On a typical American calendar, the day after Christmas is clearly marked as Boxing Day, often with “Canada” written in parentheses to explain that this holiday is not celebrated in the United States. About 99% of Americans believe that Boxing Day is a holiday set aside for some sort of boxing recognition (such as a huge annual boxing tournament) or perhaps a day when everything is boxed up, returned, put away, or discreetly tossed in the trash.
I was certainly one of those Americans until recently, when Boxing Day was explained to me in detail. It has nothing to do with two men slugging it out in a ring in front of a boisterous crowd. There are disputed origins of the holiday, and many theories about its beginnings. Most people simply accept that it is a day to recognize those who have helped throughout the year.
The Origins of Boxing Day
Boxing Day may have actually begun in the Middle Ages, as a sort of “Christmas Day” for the servants who had been expected to work for their employers on Christmas Day. After fulfilling their work obligations, they were given the following day off to spend with their families and enjoy their own holiday.
Before leaving their place of servitude, the servants were presented with gift boxes by their employers as a gesture of gratitude for their ongoing service. And thus, Boxing Day was born. Other theories suggest that the servants were sent with boxes of leftover Christmas dinner, while some claim that the servants would arrive at their employers’ homes on December 26th carrying a box, which their employers would then fill with coins, food, and small gifts.
One more abstract theory suggests that during medieval times, a wren was captured and placed in a box. A young boy would then take the wren from house to house in the village, so the villagers could ask the wren whether they would have a good harvest that year. Despite the confusing origins, Boxing Day still holds its place on the calendar and has nothing to do with two men slugging it out inside a roped-off ring.
Boxing Day is widely celebrated throughout Canada, England, and English-speaking colonies. It is equivalent to the American legal holidays, which the English and Canadians call “Banking holidays.” This term refers to the closure of banks, government offices, schools, and the post office, although not all businesses close for Boxing Day.
The Feast of St. Stephen shares the spotlight with Boxing Day. St. Stephen was a martyr and one of the original seven deacons in the Christian Church. The seven deacons had been ordained by the Apostles to care for widows, the elderly, the poor, and those who were mentally or physically ill. There is some speculation that it is no accident that these two days fall on the same date, as the servants were entitled to a day off, and it is possible that they were given the day closest to Christmas that was already considered a holiday. Again, this is pure speculation.
There is an interesting link between Boxing Day and the Feast of St. Stephen that many historians attribute to the relieving of the servants. Historically, December 26th is the day when the poor boxes in churches were opened, and their contents were distributed among the poor. However, very few historians believe that Boxing Day’s origins are linked to this poor box distribution, although a few do.
Boxing Day Today
Boxing Day has survived all this time, although the practice of employing servants has largely disappeared. While some people still hire individuals to tend their gardens or clean their homes, we no longer typically employ “servants.” Today, the holiday tradition extends to people who hold positions of public service, such as mail carriers, tradespeople, doormen, law enforcement, firefighters, and anyone else who has been helpful throughout the year.
The United Kingdom has elevated Boxing Day to such importance that it now extends into a week-long celebration, though many people attribute this extended duration to the high retail sales that can be achieved. In most countries that celebrate Boxing Day, the sales are quite profitable for retailers.
Boxing Day, regardless of its origin or its retail potential, remains a day set aside for recognizing those who consistently use their talents to help others. It is a day to simply say, “Thank you.”
