Boxing Day traditions......do you?

Question

Do any of you still give "a box" on Boxing Day or as near to as possible? (This is a British tradition)

Thankyou "Snowdrop" - a sensible answer amongst many who "answered-for-the-points" - traditions are important.

Answer 1

Hiya in response to those who didn't know about the tradition of giving boxes on Boxing Day it comes from during the late 18th century, Lords and Ladies of the manor would "box up" their leftover food, or sometimes gifts and distribute them the day after Christmas to tenants who lived and worked on their lands.
The tradition of giving money still continues today. It is customary for householders to give small gifts or monetary tips to regular visiting trades people (the milkman, dustman, coalman, paper boy etc.) and, in some work places, for employers to give a Christmas bonus to employees.
I still give to our milkman, paper boy/girl and window cleaner. It's like a sign of appreciation and we need to keep up traditions or they will be lost. It feels good too !!!! Hope that helps!!

Answer 2

Sorry to disappoint you but Its just a part of the Christmas holidays, I do not know and in fact have never known anybody giving boxes on Boxing Day, as far as I am aware this tradition died out many years ago, certainly my parents never and I don't believe their parents did either.

Answer 3

Never knew what boxing day was, until now that is. That is so sweet to do that.

I know so companies and business around here give "bonuses" to their employees, and some give a box of food. But all of that is done before the holiday, like the last day of work before the holiday. That is to make sure that they have a good meal on the holiday.

Answer 4

The boxes you are referring to are supposed to contain money and should be given as "alms" by the Queen to the serfs of days long ago! That is the true meaning of Boxing Day! As a British Ex-pat living in USA - I do not celebrate this holiday!

Answer 5

Hence the term 'christmas box' it is correct that the lords of the manors used to have food left from christmas dinner boxed up and given to the locals, mostly staff or tenants, I always leave a 'christmas box' (money) for binmen, milk and paper delivery people, the postman and the window cleaner.

Answer 6

I am not British, but I am curious about this tradition.Is it an empty box? Then, what do you do with it.... add it to an existing box collection? Would someone be offended if they knew you used their box they had given you to wrap a present in? And, when is Boxing Day?

Answer 7

I had never had this tradition. I traditionally used to let me children choose one present from under the tree to open on Christmas Eve. These weren't Santa's presents, just ones from the extended family. It seemed to have kept the excitement at a manageable level so they could sleep.

Answer 8

didn't know that, Boxing day is special to me because dad arrived back from WW2 on Boxing day (before I was born)after 31/2 years away. My husbands parents married on Boxing day

Answer 9

Oh! I thought you all sat around making boxes. Sounds the an English thing. You guys need to get out more often. Go to Scotland and play with the hairys and gnomes and brownies, just don't get roasted by the dragons.

Answer 10

I had never heard of this. I thought that it was the day after Christmas when servants of the big houses were allowed to go home with the some of the remains of the Masters' Christmas fare.