OVER the years Boxing Day has become synonymous with carrying on the Christmas feast, lounging out on the sofa watching movies or going on a country walk, arguing with the family and continuing eating and drinking too mu
ch. It is a day that feels for many a bit of a let down - as the important day of Christmas has passed and Boxing Day is sometimes seen as an anti climax. People are more subdued and quiet - in recovery from excesses the day before - and where they have seen friends and family and now can spend some time napping, or getting drunk again or even watching TV all day. No where in the bible is there a mention of Boxing Day which makes the holiday, celebrated the day after Christmas, all the more curious - just why do we celebrate it? Here are some answers to the most common boxing day questions: Why is it called boxing day?
The name is derived from an age old tradition of rich masters giving their servants Christmas boxes which they could share with their families on December 26, after all the formal festivities. When did we start celebrating it? There are an array of different answers to this question, but the most commonly believed is that the tradition started in the Middle Ages. Parishioners collected money for the poor in alms boxes, and these were opened on the day after Christmas in honour of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, whose feast day falls on December 26. Boxing on Boxing Day It is also thought that Boxing Day was when the village all got together and had a day of feasting and where the men would box - as in fighting - and boxing was the main attraction on this Day. I When did it become a national holiday? The Victorians were the first people to really start creating designated public holidays. The Oxford English Dictionary dates the term to the 1830s. Neale clearly recognised the association of the day in the public mind with charity, and in 1871 St Stephen's Day was designated a bank holiday. Do other countries celebrate Boxing Day? Only a few countries celebrate Boxing Day which falls on December 26. Mainly countries that have historical links to the UK celebrate the day such as Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and a few European countries.
Obnoxiously wrong. One guest argued with us here at Hamilton Hall a few years ago that he was right and we were all wrong that Boxing Day dated back to the Roman Times but there is no evidence to be found for this and he was not having it, called us all stupid and all sorts and he was wrong. Seems some people don't like being wrong and make themselves into blithering fools in the eyes of those around and who stand witness. I am genuinely always willing to hear and accept new truths and new ways - but when someone argues they are right and everyone else is wrong, even though we checked it out on the internet and - hay presto - nothing about the Roman Empire and Boxing Day - and when THAT was when we were all called stupid, there is no discussion to be had. He will argues black is white and - bugger off ... Life's too short.
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