Today is Boxing Day
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
Canada
December 26, 2016 7:42am CST
When I first moved to Canada, at Christmas I heard the the 26th was called Boxing Day. I had no idea what it was and a neighbor told me it was the day that everyone boxes up their gifts and return them to the stores and exchange them to what they really wanted instead.....
I thought that was a bit off as far as history but she was my closest friend and I was new to Canada...I believed her... silly me...
Then a friend and I went to Dundurn Castle in Hamilton Ontario, to see their Historic Victorian Christmas. The house was awesome and the decorations for the season were beautiful. A guided tour through the old home was very interesting.
The explanation of what Boxing Day was! On christmas all the staff have to take care of the owners Christmas, making sure their day is wonderful. Boxing day is the day the staff in the huge mansions had off to celebrate their Christmas. A Box filled with important things was given to every employee as a Christmas Gift.
The following from the internet:
One idea is that December 26 was the day centuries ago when lords of the manor and aristocrats typically distributed “Christmas boxes” often filled with small gifts, money and leftovers from Christmas dinner to their household servants and employees, who were required to work on December 25, in recognition of good service throughout the year. These boxes were, in essence, holiday bonuses.
This above is from
So it turned out my neighbor had no idea of where the term Boxing Day came from. But I know!
How do you celebrate Boxing Day? It's a quiet day for us.
December 26 is not only a day for Santa Claus to catch his breath but a public holiday known as Boxing Day in the United Kingdom and other B...
14 people like this
13 responses
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
27 Dec 16
I went to exercise class and that is about it for me today.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
29 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate I know our classes were suspended for this week but the one at the senior center was still on. Luckily we didn't know the water classes were canceled and we bumped into our teacher at the pool and we got a private class, it was fun.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
29 Dec 16
@BelleStarr The Y was open but no classes on Boxing day...I could have gone and used the pool but I'm basically lazy...
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@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
29 Dec 16
I stayed home, there were no classes at the Y on Boxing Day. I really miss my water aerobics when its not offered. Today it snowing and raining and I am staying home, maybe time to start putting Christmas away...
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
26 Dec 16
I always thought it was a day to return gifts as well. I have a couple of Canadian friends and I think that's how they explained it to me. Must be the real reason behind it has been lost for quite awhile.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
27 Dec 16
Unless you go to a museum like I did, you probably wouldn't be told...except I think in School it must be taught at some level.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
28 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate I mentioned it to my husband as we drove up to Niagara Falls yesterday and we were discussing Canada. He forgot they had a holiday called Boxing Day, but when I told him, he also thought it was for the returns/exchanges. I set him straight!
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
27 Dec 16
I had no idea what it was when I lived through the first one, now I do... too.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
28 Dec 16
We don't celebrate boxing day here in the U.S. I never even heard of it before until we made friends with someone who was from Wales and they told us the meaning. I found it very interesting as I do other customs and traditions throughout the world.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
30 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate I don't blame you at all. Here in the U.S., people were acting stupid the day after Christmas because of sales.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
29 Dec 16
It was a surprise to me when we moved here. My daughter shops on Boxing day but not me...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
30 Dec 16
No, that's not what its about! Thanks for the laugh.1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
26 Dec 16
Have a most wonderful Boxing Day. I am just going to run out right quick and pick up some Christmas Wrapping Paper as it goes on sale for like 25 cents a roll in a local store. I am running out so I want to get some of that.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
29 Dec 16
I refuse to shop on that day, Luckily when I was younger I stocked up of Christmas paper and don't need it...
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
29 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate I had enough to last like 4 years but those 4 years have come and gone, so it was time to restock.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
27 Dec 16
You are now one up with information and thanks for sharing it here. And as far as I am concerned I really thought everyone had boxing 'routs' .
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
29 Dec 16
Too funny. I didn't know anything about the event until I moved here...its a legal holiday too...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
27 Dec 16
When we moved here I had never heard of it before....
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
26 Dec 16
This is interesting to learn. Not too many in our area have a clue what it is about.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
29 Dec 16
I never heard of it before moving to Canada but I like the history part...
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
26 Dec 16
When I was looking up the facts about Boxing day I saw St. Stephens day for the first time...I'd not heard of it before today...
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
27 Dec 16
yes it's a quiet day for us we went for a walk and watched tv..and ate a variety of leftovers ... whivh is quite traditional if you are not going visiting ...lol..
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
29 Dec 16
We don't do much on Boxing day, we did have some friends over for a drink in the afternoon and nibbles. My daughter went shopping but I dislike crowds.
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
29 Dec 16
Since I never knew about it while in the States, its just another day. I liked learning about the history from Victorian times, but we usually just stay home and relax.
