Our calendars tell us the day after Christmas is Boxing Day. What does that mean? Is it a day to set aside to climb into a ring and throw punches? Does it refer to boxing up Christmas decorations? Not many know the original reasons for which the day was set aside.
Dec. 26, Boxing Day, is a public holiday in the United Kingdom and many of the countries that made up the British Commonwealth. Since 1871, it has been a national or Bank Holiday in the UK and Ireland. The history of Boxing Day begins sometime in the medieval era, although no one knows just when. Nor does anyone know just how it began. The term was first used in the 17th century when it was mentioned in Samuel Pepys’ Diary on Dec. 19, 1663. Charles Dickens mentioned it in The Pickwick Papers.
The origin of Boxing Day is pure guesswork:
Gifts from Lord to Servant
Manorial lords and aristocrats gave Christmas boxes to their household servants and those required to work on Dec. 25. The gifts given depended on the status of the person receiving it. A box might contain money, cloth, food usually left over from Dec. 25 and tools. If you recall, Good King Wenceslas took flesh and wine to the poor man. Servants were also able to go home to give boxes or presents to their families.
Gifts were never given from the poor to the rich because that assumed social equality. Boxing Day kept class lines firmly in place.
Gifts from the Church
Boxing Day may have come from the alms boxes kept in churches before Christmas. All donations were distributed by the clergy on Dec. 26. This was an appropriate day for charity because it was also St. Stephen’s Day, the first Christian martyr who was known for his charity.
Some trace the holiday to the great sailing ships. Each carried a sealed box containing money. These were believed to bring good luck, especially because each sailor was to contribute to the box so the priest on board would say masses for the ship’s safety. At the end of the voyage, the priest opened the box and gave the money to the poor.
Gifts from a Friend
Today, guests call at the homes of friends on Boxing Day. Food and drink are always supplied: ham, pease pudding and mince pies with brandy butter or some other Christmas dessert. It is also a day for shopping, much like Black Friday in the U.S. There are horse races, football (or as Americans call it, soccer) games and mock fox hunts. Although family gifts are exchanged on Dec. 25, Christmas boxes are given to friends on Dec. 26.
Special for BJUtoday by history professor Dr. Linda Hayner and editor Krystal Allweil
