Boxing Day
Boxing Day as it sounds, has nothing to do with the sport boxing, or with boxing unwanted presents, or with any other sports such as football, cricket, or horse racing. There are many views on the origin of “Boxing Day” but all of them come under the roof of humanity, small acts of kindness shown to people.
Picture : Boxing Day hunt
When is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day occurs every year on December 26th. It's a national holiday in the UK and Ireland. If the day after Christmas falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is designated as the official public holiday.
Origin of the term “Boxing Day”.
In Britain, servants of wealthy people where given a day off to visit their families following Christmas having served the wealthy to celebrate Christmas. The servants were handed a box containing gifts, bonuses, and left over foods to carry home.
One school of thought argues that the tradition began in churches in the Middle Ages. Parishioners collected money for the poor in alms boxes, and these were opened on the day after Christmas in honour of Saint Stephen.
Other tradition says that tradespeople were given Christmas boxes containing gifts by people who were happy with the services that were provided to them. Though it is commonly thought that the term was coined during Victorian era (19th century), the aforementioned practise was prevalent during the 17th century. This is substantiated by the fact that the Samuel Pepys’s dairy for 19 December 1663 attests reads,
By coach to my shoemaker’s and paid all there and gave something to the boys’ box against Christmas.
Where is the Boxing Day celebrated?
Boxing Day is primarily a British tradition, and the UK has exported it to Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
What do people do on Boxing Day today?
Long time ago, this day was observed as relaxation or family time. Today, its become a holy day of consumerism.
The sales used to start in January post-New Year, but the desire to grab a bargain and for shops to off-load stock means many now start on Boxing Day.
People today also enjoy entertainment including plays, shows, exhibitions, and sporting events such as football and cricket matches, hunts etc.
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