NationStates Jolt Archive

My calendar says it is Boxing Day, I have always wondered what that was aboot...

I had great fun with this one!

I'm English and my wife is American. Shortly before our first Christmas together I mentioned the term 'Boxing Day' and she asked me what it meant.

I told her that, by English tradition, it was customary for members of a family to gather on the 26th of December and fight each other. I would box against my brother-in-law, my mother would box against her sister-in-law and my wife would be expected to fight against my sister.

One of the things I love about Americans is the way that many of you are convinced that we Brits are completely deranged :D

Anyway, I let her panic for a couple of minutes and explained that the term originates from the old (and long-discontinued) practice of the well-off donating presents (presumably in boxes) to the poor on the day after Christmas.

My calendar says it is Boxing Day, I have always wondered what that was aboot...
its another one of those traditions practiced everywhere in the (western read non oriental) world but america

it was customary for members of a family to gather on the 26th of December and fight each other. I would box against my brother-in-law, my mother would box against her sister-in-law and my wife would be expected to fight against my sister.

We Brits are completely deranged :D




I know!

Isn't it the day that the rich types would give their servants gifts in boxes or something?

It's pretty simple. A day to put things in boxes and get all the junk out of the way.

Personally I prefer the Irish tradition of calling it St Stephen's Day.

I like to call it "Xmas II" to piss off Christians.

What is Boxing Day? (http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/boxing.asp)

I like to call it "Xmas II" to piss off Christians.

Xmas II: This Time Its Personal?

Now I know. Thank very much everyone... and Happy Boxing Day

It's the day in Europe wherever boxes each other. Men, women, children, infants, cats, dogs, camels, etc..

Personally I prefer the Irish tradition of calling it St Stephen's Day.
I prefer the even more Irish tradition of calling it Wren's Day.

I prefer the even more Irish tradition of calling it Wren's Day.

Checks Wikipedia...hmm, interesting: this I have not encountered before.

I was watching this episode of M*A*S*H and these British Soldiers said Boxing Day was when the officers switched with the privates. In the episode Klinger switched places with Lt. Col. Blake with hilarious consequences.

I was watching this episode of M*A*S*H and these British Soldiers said Boxing Day was when the officers switched with the privates. In the episode Klinger switched places with Lt. Col. Blake with hilarious consequences.

IIRC the real tradition in the British Army like this is that on Christmas day it is the officers that serve the non-comissioned ranks their dinner in the mess.

I can remember as a child growing up in England, I worked as a paperboy every morning before going to school. Boxing Day was the day I got to knock on my customers door and wish them a Merry Christmas and hopefully receive my "Christmas Box" (a tip for service during the year)
It used to be a busy morning because your dustmen, milkman, postman etc would all knock on your door.

I can remember as a child growing up in England, I worked as a paperboy every morning before going to school. Boxing Day was the day I got to knock on my customers door and wish them a Merry Christmas and hopefully receive my "Christmas Box" (a tip for service during the year)
It used to be a busy morning because your dustmen, milkman, postman etc would all knock on your door.

Boxing Day seems like a very nice tradition, I wish it was celebrated in the US, next Christmas I am going to give gifts to those in the service industries I frequently use on Boxing Day and tell all about it.