2006-12-25 01:08:10 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Easter
Boxing Day is a continuation of the Christmas holiday in Europe and the Commonwealth countries. The name refers to both the day after Christmas day, December 26th, and the Public holiday which follows Christmas Day, should the 26th and 27th fall on a weekend. It is generally celebrated with people staying home with family as they did on Christmas Day, and for retail stores it is used as a name for post-Christmas sales (ie, Boxing Day Sale).
2006-12-25 01:10:52 · answer #1 · answered by American Spirit 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wikipedia's answer notwithstanding - Boxing Day was originally the day - December 26 - that the rich in England "boxed up" their old(er) items - the ones replaced by new Christams gifts, or the things they just didn't want any longer - and gave those things either to their servants, or to the poor, in general. Neither of those two groups was likely to have received any other gifts for Christmas, so Boxing Day was considered an act of charity (rather than a way to dump unwanted items).
Personal observation note: In the US, we do pretty much the same thing - chuck our unwanted stuff - mostly junk, unfortunately - to places like Goodwill or the Salvation Army - and then write them off as tax deductions for the current year, and usually at greatly-inflated value.
Have a Merry Christmas, all !!
2006-12-25 09:27:10 · answer #2 · answered by ceb 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Boxing Day
The day after Christmas, the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is better known as Boxing Day. The term may come from the opening of church poor boxes that day; maybe from the earthenware boxes with which boy apprentices collected money at the doors of their masters' clients.
Nowadays, we often see, in certain families, gifts (boxes) given to those who provide services throughout the year.
"Boxing Day" is listed in the Canada Labour Code as a holiday.
2006-12-25 12:42:26 · answer #3 · answered by kavitha s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first weekday after Christmas, celebrated as a holiday in parts of the British Commonwealth, when Christmas gifts are traditionally given to service workers.
2006-12-25 09:23:43 · answer #4 · answered by messageboardpirate 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Named after children fighting over their Xmas toys.
2006-12-25 11:58:17 · answer #5 · answered by Draper T 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
check these out
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_day
http://www.infoplease.com/search?fr=iptn&query=boxing+day&in=all&x=0&y=0
2006-12-25 09:41:34 · answer #6 · answered by sushobhan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋