St. Stephen's Day | holiday | Britannica.com Christianity St. Stephen’s Day, also called Boxing Day, Wren Day, or Constitution Day, one of two holidays widely observed in honour of two Christian saints. In many countries December 26 commemorates the life of St. Stephen , a Christian deacon in Jerusalem who was known for his service to the poor and his status as the first Christian martyr (he was stoned to death in ad 36). In Hungary August 20 is observed in honour of King Stephen of Hungary , who united the country under Christianity in ad 1000 and was canonized in 1083 for his accomplishment. St. Stephen, stained-glass window, 19th century; in St. Mary’s Church, Bury St. Edmunds, Eng. © Ronald Sheridan/Ancient Art & Architecture Collection In the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries, the December 26 holiday is commonly known as Boxing Day , which takes its name from the practice of giving small gifts to household servants on that day for their work throughout the year.

In Ireland the holiday is sometimes called Wren Day, because in the past a wren would be killed and taken door-to-door by children asking for money in exchange for a wren’s feather, which people believed brought good luck. The tradition of going house-to-house on St. Stephen’s Day survives in many countries, especially in Scandinavia, where the day is observed by visiting friends and going to parties. In Hungary August 20 is celebrated as St. Stephen’s Day in commemoration of when the saint’s relics—held sacred by Hungarian Catholics—were transferred to Buda (now part of Budapest). In 1949 the country’s communist regime promulgated a new constitution on that day with the intent of transforming the Christian-themed holiday into a politically inspired one, which they renamed Constitution Day. Following the collapse of the communist state in Hungary, however, the holiday was again celebrated as St. Stephen’s Day. One ritual entails carrying the case containing the relics of St. Stephen’s right hand in processions throughout the streets of Budapest. More modern festivities include fireworks and parades.

Learn More in these related articles: Second Day of Christmas in Poland Home Calendar Holidays Poland Second Day of Christmas Second Day of Christmas in Poland Many people in Poland have a day off work on December 26 to celebrate the second Day of Christmas. Also known as St Stephen’s Day or Holy Szczepan, this national holiday is part of the Christmas holidays. Nativity scenes are seen in many churches in Poland during the Christmas/Boxing Day period. Nativity scenes are seen in many churches in Poland during the Christmas/Boxing Day period. ©iStockphoto.com/ Munic What Do People Do? Together with Christmas Eve (Wigilia) and Christmas Day , Boxing Day is an important event that is celebrated in many Polish homes. Many churches host special services on Boxing Day, which is also a day for families to meet up and spend time together. Popular St Stephen’s Day activities include reenacting scenes of the Nativity in a play, as well as caroling with a crib (szopka) or star to homes. Public Life The second Day of Christmas is an official public holiday in Poland, so schools, banks, government offices and most private businesses are closed. There is a trade prohibition on public holidays in Poland.

People intending to travel via public transport during public holidays must check with the public transit authorities on any changes to time schedules. Background Many Christians in Poland and around the world celebrate St Stephen’s Day/Boxing Day, which is the day after Christmas Day. It is also known as the second day of Christmas. St Stephen’s Day commemorates a Christian saint, Stephen, who is believed to be the first Christian martyr. He was stoned to death sometime around the year 33 CE. Second Day of Christmas Observances Select another year-range: Boxing Day | Office Holidays Zimbabwe This public holiday is celebrated on 26th December in several countries as part of the Christmas holidays. Typically it will be moved and celebrated on the next weekday if 26 December is a Saturday or Sunday. If Christmas Day falls on a weekend, Boxing Day may be observed on Tuesday 27 December. It has been said that the name of Boxing Day comes from people getting rid of empty boxes from presents after Christmas day .

While a beguiling notion, the tradition dates back to England in the middle ages, though the exact origin is debatable One theory is that it comes from the fact that servants were given their presents in boxes on this day, the 26th being the first working day after Christmas day. This tradition of giving gifts for service extended beyond servants to tradesmen, such as milkmen, butchers, etc. Another popular theory is that it is named after the custom of priests opening alms boxes in churches after Christmas. These held money which had been donated to the poor and needy in the run up to Christmas. Some churches still open these boxes on Boxing Day. Australia In South Australia, 26th December is a public holiday known as Proclamation day. It celebrates the proclamation of South Australia as a British province by Captain John Hindmarsh when he arrived at Holdfast Bay on 28 December 1836. South Africa In South Africa, December 26th is a public holiday known as the Day of Goodwill. Before 1980, the day was celebrated as Boxing Day. United States Though not a federal holiday many states will observe a holiday on the second day of Christmas.

Many employers will also give the second day of Christmas as a holiday, though this does depend on which day of the week Christmas Day falls on. St. Stephen's Day In non-Commonwealth countries, the day is more commonly referred to as St Stephen's Day or the feast of Stephen as mentioned in the carol 'Good King Wenceslas'. Translate this page About Us Office Holidays provides calendars with dates and information on public holidays and bank holidays in key countries around the world. A valuable resource for planning meetings, increasing diversity awareness and general reference. 4 Ways to Celebrate Boxing Day - wikiHow Being Charitable 1 Volunteer for church functions. Find out if your church follows the tradition of collecting donations from the congregation and distributing them to the less fortunate on Boxing Day. [1] Ask if they need any assistance. If they do, donate your time. 2 Donate your time elsewhere. Embody the spirit of charitability by giving and finding organizations who need volunteers for programs that day. Collect food and/or donations for a food drive. [2] Assist in a soup kitchen. Donate blood. Contribute to improving the lives of others. 3 Plan ahead. Since charity is needed all year round, use Boxing Day to plan your calendar for the upcoming year.

Search online for future events in which you could be of assistance. Plan a budget so you can donate to your favorite charities on a regular basis. 4 Tip people who provide you service. If you haven’t already, give a holiday bonus to your doorman, postal worker, delivery person, and anyone else who provides you with regular service. [3] Although this used to be a strong tradition that originated back when house servants lived onsite with their employers, offering holiday bonuses on Boxing Day itself has waned since carrying over to the modern era. Since many of the people you wish to tip may have the day off, be sure to tip them ahead of time. [4] 5 Be a Wren boy. Buy a stuffed bird and a birdcage light enough to carry. Dress up in fancy women’s fashion. Parade around town and ask for donations from passersby on the street, customers at pubs and restaurants, or by knocking on houses from door to door. [5] Originally actual wrens were hunted down and killed to use as props, but stick to using a stuffed bird instead to avoid upsetting people today. [6] In earlier days, donations were usually collected to fund a dance on the same night.

Although some localities might still have this tradition, many collections are now donated to charity. [7] “Good King Wenceslaus” is a popular carol that’s specific to Boxing Day. The album “Bells of Dublin” by the Irish band The Chieftains also features three Boxing Day carols: “The St. Stephen’s Day Murders,” “The Arrival of the Wren Boys” and “A Wren in the Furze.” Method Playing or Watching Sports 1 Join the fox hunt. Although killing the fox has been largely criminalized, the fox hunt still endures as a popular Boxing Day tradition. Don the red jacket, mount your horse, and participate in the legal substitute of flushing out foxes with your hounds (without killing the fox) or chasing a human substitute instead. [8] 2 Play football. Since football (or soccer, for you Americans) is such an important part of Boxing Day traditions as well as the overall culture of the countries that celebrate it, get out of the house and burn off some of those holiday calories. Organize a neighborhood pickup game. Challenge your family to a match. If you’re on a league team, set up a match with a local rival.

3 Attend games and races. Go to any one of the many horse races, soccer matches, and cricket matches scheduled on Boxing Day. [9] Don’t worry about traveling; most teams make sure to play another that’s nearby so neither the players nor their fans have to go too far from home. [10] 4 Take a dip. Participate in one of many icy swims organized on Boxing Day. Wear something absurdly fancy, take a plunge into the winter sea, and win a medal for bravery while warming back up in front of a beach bonfire with all the other daring souls. [11] Many of these events raise money for charity, so consider it a good deed done! Method Spending Time with Friends and Family 1 Visit family. If your extended family is too large for you to see everyone on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, use Boxing Day to include them in your holidays. Have a formal holiday feast or keep true to the more relaxed spirit of Boxing Day and have a simpler get-together. [12] Popular food served as a Boxing Day meal includes leftover Christmas turkey served as sandwiches or another full meal, or alternately a cold ham or roast beef served as a buffet to minimize prep and cooking.

[13] In the UK and Canada, many restaurants welcome large parties for Boxing Day carveries, or buffets serving roast meats carved to order. 2 Spend time with friends. If you’ve already checked family off your list of holiday duties, feel free to make Boxing Day a time to spend with friends instead. Go to a sporting event or watch one at the local pub. Or just hang out together at someone’s home. [14] 3 Keep it casual. Put the formality of the holidays behind you. Host a potluck where everyone’s free to get rid of their leftovers. Make it a pajama party if you want to make it even less formal and more inviting. Tune into the football marathon on TV, zone out, and be merry. [15] 4 Go on an outing. Since sports and exercise are such a large part of Boxing Day, stay in the spirit and have the whole family get some exercise. Use this extra time together to go for a long hike through the woods or walk through the streets. [16] 5 Attend a pantomime. Take the young kids to see this family-friendly piece of lively theater based on fairy tales, which is traditionally performed on Boxing Day.

Sing along with the musical numbers and interact with the performers onstage. [17] Method Shopping 1 Chase the sales. Take advantage of the more modern tradition of stores opening the day after Christmas, offering deep discounts. Go to larger chain stores and shopping malls, since smaller shops are more likely to remain closed for the holiday. [18] Check the store’s hours for Boxing Day ahead of time, since they may stick to a Sunday schedule regardless of what day of the week it is, or open even earlier than normal. Arrive early since lines may form outside before stores open. 2 Make it a family trip. Retain some of the holiday spirit and make it an outing for the whole family. Include gift cards among your other Christmas presents to family so they can spend them the day after. Build a tradition of your own around the annual sales. [19] 3 Stay true to Boxing Day’s roots. Since charity is considered to be an important aspect of the holiday, use the discounts to shop for others who may lack the means to afford even these sales. For example, buy coats, blankets, and other winter gear for the homeless. Community Q&A Someone having a Boxing Day party, do I need to bring something?

wikiHow Contributor Check with the host or other guests for a consensus. Many Boxing Day meals are made up of leftovers from the Christmas feast, and depending on how much the host has left, they may appreciate yours, too. What do you wear to a Boxing Day party? wikiHow Contributor Why doesn't the USA participate in Boxing Day? After all, aren't we looked at as the generous country to those less fortunate? wikiHow Contributor Although Boxing Day's roots extend far back in British history, it didn't become an official holiday in the UK until 1871, almost a hundred years after the American Revolution. By that time, the USA had already begun celebrating Thanksgiving, which is similar in many ways. History Of Boxing Day What Is the history of boxing day?.... So when is Boxing Day? December 26th, is Boxing Day and is a holiday celebrated in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries. Boxing Day originated in England in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria. For years in which the holiday falls on a weekend, the celebration is moved to make sure workers still get a day off (except in Canada, where it remains Dec.

26) In the UK it's classed as a Bank Holiday. Why Is Boxing Day Called Boxing Day? Boxing Day is so called because it was the custom on that day for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for good and reliable service throughout the year. Boxing Day is also St. Stephen's Day. St Stephen was a little known saint who achieved eternal fame by being the first Christian to be martyred for his faith by being stoned to death shortly after Christ's crucifixion. He's also named in the Christmas song Good King Wenceslas How do we spend Boxing Day? Boxing Day is spent with family and friends at open gatherings with lots of food, fun, friendship and love. Food on boxing day usually includes left over turkey from the day before. This can be eaten in sandwiches or as a meal with vegetables, roast potatoes and all the trimmings. Some people like to have cold ham in a buffet style so the cook can also have a rest and spend time with the family. "Good King Wenceslas Looked Out On The Feast Of Stephen" The traditional celebration of Boxing Day included giving money and other gifts to charitable institutions, needy individuals, and people in service jobs.

The holiday may date from the Middle Ages (A.D. 400's--1500's), but the exact origin is unknown. It may have begun with the lords and ladies of England, who presented Christmas gifts in boxes to their servants on December 26. Or it may have begun with priests, who opened the church's Alms (charity) boxes on the day after Christmas and distributed the contents to the poor. Boxing Day Traditions Some say the tradition stems from Roman times when money to pay for athletic games was collected in boxes. Amongst the ruins of Pompeii, boxes made out of earthenware with slits in the top full of coins have been found. Later the Romans brought the idea of collecting boxes to Britain, and monks and clergy soon used similar boxes to collect money for the poor at Christmas. On the day after Christmas, the priests used to open the boxes and distribute the contents to the poor of the village. Thus this day came to be called Boxing Day. The Wren Boys Of Ireland In Ireland, Boxing Day is known as "St Stephen's Day" and is famous for its "Wren Boys". Tradition says that to kill a wren is unlucky unless it's on Boxing Day.

St Stephen was killed, reportedly stoned to death, for believing in Jesus. In Ireland many years ago the Wren Boys would go out with blackened faces from burnt cork and would stone Wrens to death. They would then tie them to a pole decorated with holly and ribbons and carry their catch around the town knocking at doors and asking for money, food or a gift. In return for a donation the recipient received a feather from the Wren as a thank you. Today this barbaric act has stopped and the Wren boys go around town in fancy dress (usually womens clothing) carrying a stuffed bird in a cage. Wren Boys sing carols and collect money that they give to charity. Shopping And The Boxing Day Sales While government buildings and small businesses are closed, the malls are filled with people either exchanging gifts or buying reduced priced Christmas gifts, cards, and decorations. Many children like to go and spend their gift vouchers that they received on Christmas Day. Most shops and department stores have reduced opening times and usually operate a Sunday time period. In Britain opening times are 10-4pm but some retailers open really early, typically 5am and offer huge discounts and sale items to attract people instore.

It's quite common to see long queues forming early in the morning or overnight as shoppers are eager to grab the bargains on offer. Many stores have had to implement crowd control by limiting entrances and the number of shoppers instore at any one time. Some are now issuing tickets that guarantee them the hot product they have queued up to buy. Due to the popularity of the boxing day sales many stores are now running Boxing Weeks where bargains can be had in the days before and the days after Boxing day. With many people now owning personal connected devices it's far easier to sneak away from the festivities and family on Christmas Day and Boxing Day to do a bit of online shopping via their mobiles or tablets. It's believed that 32% of people will be logging on on Christmas Day, motivated by the fear of missing out on a bargain. Keep Boxing Day shops closed campaign In 2016 there is a campaign underway in the UK to ban the opening of shops on Boxing Day to give shop workers a much needed day off. The petition created by baker Ian Lapworth is aimed at putting an end to the commercialisation of Christmas. The petition currently has 200,000 signatures and will be delivered to Theresa May Prime Minister.

It is not expected to succeed as the government has previously stated that they will not tell any retailers what to do it's for them to decide commercially if they wish to open or not. A recent survey of shoppers revealed that 84% thought that shops should be closed so shop staff can spend 2 days away from work with their family and loved ones. How We Spend Our Boxing Day Money Britain's retail sector is celebrating a record-breaking year as official figures reveal an all-time high for sales in 2015 with sales for the year reaching £400bn - a £100bn increase since 2010. In 2015 shoppers spent £3.74 billion in the Boxing Day Sales up 6% on 2014 with online retailers having their biggest and busiest day with sales of £856 million up 22.5% on last year’s £699m. Onine shoppers spent an amazing £519,000 every minute which meant that high street shops were quieter than the year before. 78% of all Boxing Day transactions took place in stores although online sales were very strong.

An estimated 22 million people visited the high streets and websites looking for deals with many retailers starting their discounts online on Christmas Eve. Pre-Christmas sales are up by 2.6% compared with last year. Britain's retail successes have been credited in part to national promotional days like Black Friday and Panic Saturday. One survey discovered that 18% of shoppers were bored and were shopping as something exciting to do where as 15% were looking to buy replcaements for Christmas gifts they recieved that they did not like. Boxing Day Events Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day is classed as the Christmas Season with Boxing Day falling on the following Monday if December 26th falls on a Saturday or Sunday. Relaxing on Boxing Day is what the majority of people do but some people get out and take part in sporting events. Football matches and horse racing as well as shopping in the sales are some of the popular Boxing Day past times. Traditionally, matches on Boxing Day are played against local rivals. This ideas was to avoid teams and their supporters having to travel long distances to away games the day after Christmas Day. The Boxing Day match is also a very popular event in the sporting calendar.

Traditionally fox hunting was a sport for the upper classes. Dressed in red and with a pack of dogs no fox was safe on this day. Fox hunting is now banned in the UK but the tradition still goes on illegally, although certain modified forms of hunting foxes with hounds are still within the law,. The Boxing Day Traditional Dip The Boxing Day Dip is a charity event where people in fancy dress swim in the sea on Boxing Day. There are several such dips held around Europe, but the largest is organised by the Lions Club of Sunderland, England. The dip takes place at Seaburn beach in Sunderland. This very popular event regularly attracts over 1,000 brave souls and over 5,000 spectators. They raised around £54,000 in 2014. Participants are expected to wear fancy dress and jump into the North Sea. The oldest dip is the Tenby Boxing Day Swim in Pembrokeshire, Wales, which started in 1970. A roaring bonfire meets the swimmers coming out of the sea and all participants receive a medal for bravery. Watch Lori give a light hearted roundup of Boxing Day for Canadians. Boxing Day: What Is Boxing Day?

A Brief History | TIME.com Follow @TIMENewsfeed If you’re looking for something that explains the origins of Boxing Day, well, you’re not going to find it here. The day-after-Christmas holiday is celebrated by most countries in the Commonwealth, but in a what-were-we-doing-again? bout of amnesia, none of them are really sure what they’re celebrating, when it started or why. The best clue to Boxing Day’s origins can be found in the song “Good King Wenceslas.” According to the Christmas carol, Wenceslas, who was Duke of Bohemia in the early 10th century, was surveying his land on St. Stephen’s Day — Dec. 26 — when he saw a poor man gathering wood in the middle of a snowstorm. Moved, the King gathered up surplus food and wine and carried them through the blizzard to the peasant’s door. The alms-giving tradition has always been closely associated with the Christmas season — hence the canned-food drives and Salvation Army Santas that pepper our neighborhoods during the winter — but King Wenceslas’ good deed came the day after Christmas, when the English poor received most of their charity.

King Wenceslas didn’t start Boxing Day, but the Church of England might have. During Advent, Anglican parishes displayed a box into which churchgoers put their monetary donations. On the day after Christmas, the boxes were broken open and their contents distributed among the poor, thus giving rise to the term Boxing Day. Maybe. But wait: there’s another possible story about the holiday’s origin. The day after Christmas was also the traditional day on which the aristocracy distributed presents (boxes) to servants and employees — a sort of institutionalized Christmas-bonus party. The servants returned home, opened their boxes and had a second Christmas on what became known as Boxing Day. So which version is correct? Well, both. Or neither. No one, it seems, is really sure. Both the church boxes and the servant presents definitely existed, although historians disagree on which practice inspired the holiday. But Boxing Day’s origins aren’t especially important to modern-day Brits — Britain isn’t known for its religious fervor, and few people can afford to have servants anymore, anyway. Today’s Boxing Day festivities have very little to do with charity. Instead, they revolve around food, football ( soccer ), visits from friends, food and drinking at the pub.

Boxing Day has been a national holiday in England, Wales, Ireland and Canada since 1871. For years in which the holiday falls on a weekend, the celebration is moved to make sure workers still get a day off (except in Canada, where it remains Dec. 26), but since visits to Grandma and other family obligations are fulfilled on Christmas, there isn’t anything left to do on Boxing Day except eat leftovers, drink and watch TV. Just as Americans watch football on Thanksgiving, the Brits have Boxing Day soccer matches and horse races. If they’re particularly wealthy or live in the country, they might even participate in a fox hunt. The annual Boxing Day fox hunts — which have been held all over the English countryside for hundreds of years — were imperiled in 2005 when Parliament banned the traditional method of using dogs to kill the prey. Despite the dogs’ limited role (they can still chase the animal, but they can’t harm it) hundreds of thousands of people turn out at Boxing Day fox hunts around Britain. The Irish still refer to the holiday as St.

Stephen’s Day, and they have their own tradition called hunting the wren, in which boys fasten a fake wren to a pole and parade it through town. Also known as Wren Day, the tradition supposedly dates to 1601, to the Battle of Kinsale, in which the Irish tried to sneak up on the English invaders but were betrayed by the song of an overly vocal wren — although this legend’s veracity is also highly debated. Years ago, a live wren was hunted and killed for the parade, but modern sentiments deemed it too gruesome. The Bahamas celebrate Boxing Day with a street parade and festival called Junkanoo, in which traditional rhythmic dancers called gombeys fill the streets with their elaborate costumes and headdresses. And of course, there’s the shopping. England and Canada’s Boxing Day evolved into a major shopping event in the 1980s — the equivalent of post-Thanksgiving Black Friday. But this year, many of the sales started earlier in an effort to boost the slumping economy. Boxing Day has evolved from a charitable day to an extended Christmas afternoon. It’s a holiday with presents that have already been opened and a dinner that has been eaten.

It’s a holiday best spent lounging around in brightly colored sweaters, wondering, lazily and lethargically, what to do next. Come to think of it, it’s a wonder Americans haven’t adopted it yet. Boxing Day : snopes.com Boxing Day Boxing Day Does the name of Boxing Day come from the need to rid the house of empty boxes on the day after Christmas? - - Claim: The name of Boxing Day comes from the need to rid the house of empty boxes the day after Christmas false Origin:Few Americans have any inkling that there even is such a thing as Boxing Day, let alone what the reason might be for a holiday so named. And even though Boxing Day is celebrated in Australia, Britain, New Zealand, and Canada, not all that many people in those countries have much of a notion as to why they get the 26th of December off. Boxing Day might well be a statutory holiday in some of those lands, but it's not a well understood one. Despite the lively images suggested by the name, it has nothing to do with pugilistic expositions between tanked-up family members who have dearly been looking forward to taking a round out of each other for the past year.

Likewise, it does not gain its name from the overpowering need to rid the house of an excess of wrappings and mountains of now useless cardboard boxes the day after St. Nick arrived to turn a perfectly charming and orderly home into a maelstrom of discarded tissue paper. The name also has nothing to do with returning unwanted gifts to the stores they came from, hence its common association with hauling about boxes on the day after Christmas. The holiday's roots can be traced to Britain, where Boxing Day is also known as St. Stephen's Day. Reduced to the simplest essence, its origins are found in a long-ago practice of giving cash or durable goods to those of the lower classes. Gifts among equals were exchanged on or before Christmas Day, but beneficences to those less fortunate were bestowed the day after. And that's about as much as anyone can definitively say about its origin because once you step beyond that point, it's straight into the quagmire of debated claims and dueling folklorists. Which, by the way, is what we're about to muddy our boots with.

Although there is general agreement that the holiday is of British origin and it has to do with giving presents to the less fortunate, there is still dispute as to how the name came about or precisely what unequal relationship is being recognized. At various times, the following "origins" have been loudly asserted as the correct one: Centuries ago, ordinary members of the merchant class gave boxes of food and fruit to tradespeople and servants the day after Christmas in an ancient form of Yuletide tip. These gifts were an expression of gratitude to those who worked for them, in much the same way that one now tips the paperboy an extra $20 at Christmastime or slips the building's superintendent a bottle of fine whisky. Those long-ago gifts were done up in boxes, hence the day coming to be known as "Boxing Day." Christmas celebrations in the old days entailed bringing everyone together from all over a large estate, thus creating one of the rare instances when everyone could be found in one place at one time. This gathering of his extended family, so to speak, presented the lord of the manor with a ready-made opportunity to easily hand out that year's stipend of necessities.

Thus, the day after Christmas, after all the partying was over and it was almost time to go back to far-flung homesteads, serfs were presented with their annual allotment of practical goods. Who got what was determined by the status of the worker and his relative family size, with spun cloth, leather goods, durable food supplies, tools, and whatnot being handed out. Under this explanation, there was nothing voluntary about this transaction; the lord of the manor was obligated to supply these goods. The items were chucked into boxes, one box for each family, to make carrying away the results of this annual restocking easier; thus, the day came to be known as "Boxing Day." Many years ago, on the day after Christmas, servants in Britain carried boxes to their masters when they arrived for the day's work. It was a tradition that on this day all employers would put coins in the boxes as a special end-of-the-year gift. In a closely-related version of this explanation, apprentices and servants would on that day get to smash open small earthenware boxes left for them by their masters. These boxes would house small sums of money specifically left for them.

This dual-versioned theory melds the two previous ones together into a new form — namely, the employer who was obligated to hand out something on Boxing Day, but this time to recipients who were not working the land for him and thus were not dependent on him for all they wore and ate. The "box" thus becomes something beyond ordinary compensation (in a way goods to landed serfs was not), yet it's also not a gift in that there's nothing voluntary about it. Under this theory, the boxes are an early form of Christmas bonus, something employees see as their entitlement. Boxes in churches for seasonal donations to the needy were opened on Christmas Day, and the contents distributed by the clergy the following day. The contents of this alms box originated with the ordinary folks in the parish who were under no direct obligation to provide anything at all and were certainly not tied to the recipients by a employer/employee relationship. In this case, the "box" in "Boxing Day" comes from that one gigantic lockbox the donations were left in.

More elaborate versions of this origin involve boxes kept on sailing ships: The title has been derived by some, from the box which was kept on board of every vessel that sailed upon a distant voyage, for the reception of donations to the priest — who, in return, was expected to offer masses for the safety of the expedition, to the particular saint having charge of the ship — and above all, of the box. The box was not to be opened until the return of the vessel; and we can conceive that, in cases where the mariners had had a perilous time of it, this casket would be found to enclose a tolerable offering. The mass was at that time called Christmass, and the boxes kept to pay for it were, of course, called Christmass-boxes. The poor, amongst those who had an interest in the fate of these ships, or of those who sailed in them, were in the habit of begging money from the rich, that they might contribute to the mass boxes; and hence the title which has descended to our day, giving to the anniversary of St Stephen's martyrdom the title of Christmas-boxing day, and, by corruption, its present popular one of Boxing Day.

Whichever theory one chooses to back, the one thread common to all is the theme of one-way provision to those not inhabiting the same social level. As mentioned previously, equals exchanged gifts on Christmas Day or before, but lessers (be they tradespeople, employees, servants, serfs, or the generic "poor") received their "boxes" on the day after. It is to be noted that the social superiors did not receive anything back from those they played Lord Bountiful to: a gift in return would have been seen as a presumptuous act of laying claim to equality, the very thing Boxing Day was an entrenched bastion against. Boxing Day was, after all, about preserving class lines. In the familiar Christmas carol, Good King Wenceslas' gifts of flesh (meat), wine, and firewood were made to a poor man whom he observed struggling through the snow "on the Feast of Stephen." Last updated: 26 December 2016 Originally published: 07 November 2000 Tags: Thank you for writing to us! Although we receive hundreds of e-mails every day, we really and truly read them all, and your comments, suggestions, and questions are most welcome.

Unfortunately, we can manage to answer only a small fraction of our incoming mail. Our site covers many of the items currently being plopped into inboxes everywhere, so if you were writing to ask us about something you just received, our search engine can probably help you find the very article you want. Choose a few key words from the item you're looking for and click here to go to the search engine. (Searching on whole phrases will often fail to produce matches because the text of many items is quite variable, so picking out one or two key words is the best strategy.) We do reserve the right to use non-confidential material sent to us via this form on our site, but only after it has been stripped of any information that might identify the sender or any other individuals not party to this communication. Your Email What Is Boxing Day? Church of England Historians say the holiday developed because servants were required to work on Christmas Day , but took the following day off. As servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers would present them with gift boxes. Despite its name, Boxing Day, which is celebrated on December 26 in Great Britain, has nothing to do with pugilistic competition.

Nor is it a day for people to return unwanted Christmas presents. While the exact origins of the holiday are obscure, it is likely that Boxing Day began in England during the Middle Ages . Some historians say the holiday developed because servants were required to work on Christmas Day , but took the following day off. As servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers would present them with gift boxes. Church Alms Boxes Another theory is that the boxes placed in churches where parishioners deposited coins for the poor were opened and the contents distributed on December 26, which is also the Feast of St. Stephen . As time went by, Boxing Day gift giving expanded to include those who had rendered a service during the previous year. This tradition survives today as people give presents to tradesmen, mail carriers, doormen, porters, and others who have helped them. The Day after Christmas Boxing Day is December 26, the day after Christmas, and is celebrated in Great Britain and in most areas settled by the English (the U.S. is the major exception), including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Bank Holidays Boxing Day is just one of the British bank holidays recognized since 1871 that are observed by banks, government offices, and the post office. The others include Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Whitmonday (the day after Pentecost ), and the banking holiday on the last Monday in August. St. Stephen's Martyrdom The Feast of St. Stephen also takes place on December 26. St. Stephen was one of the seven original deacons of the Christian Church who were ordained by the Apostles to care for widows and the poor. For the success of his preaching and his devotion to Christ, St. Stephen was stoned to death by a mob. As he died, he begged God not to punish his killers. What is Boxing Day? St Stephen's Day | What happens on Boxing Day? | Fox Hunting | Hunting the Wren When is Boxing Day? In Britain, Boxing Day is usually celebrated on the following day after Christmas Day, which is 26 December. However, strictly speaking, Boxing Day is the first weekday after Christmas (see definition in the Oxford English Dictionary). Like Christmas Day, Boxing Day is a public holiday. This means it is typically a non working day in the whole of Britain.

When Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday the following Monday is the public holiday. © copyright of projectbritain.com Why is 26 December called Boxing Day? Traditionally, 26 December was the day to open the Christmas Box to share the contents with the poor. copyright of projectbritain.com What is a Christmas Box? The Christmas box was a wooden or clay container where people placed gifts. © copyright of projectbritain.com History of Boxing Day - Boxing Day origins Through our research for this page, we have discovered that Christmas Boxes were used in different ways: To protect ships During the Age of Exploration, when great sailing ships were setting off to discover new land, A Christmas Box was used as a good luck device. It was a small container placed on each ship while it was still in port. It was put there by a priest, and those crewmen who wanted to ensure a safe return would drop money into the box. It was then sealed up and kept on board for the entire voyage. © copyright of projectbritain.com If the ship came home safely, the box was handed over to the priest in the exchange for the saying of a Mass of thanks for the success of the voyage.

The Priest would keep the box sealed until Christmas when he would open it to share the contents with the poor. To help the poor An 'Alms Box' was placed in every church on Christmas Day, into which worshippers placed a gift for the poor of the parish. These boxes were always opened the day after Christmas, which is why that day became know as Boxing Day. A present for the workers Many poorly paid workers were required to work on Christmas Day and took the following day off to visit their families. As they prepared to leave, their employers would present them with Christmas boxes. copyright of projectbritain.com 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. And the tradition still continues today ...... The tradition of giving money to workers 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.

Schools across the country gather together gifts to be put in Christmas Boxes that are sent to poorer countries. Interesting Christmas Fact The Christmas boxes were made from clay and were necessarily made in the shape of a box. They were often hollow clay balls with a slit in the top. St Stephen's Day Boxing Day is also known as St. Stephen's Day (when Good King Wenceslas looked out). 'Good King Wenceslas looked out, On the Feast of Stephen...........' Who was St Stephen? Stephen lived in Rome and was the first man to be killed for believing in the teachings of Jesus. His story is told in the Acts of the Apostles 6: 1 to 8: 2. Some people claim that he shares this day with another St Stephen, who came from Sweden. St Stephen of Sweden is the patron saint of horses. Boxing Day has long be associated with outdoor sports, especially horse racing and hunting. What happens on Boxing Day in England? Follow this link to read about other events in England, Wales and Scotland Boxing Day Hunts Traditionally Boxing Day was a day for fox hunting.

Horse riders dressed in red and white riding gear, accompanied by a number of dogs called foxhounds, chased the fox through the countryside in the hope of tiring it out. Eventually the hunters hope the fox will be so tired that the dogs will be able to catch it and kill it. Fox Hunting Today Many animal welfare campaigners object to fox hunting saying it is cruel to kill a fox in this way, while many participants view it as a crucial part of rural history in England, vital for conservation, and a method of pest control. In November 2004, MPs voted to ban hunting with dogs in England and Wales. As from 18 February 2005 hunting with dogs became a criminal offence (although it is still legal to exercise hounds, chase a scent and flush out foxes to be shot). It is still traditional to see horse riders dressed in red and white riding gear, accompanied by a number of dogs called foxhounds. However, today instead of chasing a fox they chase a human runner. No living thing is killed. Family Time Traditionally, Boxing Day is the day when families get together. It is a day of watching sports and playing board games with the family.

Boxing Day Tea Many families will go on walks in the countryside together on Boxing day. Shopping In recent times, some shops have broken from tradition and started opening on Boxing Day to start the New Year sales. Hundreds of people now spend Boxing Day morning in queues outside shops, waiting to be the first to dive for the sales racks as the doors opened. Hunting of the Wren It is unlucky to kill a wren on any day apart from Boxing Day. Hunting of the Wren on Boxing Day was once a popular activity in England. Groups of young boys know as 'Wren boys' would hunt a wren and then tie the dead bird to the top of a pole, decorated with holly sprigs and ribbons. With blackened faces, the group would sing at houses in hopes for coins, gifts or food. "The wren, the wren, the king of all birds On St Stephen's Day was caught in the furze, We hunted him far and hunted him near And found him under the bushes here. Hurrah, my boys, hurrah!

Knock at the knocker and ring at the bell, And give us a copper for singing so well." Those that gave money to the boys would receive a feather from the wren as thanks. The collected money was then used to host a village dance. This odd ritual was not restricted to England. It was prevalent in some continental countries on Boxing Day as well as the Isle of Man, Wales and Ireland. The following information has been very kindly provided by Eoghan, Peter and Feidhlim Deering, Ireland. Christmas in Ireland In Ireland, 26th December is known as "St Stephen's Day" rather than "Boxing Day", and is famous for its "Wren Boys". Many years ago the Wren Boys would go out on St Stephen's Day, catch a wren and kill it by throwing stones at it, just as St Stephen was stoned to death. Then they would blacken their faces with burnt cork, tie the dead wren to a pole and parade around the town with it, knocking at all the houses for money.

Nowadays the "Wren Boys" just go round our town in fancy dress (usually the men wear women's dresses and wigs), carrying a stuffed bird in a cage, singing carols and collecting money for charity. Our town also has a famous fox hunt on St Stephen's Day. Some people think this is just as cruel as stoning a wren, but in Ireland it hasn't been banned yet. Learn about England and the other countries in Britain from the children who live in there © Copyright - please read All the materials on these pages are free for homework and classroom use only. You may not redistribute, sell or place the content of this page on any other website or blog without written permission from the Mandy Barrow.

Question: Which saint's day is also known as Boxing Day?
Answer: St Stephen.