Hooray For Boxing Day!

I've done a few posts about Christmas, like "Yule Like This Christmas Story" and "Christmas Oddities", but Boxing Day was never discussed and I'm always curious about the origins of special occasions.

There are several stories about how Boxing day began, and they all seem to make sense. Being somewhat cynical about certain annual celebrations, like "Valentine's Day", I had my theory that Boxing Day was related to retail sales.

Perhaps that's just the slant put on the occasion in this day and age, since retailers will use whatever scheme works to promote sales, but the origins of Boxing Day is actually about helping the poor.

The story of Stephen, a Jew who had converted to the Christian faith, regards his appointment by the Apostles as one of seven deacons to administer the sharing of alms amongst the poor. Eventually he was targeted by opposing factions and accused of crimes for which he was stoned to death, thus becoming the first Christian martyr. From then on, the day after Christmas was celebrated as The Feast of St. Stephen and the association to giving alms to the poor was established.

You will recall the lyrics of the Christmas carol "Good King Wencelas" (circa 903-935), whereby he looked out on the Feast Of St. Stephen and saw a poor man gathering winter fuel, whereby he set out with his page to deliver food and wine to the man in his home.

art work by Arthur J Gaskin (16 March 1862 – 4 June 1928)

The final verse of the song gives this advice...

"Therefore, Christian men, be sure, while God’s gifts possessing,
You who now will bless the poor shall yourselves find blessing."

"Giving Alms To The Poor" by Francis Wheatley

Eventually, the Boxing day tradition included the giving of Christmas boxes to those in servitude, who could then celebrate the Christmas season with their own families.