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Boxing Day is celebrated
on December 26th.
It is a statutory
holiday in the federal
jurisdiction and in
Ontario. If it falls on
a Saturday or a Sunday,
the working day
immediately preceding or
following Boxing Day is
considered a legal
holiday.
Boxing Day, also known
as the Feast of St.
Stephen (after the first
Christian martyr),
originated in England in
the middle of the
nineteenth century under
Queen Victoria. It
originated as a holiday
for members of the
merchant class to give
boxes containing food
and fruit, clothing,
and/or money to trades
people and servants. The
gifts were an expression
of gratitude similar to
the bonuses many
employers offer their
employees today. These
gifts, usually given in
boxes, gave the holiday
its name, "Boxing Day."
Also related to the
origin of Boxing Day is
the tradition of opening
the alms boxes placed in
churches over the
Christmas season.
The contents of these
boxes were distributed
amongst the poor, by the
clergy, the day after
Christmas.
Today, Boxing Day is a
holiday in the United
Kingdom, Canada, and
many other Commonwealth
nations. It is a time
for family and friends
to gather with lots of
food and fun. Outdoor
sports such as soccer,
horse racing and hunting
are popular on this
holiday. Retailers offer
huge savings on many
items on this day,
making it the biggest
shopping day of the year
in Canada.
Throughout the
Christmas season,
many organizations keep
the original tradition
of Boxing Day alive by
donating their time,
energy, and money to
fill the Food Bank and
provide gifts for the
poor.
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