2006-12-03 19:07:27 · 15 answers · asked by ann n 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
Any one of these four.
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 26th, 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. 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.
Boxing Day was the day when the wren, the king of birds was captured and put in a box and introduced to each household in the village when he would be asked for a successful year and a good harvest. See Frazer's Golden Bough.
Evidence can also be found in Wassail songs such as:
Where are you going ? said Milder to Malder,
Oh where are you going ? said Fessel to Foe,
I'm going to hunt the cutty wren said Milder to Malder,
I'm going to hunt the cutty wren said John the Rednose.
And what will you do wi' it ? said Milder to Malder,
And what will you do wi' it ? said Fessel to Foe,
I'll put it in a box said Milder to Malder,
I'll put it in a box said John the Rednose.
etc.
2006-12-03 21:14:29 · answer #1 · answered by Basement Bob 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Britain, boxing day was the day "the help" took their Christmas holiday with their family. They would usually get at least some of the leftovers, which used to be BOXED up. (we are talking boefre tupperware and rubbermaid containers here) This was also where the idea of Christmas bonuses came from. Usually, if the employee and employer had a good relationship, they got more than leftovers. They would give them money, or a gift, or other extras. These were also taken away in boxes.
Thats where the name comes from.
:)
2006-12-04 03:18:05 · answer #2 · answered by ntm 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I was told years ago it was when a boxing match took place long ago for the rich it was a community thing were the poor boxed for money in order to pay off their debts but i never really believed it
2006-12-04 05:06:04 · answer #3 · answered by vicky s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas decorations normally stay up until the 12th day of Christmas, which is 6th January. Boxing day comes from the tradition of giving people who regularly provide a service, (postman, milkman, coalman, refuse collectors) a tip, which was in a box. Of course these days, such services as still exist don't normally resume until after January 1st.
2006-12-04 03:18:23 · answer #4 · answered by cymry3jones 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Boxing Day refers to both the day after Christmas, December 26th, and the Public Holiday which follows Christmas Day, should the 26th fall on a weekend
2006-12-04 03:09:43 · answer #5 · answered by Splishy 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
That's the day that everyone throws all the empty boxes out left from the xmas presents
2006-12-04 03:10:07 · answer #6 · answered by I know nothing! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
traditionally, in olden days, the morning after Christmas day, the servants of the house were given presents ie clothes that the 'lord' and lady' and the 'children' of the big house would not wear any more... 'boxes" were opened and this was the actual 'Christmas' for the servants because they were hopeful of receiving old (not necessarily worn out/rags) clothes...thus 'boxing day'
that evening they would end up having their own celebration with their own crowd..
2006-12-04 04:07:10 · answer #7 · answered by drdollaRz 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Day after Christmas, 26 December in Canada.
2006-12-04 03:09:49 · answer #8 · answered by Dr Dee 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Traditionally Christmas day was for religion and celebrating the birth of Christ, Boxing day is for presents (boxes day).
2006-12-04 03:16:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's the day after Christmas, supposedly when all Christmas decorations get taken down and "boxed" away.
2006-12-04 03:10:00 · answer #10 · answered by Delfina D 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋