Boxing Day
National Holiday observed across the Globe
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Australia |
Celebrated on 26th December. Typically it will be moved and celebrated on the next weekday if 26 December is a Saturday or Sunday.
It has been said that the name of Boxing Day comes from people getting rid of empty boxes from presents after Christmas day. While a beguiling notion, the tradition dates back to England in the middle ages, though the exact origin is debatable
One theory is that it comes from the fact that servants were given their presents in boxes on this day, the 26th being the first working day after Christmas day. This tradition of giving gifts for service extended beyond servants to tradesmen, such as milkmen, butchers, etc.
Another popular theory is that it is named after the custom of priests opening alms boxes in churches after Christmas. These held money which had been donated to the poor and needy in the run up to Christmas. Some churches still open these boxes on Boxing Day.
In non Commonwealth countries, the day is more commonly referred to as St Stephen's Day or the feast of Stephen as mentioned in the carol 'Good King Wenceslas'.
Good King Wenceslas looked out On the feast of Stephen When the snow lay round about Deep and crisp and even
There are two St. Stephens, though St. Stephen's Day commemorates St. Stephen who was the first Christian Martyr. He was stoned to death (circa 34AD) by an mob that was encouraged by Saul of Tarsus, who later became Saint Paul. The other St. Stephen was a Missionary, in Sweden during the dark ages.
South Africa
In South Africa, December 26th is a public holiday known as the Day of Goodwill. Before 1980, the day was celebrated as Boxing Day.
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