 26 is still known as St Stephen's Day, and is traditionally the day for Hunting the Wren. Birds are prominent in Irish mythology and the Wren, which has a reputation for treachery, is said to have sung loudly to betray Irish soldiers sneaking up on the Norse. The wren is also said to have betrayed St. Stephen. In former times it was hunted by Wrenboys, killed and the corpse carried on a stick at the head of a procession. Today, it is a day for people to dress in costume, wear masks and parade around the town accompanied by musicians.
Where did Boxing Day come from?
The etymology of Boxing Day is not definitively known, but it may come from the traditional opening on that day of Anglican Church poor boxes that had been filled during Advent. Another possibility is that it arose from the custom of the aristocracy giving gifts to servants, employees and trades people the day after Christmas.
Is Boxing Day a secular holiday?
It is also known as Boxing Day, a secular holiday celebrated in parts of the Commonwealth, including Canada. Boxing Day. Shoppers make their way through the Eaton Centre as they visit the Boxing Day sales in Toronto. Photo taken on: December 26, 2013.
Overview
Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December). Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts to the poor, today Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday. It originated in Great Britain and is celebrated in a number of countries that previously formed part of the British Empire. The attached bank holiday or publi…
Etymology
There are competing theories for the origins of the term, none of which is definitive.
The European tradition of giving money and other gifts to those in need, or in service positions, has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown; it may reference the alms box placed in the narthex of Christian churches to collect donations for the poor. The tradition may come from a custom in the late Roman/early Christian era wherein alms boxes placed in churche…
Date
In recent years, the day after Christmas Day, 26 December, is termed "Boxing Day" even when this falls on Sunday, though traditionally Monday 27 December would be Boxing Day. Saint Stephen's Day, a religious holiday, also falls on 26 December.
Unlike the contemporary understanding of Boxing Day itself, the bank holiday or public holiday associated with the observance always falls on a weekday. Where 26 December falls on a Sund…
Status by country
In Australia, Boxing Day is a public holiday in all jurisdictions except the state of South Australia, where a public holiday known as Proclamation Day is celebrated on the first weekday after Christmas Day or the Christmas Day holiday. Both the Boxing Day Test cricket match held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race begin on Boxing Day.
In Canada, Boxing Day (French: le Lendemain de Noël) is a federal statutory holiday. Governmen…
Shopping
In the UK, Canada, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, and New Zealand, Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday. Boxing Day sales are common and shops often allow dramatic price reductions. For many merchants, Boxing Day has become the day of the year with the greatest revenue. In the UK, it was estimated in 2009 that up to 12 million shoppers appeared at the sales (a rise …
Sport
In the United Kingdom, it is traditional for all top-tier football leagues in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland – the Premier League, the Scottish Premiership, and the NIFL Premiership – and the lower ones, as well as the rugby leagues, to hold a full programme of football matches on Boxing Day. Originally, matches on Boxing Day were played against local rivals to avoid teams and their fans havin…
Boxing Day Tsunami
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami occurred the day after Christmas, and therefore has been referred to as "the Boxing Day Tsunami".
External links
• The Origins of Boxing Day at Snopes