It’s Boxing Day.

Posted on December 26, 2019 by

23 Comments

White breasted nuthatch

Hello everyone and happy Boxing Day!  Probably many of you are wondering what I’m talking about.  It has nothing to do with boxing, that is, not the “sport” where 2 people try to beat each others brains into senselessness.  My apologies if you happen to enjoy boxing, just tossing in a little humor.  Or something.  Anyway, Boxing Day, which is December 26, is a holiday in the UK and other British Commonwealth countries, which includes Canada.

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Red breasted nuthatch

Where did the odd name come from?

This goes back to the old pioneer days.  The day after Christmas was a big discount day at the local general store and everyone from the surrounding district would descend on this store to get in on all the amazing discounts.  Sometimes as much as 5 cents off some items.  However, demand would always exceed supply so fights would take place.  Thus the day became known as Boxing Day.  This fighting in the stores continues to this day.  That’s my theory.

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Chickadee with sunflower seed

There are other theories…

Don’t like mine?  Okay, let’s try this one.  The term comes from England and was first used in actual print in the year 1833.  Four years later Charles Dickens used the name in “The Pickwick Papers”.  But why this name?  Centuries ago, lords and other wealthy people would distribute “Christmas boxes” filled with gifts, money and food to their servants and employees, who were required to work on Christmas Day.  This was in recognition of good service throughout the year, basically these were a holiday bonus.  This tradition was started hundreds of years ago.

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Look close and you can see that Baxter has 2 peanuts

But then…

Another possibility is that the name came from alms boxes that churches had by their doors, sometimes inside, sometimes outside, that people would put money in leading up to Christmas.  Then the day after Christmas the money was counted and given to the poor of their district.

So there we have it…

I like my theory, but I think the second one is the most likely.  Even here, back in the 1800s and early 1900s, the practice of taking boxes of gifts and food to poor neighbors after Christmas was quite common.

So, Happy Boxing Day everyone, I hope you enjoy your day and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

© 2019 Steve McLeod.

 

Category: Canada, Christmas, Compassion, Encouragement, Friends, Friendship, Fun, Happiness, Help, History, Kindness, Life, Photos, Positive, Uncategorized, WinterTags: , , , , , , , ,

23 Comments on “It’s Boxing Day.”

  4. I honestly thought that Boxing Day was American, except my American friends don’t know what Boxing Day is. We drove to Hilton Hills today and the traffic jams were INSANE. Now I remember why I never shop on Boxing Day.

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    • Hi Hilary, thanks for stopping by. Yep, British it is. Most Americans don’t know what it’s all about, though some do. Actually a holiday now in Massachusetts. I never go shopping on Boxing day, even in this little town, much too crazy for me. Well, I did try it once, but that was enough, never again.😂😂

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  6. They should renamed it,”Money Spending Day”. I heard about Boxing Day long time ago. Now there is many other days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I will avoid any those days for shopping 😀

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    • I agree! Boxing day is just more spending and the sales are not even that good. But it’s also the day people return gifts they didn’t want! People need to rethink what they do sometimes. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!😃😺⛄🌲

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  8. Hi Steve, i happened to learn about Boxing day this year only, i decided to read and know all the major events everyday and this is one i actually thought a boxing day – just like u mentioned i thought two boxers senselessly doing weird things to their head🤪😂 then i read the history. And here too✨😋 Thanks for sharing this beautiful information ✨😉

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    • There has actually been a lot of theories run around about this holiday,🤔 probably a combo of the 2 I mentioned.😀😀 I still like my theory though.😂😂😹😹🙄

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