Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated on December 26 in Great Britain and some Commonwealth nations, particularly Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Traditionally, servants, tradespeople, and the poor received gifts on this day. It had become a day for shopping and sporting events by the 21st century. On Monday, December 26, 2022, is Boxing Day.
There are a variety of explanations for the name's origin, with some people believing that it came from the opening of alms boxes that were placed in churches to collect donations for the poor. However, others have maintained that it originated from employee-gifted boxes on the day after Christmas. This theory asserts that because servants were required to perform for their employers' Christmas Day celebrations, they were permitted to observe the holiday on their own the following day. Even though it is now more common to give bonuses to employees who work in the military before Christmas Day, the practice has not stopped.
When December 26 falls on a weekend or a holiday, the Monday after that is declared the official public holiday. Boxing Day has evolved into a day of sporting events, including horse races, foxhunting, and rugby, as December 26 is also the feast day of St. Stephen, the patron saint of horses. Following the enactment of legislation in England and Wales that largely prohibited the use of hounds in hunts, traditional foxhunting was modified in 2005. In the American colonies, the English did not keep the holiday going.
holiday, originally a day dedicated to religious observance (from "holy day"); a day of religious or secular celebration in modern times. The approximate dates of many major world religions' holidays are those of more ancient pagan celebrations. This can sometimes be attributed, in the case of Christianity, to the early church's policy of scheduling Christian celebrations on dates when they would overtake pagan ones. This proved to be more effective than simply prohibiting the earlier celebrations. In other instances, the similarity of the date is caused by the custom of commemorating seasonal transitions or a combination of the two.
After Christmas Day, Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated on the second day of Christmas. Boxing Day is now mostly known as a shopping holiday, despite the fact that it was originally a holiday to give gifts to the poor.
For what purpose is Boxing Day observed?
The true origins of the holiday are still up for debate, but we do know that a lot of it was about giving gifts to those in need. Fortunately, that is a custom that has not changed. Many nations around the world observe Boxing Day on December 26 each year.
Why is December 26 referred to as Boxing Day?
explains that one theory about how the holiday came to be is that on the day after Christmas, small gifts and money were given to employees and housekeepers who had to work on December 25. The presents were intended as a token of appreciation for their year of service.
For what reason is it called Boxing Day occasion?
The tradition of giving charity to the less fortunate is where Boxing Day got its start. The custom began when employers would send boxes to servants who had to serve their masters on Christmas Day but were allowed to see their families the following day. The boxes would contain gifts, bonuses, and occasionally leftover food.
What is Boxing Day's history?
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the practice developed as a result of employers providing servants with boxes containing gifts, bonuses, and occasionally leftover food so that they could visit their families on Christmas Day.
Is fighting the theme of Boxing Day?
Boxing Day is not the fighting sport of boxing; rather, it is a day when people in the service industry, such as mail carriers, doormen, porters, and tradesmen, receive gifts.
Which faith observes Boxing Day?
However antiquarians differ on the specific beginning of Boxing Day, it is remembered to have outgrown longstanding English customs of beneficent giving and generosity rehearses particularly connected with the Christian celebration of Holy person Stephen's Day, which is praised on December 26.
Who rejoices on Boxing Day?
Boxing Day is observed in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada the day after Christmas. But first, let's make one thing clear: Boxing Day is not about crushing opponents. This exceptional occasion has its underlying foundations in gift-giving on one hand and inequity on the other.
In the United States, what is Boxing Day known as?
Boxing Day or St. Stephen's Day is the second day of Christmas. The first Christian martyr was St. Stephen.
What distinguishes Christmas from Boxing Day?
The holiday is celebrated on December 26 each year. Yes, that is the day after Christmas, so it is a date that is easy to remember and hard to miss during a busy week of celebrations.) Boxing Day, on the other hand, is observed on the Monday following that date if it falls on a weekend.
Who observes Christmas Day on Boxing Day?
Boxing Day is a recognized holiday in the United Kingdom and many other former and current British territories. It falls on December 26, the day after Christmas. This tradition of celebrating Boxing Day originated in the United Kingdom and has since spread to Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
The day after Christmas is Boxing Day! A Traditional English Church from a Christmas Card, and Boxing Day is only celebrated in a few countries on December 26; primarily those with a long history of connection to the UK, like Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, as well as some European nations. It is also known as "Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag" and "Zweiter Feiertag" in Germany. "Zweiter Feiertag" means "second celebration."
Boxing Day dating can become quite challenging. Boxing Day is sometimes referred to as "the first weekday after Christmas." However, that refers to the UK's Boxing Day "Public (or Bank) Holiday." I believe that "the public holiday" and "the day" of Boxing Day can be separated. They don't always have to be on the same day. The same is true for Christmas Day, which falls on December 25 and is a public or bank holiday!
In 2021, Christmas Day and Boxing Day (the 25th and 26th!) both Saturday and Sunday Therefore, their bank and public holidays fall on Monday and Tuesday, December 27 and 28. However, this does not mean that "Christmas Day" 2021 will fall on Monday, December 27! According to the public/bank holiday definition, Boxing Day ought to be referred to as "the first weekday 'after the Christmas bank holiday,'" rather than 'after Christmas,' as these terms can also differ! According to the UK government's website, which lists UK bank holidays, if a bank holiday falls on a weekend, a "substitute" weekday typically the Monday following takes the place of the bank holiday. This makes more sense to me than saying that Christmas Day and Boxing Day are "on" other dates!
St. Stephen's Day, also known as "the feast of Stephen," falls on December 26. To put things in perspective, there have been two St. Stephens in history! It is believed that the first St. Stephen was a very early disciple of Jesus and that he was the first Christian martyr (a person who dies for their religious beliefs). According to the Bible, other Jews who didn't believe in Jesus stoned Stephen to death. Stephen was a Jew.
The second St. Stephen was a Teacher, in Sweden, during the 800s. He adored all creatures yet especially ponies (maybe why there is customarily horse racing on boxing day). He was also a martyr; pagans and pre-Christians killed him in Sweden. During the St. Stephen's Day service in Germany, it was a custom to ride horses around the inside of the church!
For a very long time, both St. Stephens have been associated with giving and charity; and historically, that was the focus of St. Stephen's Day and Boxing Day.
The alms box, a type of collection box for the poor that was typically kept in churches, was traditionally opened in the Middle Ages so that the contents could be distributed to the poor. These boxes are still opened on Boxing Day by some churches.
Although the Romans may have introduced this kind of collecting box to the UK for the first time, they used it to pay for betting games they played during their winter celebrations! Some collection boxes in the Netherlands were shaped like pigs and made of rough pottery called "earthenware." Perhaps this is where the term "Piggy Bank" originated!
Also, rich landowners would give "gifts" on this day, usually some food from the main Christmas feast! to the people who lived, worked, and owned their land; subsequently, it became customary for servants to have a day off on Boxing Day to celebrate Christmas with their families.
Workers like milkmen and butchers used to travel around their delivery locations to pick up their Christmas box or tip before World War II. This custom has mostly stopped, and Christmas tips for people like postal workers and children who deliver newspapers are typically not given or collected on Boxing Day.
The Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas" is set on St. Stephen's Day. In that carol, a wealthy king helps the poor. It was written in 1853 and represents the Victorian belief that Christmas should be celebrated with charity. The true story of Wenceslas can be found here.
In addition, Boxing Day, which falls on December 26, is observed as a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. If Christmas falls on a weekend, the next business day is typically designated as a "substitute" for Boxing Day.
Pantomimes were also traditionally performed on Boxing Day, although they now typically begin before Christmas.
Boxing Day is also a popular day for sports in the UK, especially horse racing and football games! The Boxing Day Test Match between Australia and another nation takes place in Australia. In the UK, the day after Christmas known as "Boxing Day" is also known as "Black Friday" in the United States.
Kwanzaa, a seven-day celebration of African and African American culture and history, begins on December 26 as well.
