26 December is Boxing Day, which is recognised annually.
The day after Christmas is traditionally the day for employers to give their employees a gift or “Christmas Box”. The holiday is primarily a British holiday and is celebrated globally in current and formerly British-held countries.
In 1994, Boxing Day was renamed Day of Goodwill in South Africa and to Catholics it is also known as St. Stephen’s Day. In Ireland, Boxing Day is celebrated along with the Day of the Wren. In Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and Scandinavia, 26 December is known as Second Christmas.
Since 1871, Boxing Day has been an official holiday in England, Wales, Ireland and Canada.
The origins of Boxing Day are not too clear and there is a wide variety of answers. Some people say that the song about Good King Wenceslas is the origin of the spirit of the day – not necessarily the day itself. According to the song, the 10th century duke looked out onto his land on St. Stephen’s Day (celebrated on 26 December) and observed a poor peasant. He then proceeded to order wine, food and wood for fuel to be taken to the peasant and called upon all Christian men to bless the poor in the same way.
In the Church of England, it was traditional during Advent for churches to display a donation box, and after Christmas the contents of the box were distributed among the poor.
It was also a tradition among aristocrats to give boxed gifts to their servants and employees.
In modern times though, most of the charity mentioned in Boxing Day stories is lost. Today, popular festivities on 26 December include eating leftovers, watching sport on television, visiting with friends and family, and drinking.
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