What the heck is Canada's "Boxing Day?"?

Answer 1

There is great dispute over the true origins of Boxing Day. The more common stories include:

Centuries ago, merchants would present their servants food and fruits as a form of Yuletide tip. Naturally, the gifts of food and fruit were packed in boxes, hence the term "Boxing Day".
In feudal times, Christmas was a reason for a gathering of extended families. All the serfs would gather their families in the manor of their lord, which made it easier for the lord of the estate to hand out annual stipends to the serfs. After all the Christmas parties on December 26, the lord of the estate would give practical goods such as cloth, grains, and tools to the serfs who lived on his land. Each family would get a box full of such goods the day after Christmas. Under this explanation, there was nothing voluntary about this transaction; the lord of the manor was obliged to supply these goods. Because of the boxes being given out, the day was called Boxing Day.
In Britain many years ago, it was common practice for the servants to carry boxes to their employers when they arrived for their day's work on the day after Christmas (December 25). Their employers would then put coins in the boxes as special end-of-year gifts. This can be compared with the modern day concept of Christmas bonuses. The servants carried boxes for the coins, hence the name Boxing Day.
In churches, it was traditional to open the church's donation box on Christmas day, and the money in the donation box was to be distributed to the poorer or lower class citizens on the next day. In this case, the "box" in "Boxing Day" comes from that one gigantic lockbox in which the donations were left.
In Britain because many servants had to work for their employers on Christmas day they would instead open their presents (i.e., boxes) the next day, which therefore became known as Boxing Day.

Answer 2

Despite its name, Boxing Day, which is celebrated on December 26 in Great Britain, has nothing to do with pugilistic competition. Nor is it a day for people to return unwanted Christmas presents. While the exact origins of the holiday are obscure, it is likely that Boxing Day began in England during the Middle Ages.

Some historians say the holiday developed because servants were required to work on Christmas Day, but took the following day off. As servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers would present them with gift boxes.
Church Alms Boxes


Another theory is that the boxes placed in churches where parishioners deposited coins for the poor were opened and the contents distributed on December 26, which is also the Feast of St. Stephen.

As time went by, Boxing Day gift giving expanded to include those who had rendered a service during the previous year. This tradition survives today as people give presents to tradesmen, mail carriers, doormen, porters, and others who have helped them.


The Day after Christmas


Boxing Day is December 26, the day after Christmas, and is celebrated in Great Britain and in most areas settled by the English (the U.S. is the major exception), including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Answer 3

Boxing day is December 26, the day after Christmas. In olden days, when people had a number of servants in the house, they would, of course, be kept busy on Christmas Day serving dinner and all that to the lord and lady of the manor, and their guests, family etc. So for those poor folk, Christmas was just another day. To make up for it, the lords and ladies used to make up a box for each of the servants, giving them special treats of food (usually leftovers...) and a small gift to thank them for their service during the year. The staff would have prepared a cold meal for the household to eat, and they were then free to go home and celebrate their gift boxes, with their own families. Hence, 'boxing day'. Today it is just another day, and the only boxes involved are those in which people return Christmas gifts to the stores to exchange them for something else.

Answer 4

Boxing Day is a public holiday observed in many Commonwealth countries on 26 December. In many European countries it is also a holiday, called St. Stephen's Day or the Second Day of Christmas. Depending on its origin, it may have traditionally been strictly defined as the first weekday after Christmas [1]. However, in recent years Boxing Day has been almost universally accepted as 26 December [2], although its associated public holiday may fall on a different day.

Boxing Day is often celebrated by giving gifts (IN BOXES) and donations to the poor and needy.

Answer 5

It's the BIG SHOPPING day, the day after Christmas. Depending on the origin, they have there own tradition defined. European countries is consider it a holiday and call it St.Stephen's Day or Second Day of Christmas. Boxing day is also celebrated in other countries by giving gifts/donations to the poor/needy. My sister lives in Dalhousie Canada and we go there for Christmas and just shop are hearts out all day on the 26th, and boy do we get alot of good deals/sales!! Hope this helped you out!!

Answer 6

Boxing Day is the next day after Christmas. It is celebrated by most people in Canada by going out and buying clothing, food etc. and giving it to local orphanages. It is a way Canada goes beyond giving gifts to their immediate family.

Answer 7

Might be just like America's "Boxing/Boxer Day". Ever hear of the term "white elephant"? The day, which is December 26 in America, is for trading gifts, that is the day for white elephant parties.

Answer 8

Well, if it is related to the British custom - the day after Christmas, they "box up" things they don't need and give them to the needy - like clothes that don't fit, or old toys that have been replaced by new gifts. That's what I have been told...

Answer 9

boxing day is the day after Christmas and it's English too. it's the day you through out all the old boxes and junk. my mom says it's also the day you give gifts to your employees

Answer 10

It used to be the first weekday after Christmas, but now it is accepted as December 26, no matter what day it is.