2006-12-09 05:40:47 · 15 answers · asked by johnuk7990 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Earth Day
Origins
There are disparate theories as to the origins of the term. The more common stories include:
* 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.
* Because the staff had to work on such an important day as Christmas Day by serving the master of the house and their family, they were given the following day off. Since being kept away from their own families to work on a traditional religious holiday and not being able to celebrate Christmas Dinner, the customary benefit was to 'box' up the left over food from Christmas Day and send it away with the servants and their families. Hence the 'boxing' of food became 'boxing day'.
2006-12-09 05:45:42 · answer #1 · answered by ohnonothimagain 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The reason that the December 26th was known as 'Boxing Day' was the fact that many centuries ago, the Lord and Lady of the manor/castle/estate gathered together at the manor house, castle etc., the workers including those from the outlying fields, forests and streams, the day after Christmas Day and organised the distribution of the annual necessities, done according to the status of the worker and the size of the family.
Into boxes and barrels would go supplies of cloth spun by the spinsters, the cobblers leather goods, new tools and supplies of salt and spices. Also dried goods such as meat, fish, vegetables and some fruit and cereals grown on the estate for bread making. This the giving out of such boxes became "Boxing Day".
2006-12-12 06:23:06 · answer #2 · answered by Meckle 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its because people give presents in boxes. Thus, its called Boxing Day.. not because of the sport boxing.. i use to think that as a kid!
2006-12-12 22:41:28 · answer #3 · answered by Sue Li 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
nice question, my mum thought boxing day was called boxing day because the boxing was on the television, but it´s named this, because , the rich people used to put food and gifts , into to boxes to give to the poor
2006-12-09 05:51:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have ben told that one of its origins is to do with wealthy families giving the servant/s a small gift the day after christmas, this would be presented in a plain box, hence boxing day
2006-12-09 05:46:50 · answer #5 · answered by y2ktachyon 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Years ago they opened their presents on Boxing day ,hence Christmas box.
2006-12-09 05:55:57 · answer #6 · answered by dancingcar 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It the day that the kids get bored with playing with their expensive presents and play with the boxes instead.
2006-12-09 05:47:38 · answer #7 · answered by John J 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My late auntie who was a church goer wouldn't open her presents till boxing day she said that was when the 3 kings visited baby Jesus and gave him his gifts.
2006-12-09 05:47:10 · answer #8 · answered by Dooby 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
years ago, delivery/work men etc would go round houses the day after christmas and collect boxes of treats from their customers. (whereas today you give a Xmas tip - cash).
2006-12-09 05:43:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It was when the church first distributed boxes of food to the poor and homeless.
2006-12-09 05:44:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋