Why is boxing day called 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

The Boxing Day has some connections with the Box & Filling the Boxes (Boxing).

It originated in England in the middle of the 19th Century when Queen Victoria was ruling. It was on the day next to the Christmas Day ( ie. on December 26th)Then , boxes were filled with gifts & money for the Servants & Trades People.

The Poor people carried boxes from door to door and they were filled with food, Xmas sweets & money by the generous people.

Nowadays, on the Boxing day, friends & relatives gather together to share lots of foo& fun. They share love & friendship.

Answer 3

Boxing day was the day when servants were given the day off by their employers (after all, who wants to cook their own Christmas lunch and clear up afterwards!). Gifts were also given to those who worked for you on Boxing Day.

Did you know that originally Christmas Day was not a holiday (eg. in A Christmas Carol, Bob Cratchett was working on Christmas Day)

I knew this (I'm good at useless information) but decided to see if I was right - and found the below website!

Answer 4

When the aristocracy/upper middle classes had big houses and lots of servants - the servants would have to work on christmas day. They would then be given the next day off. So the day after christmas day would become the 'christmas day' for the servants and they would exchange gifts (often in boxes.)

This day became known as 'boxing day.'

But christmas day was still always christmas day - that actual date has never changed.

Answer 5

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 6

Years ago the day after christmas was when people went round with boxes to collect money for the poor hence the "box"ing day

Answer 7

Because in the old days it was on Boxing day that you gave or received gifts, not christmas day - and the gifts were usually boxed hence the term boxing day

Answer 8

I've heard 2 origins of this holiday, which seems to be unique to Canada. One is that it is the day that people "box up" all the gifts they got for Christmas they don't want and take them back to the stores for refunds. The second indicates it is the day that people "box up" all their decorations and put them away for another year. Since part of my Christmas tradition is that lights and decorations stay up until 12th Night (the night it is believed the magi arrived to pay their respects and bestow their gifts to the baby Jesus) I'm more inclined to go with the former (boxing up unwanted gifts for return and refund).

Answer 9

Because after christmas after all the presents were opened you leave all the boxes and wrapping paper out side the next day for the bin men to collect. SIMPLE.

Answer 10

because you open boxes of Xmas presents on that day. think people use to wrap presents in boxes in the older days, thats why the name.