Significance of Boxing Day

Boxing Day got its name when Queen Victoria was on the throne in the 1800s; and has nothing to do with the sport of boxing.

The name comes from a time when the rich used to box up gifts to give to the poor. The origin of the name has varied; with some believing that it’s derived from the opening of alms boxes that had been placed in churches for the collection of donations to aid the poor. Others, however, have help that it came from the boxes of gifts given to employees on the day after Christmas.

Boxing Day was traditionally a day off for servants; a day when they received a special Christmas box from their masters. The servants would also go home on Boxing Day to give Christmas boxes to their families.    

Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide. Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts to the poor; today Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday.

The day also has religious connections as is celebrated as Saint Stephen’s Day in Ireland; and the Catalonia region of Spain.

In some European countries such as Hungary, Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands; Boxing Day is celebrated as a second Christmas Day.

Churches also played a part in the creation of Boxing Day. Through the year, they would take money from church members in the form of a collection and hand it out at Christmas. Many of them stored the collection in a box, which they opened on Christmas Day. The money will then be handed out to the poor the next day which is Boxing Day.

As you enjoy and celebrate with your family and friends; do not forget to gift out a box to the less privilege, homeless, motherless; and God will reward the works of your hand.

 Happy Boxing Day from all of us at Terraskills

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