No ring needed to celebrate boxing day

[The Patriot]

No ring needed to celebrate boxing day

12-21-2010 05:49 AM

ShareThis Published:
Tue, 2010-12-21 13:47


No ring needed to celebrate boxing day


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No ring needed to celebrate boxing day

Heather Joy

The day after Christmas, known as Boxing Day, in the United Kingdom and its commonwealth countries has origins that can bring people to blows.
The holiday also known as the Fest of St. Stephen, according to Web site factmaster.com, dates back to the middle ages. St. Stephen was a little known saint who achieved eternal distinction by being the first Christian to be martyred for his faith.
One theory suggests that the churches would open their alms boxes and the contents were distributed among the parish’s poor after Christmas.
An additional explanation for the day includes the modern day piggy bank theory, which explains that apprentices ask their master’s customers for tips at Christmas. The money was put into an earthenware container with a slit on top. On Boxing Day the containers would be smashed open eagerly to see what they had received.
Yet another theory suggests that servants were forced to labor on Christmas serving to their masters and their honored guest. On the next day they were rewarded with a day off and gift boxes for their work. Over the years this tradition grew to include the gifts to public servants like the postman and the garbage collector.
Originally the holiday was celebrated on the first working day after Christmas, but now is celebrated on December 26 each year and is public holiday in Britain with banks and most shops closed.








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