2006-12-21 10:19:16 · 11 answers · asked by ALLAN B 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Boxing Day is a day the higher classes gave gifts to the lower classes. Before or on December 25th people of similar class would exchange gifts to celebrate the Christmas season. Gifts were not exchanged with the lower class until the next day called Boxing Day. It is also known as St. Stephen’s Day.
The holiday is named Boxing Day because the tradition of giving gifts of cash, food, clothing and other goods to the less fortunate were placed into boxes for easier transportation. The goods were distributed based on the family needs and their services to the giver.
2006-12-21 10:23:51 · answer #1 · answered by Polo 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The explanations given are interesting and in a few cases believable BUT the original Boxing Day was a Roman feast day where small presents were exchanged wrapped in a package not unlike a small box.To this day many people around the world exchange gifts on this day rather than Christmas Day.
2016-05-23 07:30:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know in Canada, Boxing Day is the giving of food and clothing to charity the day after Christmas.
2006-12-21 10:24:41 · answer #3 · answered by Emma J 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Boxing Day goes back to medieval times, more than 800 years ago, when alms boxes were placed at the back of every church to collect money for the poor. Traditionally, it is on this day that the alms box at every English church is opened and the contents are distributed to the poor.
2006-12-21 10:38:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Boxing Day.
I’ll tell you of Boxing Day, when I was a boy,
It was known as Saint Stephen’s and was full of joy,
A day you could visit and stay with your friends,
Play with their presents, and get lots of ‘ lends’.
I never did it, but I saw it being done,
Some boys they would play it, and they always sung,
‘The King of all Birds’, the tiny brown Wren,
All round the houses, again and again.
A hollybush or even an old Christmas Tree,
With streamers and trinkets done beautifully,
Was carried and shown, the whole town wide,
With a false nest and wren deep inside.
If the pub landlord - dared let them in,
They would dance with their ‘trophy’ and this they would sing,
‘The Wren, the Wren, the King of All Birds,
On Saint Stephen’s Day, he was caught in the Furze’.
Why did they do it? I offer no clue,
I’m leaving the puzzle, entirely with you.
A Pagan ritual? Maybe you’re right,
Or just harmless fun, and a wonderful sight.
--------------------------
2006-12-21 10:29:47 · answer #5 · answered by thomasrobinsonantonio 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Boxing Day was a Nineteenth century tradition were the rich would box up all their left-overs and unwanted gifts and distribute them to the local poor.
2006-12-21 10:30:05 · answer #6 · answered by Hendo 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
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
2006-12-21 10:22:02 · answer #7 · answered by ~Grace~ 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
a day to give out your parcels and boxes at christmas
2006-12-21 10:44:45 · answer #8 · answered by onukpa 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
its the day when all the families get together and start boxing each other in arguments, the living room becomes a boxing ring as grandma vs grandad and dad vs mother in law line up always a good sport been going years
2006-12-21 10:25:54 · answer #9 · answered by suzie1968uk 3 · 0⤊ 6⤋
funny how they are all wrong ! boxing day is the day when you get rid of all the empty boxes from christmas day ! well it is at our gaff anyroad...........merry crimbo
2006-12-21 10:48:44 · answer #10 · answered by justice 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋