Boxing Day

What's It Wednesday #54

We've all seen it on the calendar with the little guy in boxing gloves and trunks, but what is it really?

For me, it's a chance to share some of the many boxes that I love to collect, but I thought I'd find out and share the real meaning as well. 
 

Boxing Day has been a national holiday in England, Wales, Ireland and Canada since 1871. But there are two schools of thought as to the origin.
 

It might have been started by the Church of England, when 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.

 

It was also customary for tradesmen to collect “Christmas boxes” of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thank you for good service throughout the year. This is an outgrowth to an older English tradition:

 

Since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day off to visit with family. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts and bonuses, and sometimes leftover food.

 

Since it is a banking holiday for everyone, the gentry took this day for the pleasure of hunting, riding or various sporting events.
 

Now, Boxing Day is much like black Friday here in the U.S. It is the U. K.'s biggest shopping day, earning the greatest amount of revenue for the year.

 

Boxing Day has evolved from a charitable day to an extension of Christmas. It's a fabulous day to enjoy those great presents, polish off the leftovers and lounge around in bright sweaters watching sporting events. Why haven't we Americans adopted it yet? Sounds like something we can get behind, right?

 

Hope you enjoyed the boxes.

Happy Boxing Day!

Hugs,

Patti

 

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A Stroll Thru Life

 

Charm Bracelet Diva {at Home}

 

Savannah Granny

Sullivan and Murphy

Jbigg's Little Pieces

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