Today, December 26th in many commonwealth countries including Canada
Boxing Day is observed.
It is a federal holiday in Canada.
What is Boxing Day you may ask?
Growing up it was just another day... a day to play and eat leftovers...
as I got older and moved away from home, it was a day to get some good bargains
and when I was working...day of double pay.
But what is the origins of Boxing Day
The origins of this day are unclear, but likely it was started in England
One story is that employers would give their servants gifts the day after Christmas in boxes,
another story is that employees were allowed to take home the leftover of Christmas meals in box.
This tradition is carried on when employers give baskets to employees during the holiday season.
Lastly, it may be because of the boxes in the churches where people can leave money for the poor
where opened on the day after Christmas.
We still do some of this when we give money and gifts to those that do services for us,
mail carries, tradesmen, doormen and any others that have helped us.
Although we may not wait until Boxing Day to do this.
December 26th is also the day that the Feast of St. Stephen take place
St. Stephen was one of the deacons,
who was ordained by the apostles to take care of the poor and the widows.
I am planning on making what I would think is a traditional United Kingdom meal in the middle ages
Roast Beef dinner with potatoes and carrots.
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| picture courtesy of Bron Marshall, |
I had family that lived in England and I have always heard of Boxing day, but never knew what it meant. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteI had to look it up when I first moved here to the states as someone asked me what it was about and I had no clue... :)...
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