Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26 by the United Kingdom, its commonwealth countries, and some former colonies. Throughout history, Boxing Day has been a time to give back or help those less fortunate.
Explanations for the origin of the name have varied. Some have held that it came from the boxes of gifts given to employees on the day after Christmas. According to this theory, because the work of servants was required for the Christmas Day celebrations of their employers, they were allowed the following day for their own observance of the holiday. The lords and aristocrats would give their servants "Christmas boxes" filled with leftovers and small gifts after the parties, leading to the name Boxing Day.
Another popular theory is that the term Boxing Day arose from the alms boxes that were placed in churches during the Advent season for the collection of monetary donations from parishioners. Clergy members distributed the contents of the boxes to the poor on December 26, which is also the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr and a figure known for acts of charity.
The traditional Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas" tells the story of one of the possible origins of Boxing Day. The events of this carol take place on December 26th, the Feast of St. Stephen. In the song, Wenceslas, a 10th century Duke of Bohemia, sees a poor man and decides to help him. The duke enlists the help of his page in gathering food, wine, and firewood, boxing it all up so that they can take it to the poor man. Then, Wenceslas and his page brave a blizzard to deliver the boxes of goods.
Hosting a Boxing Day party is also a great way to finish off some of the Christmas food that used to go in boxes for the servants. Turkey is a traditional British Christmas meal and on Boxing Day, many enjoy a turkey curry (if you've watched the Bridget Jones movies, you'll remember her mother's turkey curry buffet). Another classic Boxing Day dish is bubble and squeak which is fried leftover potatoes and greens (cabbage or Brussels sprouts) from the Christmas meal.
Although the practice of almsgiving on December 26 has faded with charity now being given in the weeks leading up to Christmas, the Boxing Day name has endured. These days, December 26 is a popular holiday in the United Kingdom and commonwealth countries. Stores run shopping deals, similar to Black Friday, and fans cheer on sporting events such as soccer, cricket, rugby, horse racing, and hunting.
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