Boxing Day

Buica Adela Maria clasa a VII – a Palatul Copiilor Focsani

Focsani – Judetul Vrancea
Prof. coordonator - Raluca Maria Dragomir

When I found out about Boxing Day, I wandered what it means, and where this unusual
name comes from. You may find the answers interesting.
Boxing Day is a national holiday in the UK and Ireland on the 26th December, a day
to spend with family and friends and to eat up all the leftovers of Christmas Day. It is only
celebrated in a few countries such as Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand) and
in some European countries. In Germany it is known as "Zweite Feiertag” (which means
'second celebration'). The day also has religious connections and is celebrated as Saint
Stephen's Day in Ireland and the Catalonia region of Spain. In some European countries - such
as Romania, Hungary, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and Scandinavia - Boxing Day is
celebrated as a second Christmas Day.
It was started in the UK about 800 years ago. It was the day when the collection boxes
for the poor often kept in churches, were traditionally opened so that the contents could be
distributed to poor people. Some churches still open these boxes on Boxing Day. It might have
been the Romans that first brought this type of collecting box to the UK, but they used them to
collect money for the betting games which they played during their winter celebrations.
Wonder why it is called Boxing Day? I’ll try to give you an answer.
The name is a reference to holiday gifts. A ‘Christmas Box’ in Britain is a name for a
Christmas present. Boxing Day was traditionally a day off for servants and the day when they
received a ‘Christmas Box’ from the master. The servants would also go home on Boxing Day
to give ‘Christmas Boxes’ to their families. Before World War II, it was common for working
people (such as milkmen, butchers, bakers etc) to travel round their delivery places and collect
their Christmas box or tip. This tradition has now mostly stopped and any Christmas tips, given
to people such as postal workers and newspaper delivery children, are not normally given or
collected on Boxing Day. The name is also a reference to charity actions. A box to collect
money for the poor traditionally and placed in Churches on Christmas day and opened the next
day.
Activities on Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a time to spend with family or friends, usually those not seen on
Christmas Day. In our times, the day is associated with many sports. Horse racing is most
popular all over the country. Many top football teams also play on Boxing Day.
Boxing Day is also a time when the British show their weirdnesses by taking part in all
kinds of funny and silly activities. These include bizarre traditions including swimming the icy
cold English Channel, fun runs, and charity events. It's also when shops traditionally had big
sales after Christmas in the UK (like Black Friday in the USA).
Food and Drink on Boxing Day
 Lunch will usually be a buffet or remains food from Christmas lunch. Baked ham is a
popular Boxing Day meat along with pease pudding and mince pies with brandy butter or a
slice of Christmas cake or other dessert.
For many people Boxing Day actually only means one thing – leftovers.
Let's face it, many people prepare way too much food for Christmas Day and end up
eating it for the next week! Turkey pies and the famous turkey sandwich.
In the end I realised that the most important thing on Boxing Day is sharing. Between
friends and family but also (in my opinion even more important) with the poor people.

Bibliographie:
- Wikipedia;
- bbc.co.uk.