With the exception of the United States, Boxing Day is a public holiday for most English speaking countries around the world.  And, no, it has nothing to do with two guys punching it out in a ring.

For many, Boxing Day is often referred to as Christmas Day Part Two where families continue to enjoy the holiday for a further twenty-four hours.  This tends to make visiting other family members a little less hurried than having to drop by and see everyone on Christmas Day – you can spread the visitations over a two day period and not upset anyone.

 

The exact origins of Boxing Day are generally unknown – there are several different theories – but most agree that the name comes from something referred to as The Dole of the Christmas Box, a custom that dates back to the middle-ages when alms for the poor – collection boxes – were placed in churches at Christmas then opened on December 26 where its contents were then distributed among the needy.

Another theory is based upon the habits of the class system during Victorian times.  Because the working staff of the upper-classes had to work and continue to serve their employees on Christmas Day they were usually given the 26th off to be with their own families.  The servants would ‘box’ up the leftover food from their masters’ Christmas Day dinner and share it with their own families the following day, hence the term Boxing Day.

Up until recently, in Britain, the term also referred to the day when people would generously tip those whose job it was to deliver things to homes, like the milkman, the mailman, the paperboy, or perhaps even the dustman (trash collector) though this habit appears to have all but vanished, much to the chagrin of the milkman, the mailman, the postman, the paperboy and the dustman.

 Countries that get a second day of taking it easy, lounging in front of the TV and eating left-over turkey include Gt. Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, several British Commonwealth countries, and even Greece who would never say no to an extra holiday.  Why it was never introduced in America is unknown, but for those who like the idea of making Christmas Day a two-day holiday, write to Congress, but act fast; there’s only one year to go before Christmas and you know how fast Congress acts.