What's the origin of Boxing Day

A. Boxing Day, celebrated in Britain on 26 December, has its origins the Middle Ages. Thanks to smanian76 for the question. Some historians say the holiday developed because servants were required to work on Christmas Day, but took the following day off. As servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers would present them with boxes.< xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Q. Boxes

A. It could be a gift, or money. As time went by, Boxing Day gifts expanded to include those who had rendered a service during the previous year. This tradition survives as people gave presents to tradesmen who have helped them. My grandparents would always refer mysteriously to 'Christmas boxes' for the milkman, dustman etc. It was an old expression for a tip, a gratuity. And it might also have referred to alms boxes.

Q. What are they

A. Boxes were put in churches for parishioners to deposit coins for the poor. These were opened and the contents distributed on 26 December, the Feast of St Stephen. (As in Good 'King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen'). Some people also insist it was the day when old clothes were boxed up to be given to the poor.

Q. And who was this St Stephen

A. Stephen was one of the seven original deacons of the Christian church who were ordained by the Apostles to care for widows and the poor. For the success of his preaching and his devotion to Christ, St Stephen was stoned to death by a mob. As he died, he begged God not to punish his killers.

Q. And how is Boxing Day celebrated now

A. For millions, it's just another day eating too much, drinking too much and watching the television. It is marked only in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Christmas Day is always the day you spend at home with your family, but Boxing Day is the day you would go to your grandparents' home. A Boxing Day meal usually includes ham or roast lamb. Boxing Day has also come to incorporate sports, such as football, after Christmas. It is also a day when traditionally local fox hunts meet.

Q. And it's a bank holiday

A. Yes, since 1871, when MP for Maidstone Sir John Lubbock's Bank Holiday Act was passed. Before 1834, banks observed 33 days a year as bank holidays, mostly saints' days and religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter. In 1834, however, most of these were stopped, except Good Friday, 1 May, 1 November, and Christmas Day. Lubbock's act made the following bank holidays in England and Ireland: Easter Monday, Whit Monday, the first Monday in August, and Boxing Day (26 December). In Scotland they got New Year's Day, May Day, the first Monday in August, and Christmas Day.

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Steve Cunningham