What’s Boxing Day about?
Boxing Day occurs on 26 December. Its origins are a bit obscure ...
Boxing Day takes place on 26 December and is only celebrated in a few countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and many European countries. In South Africa, it is now known as the Day of Goodwill.
But where did the name ‘Boxing Day’ originate from if the day has nothing to do with any kind of ‘boxing’?
According to www.whychristmas.com it is known as ‘Zweite Feiertag’ (second celebration) in Germany. This then translates to Boxing Day, even though it doesn’t literally mean that.
Boxing Day was allegedly started in the UK, roughly 800 years ago. It was traditionally the day when the collection boxes for the poor that were often kept in churches were opened so that the contents could be distributed to the poor people.
It was also traditional that servants got the day off to celebrate Christmas with their families on Boxing Day.
December 26 is also celebrated as St Stephen’s Day in some parts of the globe.
There you have it. It’s now time to do the walk of shame back home and take off those boxing gloves.
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