Boxing Day - a Commonwealth Observance

[debodun]

Boxing Day, celebrated on December 26th, originated in Britain as a day for giving gifts in boxes to the poor and servants, stemming from traditions of masters giving servants Christmas Day off with gifts and churches distributing charity from Advent collection boxes.

 

[Jules]

We honour Boxing Day in Canada by having really great sales. People would line up overnight for the best items. Now the ‘sales’, at least that’s what they’re called, last all week. It’s like Black Friday, except on Dec 26th. We now have both.

In many places it’s a paid holiday.

 

[Aunt Bea]

I can’t remember where I saw it but there was a television program that showed the wealthy and powerful Lord of the manor giving his servants new uniforms/livery on Boxing Day…the sad thing was that the servants were portrayed as being happy and thankful with his ‘generosity’.

 

[debodun]

That did a "M*A*SH" episode about this. Col. Potter learns of it through visiting British soldiers. When Klinger hears it he asks, "Who's fighting?" They go on to mention that in their army, officers and enlisted personnel trade places for the day.