What Is “Boxing Day”, Anyway?

What is “Boxing Day”, anyway?

Is it when all the boxes go back into the attic with the Christmas decorations put back safely inside?  Or, is it when all the boxes containing the Christmas gifts are burned in the fireplace?

Or, there again, is it when the biggest boxing match of the season is played in certain countries?

Well it is none of the above.  It is historically when the ladies and gentlemen of the household would give their “staff” and the tradespeople who had helped them during the year, a box containing gifts and money known as a “Christmas box”.  It is really the day that they showed their appreciation to their employees, a day of thanks, if you like, sometimes likened to Thanksgiving Day in The United States.  The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts and bonuses, and sometimes leftover food.  They would not have been able to do this on Christmas Day as, on that day, their staff ,the people “downstairs”, would be busy serving them, the people “upstairs”.

Nowadays, Boxing Day is just another holiday and, being a Canadian, my family has always celebrated Boxing Day.  Boxing Day is celebrated in most of the Commonwealth countries and is the day after Christmas, 26 December.   It spreads the season out and gives one a lovely, restful day to drink in all that has gone on over Christmas.  Well…… for some, it is restful.  The very famous “sales” start on Boxing Day and so many people are out, at the crack of dawn, finding bargains, much like the day after Thanksgiving here in the US.

I must say, it feels very odd to me to not have a holiday the day after Christmas.   Somehow, with all the bustle of Christmas, albeit wonderful “bustle”, it seems very civilized to have a “down day” to put your feet up and relax with family.

So, all this to say, try to squeeze the Boxing Day celebration into your calendar.  It will add to the love, joy and abundant living that we enjoy.