So, what the hell is Boxing Day? This was a question I often asked as a young child, sans the profanity, the day after Christmas. The responses varied but were murky, at best, something like "It's the day people box their presents up" to jokingly chiding "get your gloves on, let's duke it out". But whatever the answer, I was always left in the dark and for the most part I was fine with that. In America, Boxing Day is not celebrated in anyway, other than an official Federal Holiday, but it being the day after Christmas, it never really affected me one way or another, especially as a child.
But, I must admit, the holiday did always leave me with a bit of intrigue. Why is it even a holiday? What significance does it hold and why do so many countries such as the United Kingdom and its former territories like Canada and Australia celebrate?
Aligned with Saint Stephen's Day, Boxing Day originated as a day for giving to the poor and less fortunate. Stephen was an apostle of Jesus who became the patron saint of the less fortunate and was also the first martyred, stoned to death. The methods of giving ranged from opening up the alms box secured for the poor, giving gifts to those less fortunate, and allowing days off from work for those servants and lower class who had to work on Christmas Day. Among the Christian church, Boxing Day and Saint Stephen's' Day fall on the second day of Christmastide.
The term "Christmas box" dates back to the 17th century, and among other things meant:
"A present or gratuity given at Christmas: in Great Britain, usually confined to gratuities given to those who are supposed to have a vague claim upon the donor for services rendered to him as one of the general public by whom they are employed and paid, or as a customer of their legal employer; the undefined theory being that as they have done offices for this person, for which he has not directly paid them, some direct acknowledgement is becoming at Christmas."
As it is believed that the animal Saint Stephen had dominion over was the horse, Boxing Day soon became more aligned with sport, such as fox-hunting, horse-racing, and rugby. Today, those are the current ways of celebrations, however, also spending time with family and prolonging the festive feeling is also significant.
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