Why is Boxing Day so called?

billfay

There are a couple stories about it. One is that Victorian England, the poor went from house to house with boxes that were then filled food, clothing, and gifts. The other is that the alms boxes in churches were opened and the moneys were used to provide food for the poor. "Boxing Day is observed on Dec. 26 as a national holiday in Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Boxing Day dates back more than 800 years. Traditionally, it is the day when each church opens its alms box and distributes the contributions to the poor. In later years, servants were required to work on Christmas Day, but were excused from working on the following day. So employees typically gave their servants Christmas boxes on the 26th -- Boxing Day. Today, it remains customary to present Christmas gratuities on the 26th." http://ww2.abc12.com/global/Story.asp?s=5614773 [Added reference -McG] Dec 25 00, 12:01 AM

Moleman

It was the day that tradesmen would receive Christmas boxes from the head of the house. "This day developed into a holiday as in the olden days the servants used to work on Christmas Day; so they were given a holiday the very next day. Before the servants would leave for their homes their employers would give them Christmas boxes as gifts. Historians have said that during the 18th century Lords and Ladies in England would put the leftover food and gift them as Christmas boxes to the needy and people who worked in their lands." http://christmas.dgreetings.com/christmas-day/boxing-days.html [Added reference - McG] Dec 29 00, 4:32 PM

McGruff

Question #37792. elizabethmc asks: Why is December 26 called Boxing Day? sequoianoir replies: Boxing Day is so called because on this day it was the customary for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for good service throughout the year. Aug 21 03, 6:58 PM Question #42467. joey_T2003 asks: Why is Boxing Day so named? Siskin replies: Boxes were placed in churches for casual offerings to be opened on Christmas Day, and the contents, called the "dole of the Christmas box", or the "box money" were distributed the next day by priests for the poor. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable. Dec 18 03, 12:13 PM Question #42894. Linaw50 asks: Why is 'Boxing Day' called what it is? mk2norwich replies: This topic came up when I was conversing with one of my quiz associates. According to his information, the term "Boxing Day" has its origins in the church tradition of distributing boxes of food (donated by parishoners) to the poor, after the Christmas Day service. Jan 01 04, 6:54 AM Also see Q#61256. http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question61256.html Apr 12 09, 8:35 AM

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