In the UK, Boxing Day is the relaxing follow-up to Christmas Day. It is a time for exploring the gifts you received and going for walks amid the twinkling Christmas lights. But where do the origins of this day lie?
A Victorian tradition
The most widespread belief is that its origins can be traced back to the Victorian era – which is when a lot of our festive traditions began. The story is that the servants of wealthy families had the day after Christmas Day off and would receive a ‘Christmas box’ from their employers. This was made up of money, leftover food and presents. It was intended as a way of thanking the servants for their work during the year.
Servants were not the sole beneficiaries of the tradition though. Delivery boys, postmen and apprentices were also given Christmas boxes.
A religious tradition
While that is one theory behind Boxing Day, it is not the only one. Some historians think that it is connected with the alms boxes in churches. These were collection boxes to help the poor and the money in them was distributed on the Feast of St Stephen, which happens to be on the 26th December. If this is true, the name Boxing Day could be a reference to those boxes being opened.
There is a third theory that involves sailors carrying sealed boxes on trips as a superstition, but this one is less likely to be true.
One thing we know for sure – it has nothing to do with boxing matches!
