-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Boxing Day?!?!?!?!?!?
- Thread starter carrie640
- Start Date
If I'm not mistaken, it is a day in England when the bosses and the emmployees change places. I think that the wealthier people also box up some of their gifts and pass them on to their employees or less fortunate people.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #4
Boxing Day in Canada is when all the huge sales go on. It actually ends up being Boxing Week. Everyone buys all their Christmas supplies for next year. You can shop till you drop and alot of items end up at 60-80% off. It's amazing Alot of people don't exchange Christmas gifts until after Dec. 26th because of the sales.
I stay away from the stores on this day and for the rest of the week. it's a mad house
Other than that, I'm not sure what else it means. It is a statutory holiday for everyone (except those in retail.)
I stay away from the stores on this day and for the rest of the week. it's a mad house
Other than that, I'm not sure what else it means. It is a statutory holiday for everyone (except those in retail.)
***Rubs hands together with excitement. I'm one of those people who wait for the sales!!***
I didn't get a chance to go out today, but come first thing tomorrow I'm hitting the stores!! I think it's called boxing day cause people go *mad* with excitement over all the sales and have to *box* their way through the mad crowds
Not like I have any money, but browsing is always fun and I might come across a deal I can't resist.
I didn't get a chance to go out today, but come first thing tomorrow I'm hitting the stores!! I think it's called boxing day cause people go *mad* with excitement over all the sales and have to *box* their way through the mad crowds
Not like I have any money, but browsing is always fun and I might come across a deal I can't resist.
well done Kassandra,
I couldn't have explained the 'boxing' part better.
Happy shopping tomorrow!
I couldn't have explained the 'boxing' part better.
Happy shopping tomorrow!
If Brenda's explanation is correct, it sounds like a day when some good things can happen. Especially if the wealthy are giving to the less fortunate. Maybe we should have Boxing Day here too!!!!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #9
I'm moving to Canada!! Cool cities like Toronto.....Rarely see any garbage on the streets....national health care....never hear about them getting into crap like Iraq......((but the price of GAS would kill me!!))
Oh yes, we here in Canada live in the cleanest most polite country in the world!
After living for the past 7 years in downtown Toronto, I have a seriously different image!
But I agree - Toronto, even with all it's problems is still a cool city! Now we just have to get more electric cars.....
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #11
A few theories.
Centuries ago, ordinary members of the merchant class gave boxes of food and fruit to tradespeople and servants the day after Christmas in an ancient form of Yuletide tip. These gifts were an expression of gratitude to those who worked for them, in much the same way that one now tips the paperboy an extra $20 at Christmastime or slips the building's superintendent a bottle of fine whisky. Those long-ago gifts were done up in boxes, hence the day coming to be known as "Boxing Day."
Christmas celebrations in the old days entailed bringing everyone together from all over a large estate, thus creating one of the rare instances when everyone could be found in one place at one time. This gathering of his extended family, so to speak, presented the lord of the manor with a ready-made opportunity to easily hand out that year's stipend of necessities. Thus, the day after Christmas, after all the partying was over and it was almost time to go back to far-flung homesteads, serfs were presented with their annual allotment of practical goods. Who got what was determined by the status of the worker and his relative family size, with spun cloth, leather goods, durable food supplies, tools, and whatnot being handed out. Under this explanation, there was nothing voluntary about this transaction; the lord of the manor was obligated to supply these goods. The items were chucked into boxes, one box for each family, to make carrying away the results of this annual restocking easier; thus, the day came to be known as "Boxing Day."
Many years ago, on the day after Christmas, servants in Britain carried boxes to their masters when they arrived for the day's work. It was a tradition that on this day all employers would put coins in the boxes, as a special end-of-the-year gift. In a closely-related version of this explanation, apprentices and servants would on that day get to smash open small earthenware boxes left for them by their masters. These boxes would house small sums of money specifically left for them.
This dual-versioned theory melds the two previous ones together into a new form; namely, the employer who was obligated to hand out something on Boxing Day, but this time to recipients who were not working the land for him and thus were not dependent on him for all they wore and ate. The "box" thus becomes something beyond ordinary compensation (in a way goods to landed serfs was not), yet it's also not a gift in that there's nothing voluntary about it. Under this theory, the boxes are an early form of Christmas bonus, something employees see as their entitlement.
Boxes in churches for seasonal donations to the needy were opened on Christmas Day, and the contents distributed by the clergy the following day. The contents of this alms box originated with the ordinary folks in the parish who were thus under no direct obligation to provide anything at all and were certainly not tied to the recipients by a employer/employee relationship. In this case, the "box" in "Boxing Day" comes from that one gigantic lockbox the donations were left in.
Centuries ago, ordinary members of the merchant class gave boxes of food and fruit to tradespeople and servants the day after Christmas in an ancient form of Yuletide tip. These gifts were an expression of gratitude to those who worked for them, in much the same way that one now tips the paperboy an extra $20 at Christmastime or slips the building's superintendent a bottle of fine whisky. Those long-ago gifts were done up in boxes, hence the day coming to be known as "Boxing Day."
Christmas celebrations in the old days entailed bringing everyone together from all over a large estate, thus creating one of the rare instances when everyone could be found in one place at one time. This gathering of his extended family, so to speak, presented the lord of the manor with a ready-made opportunity to easily hand out that year's stipend of necessities. Thus, the day after Christmas, after all the partying was over and it was almost time to go back to far-flung homesteads, serfs were presented with their annual allotment of practical goods. Who got what was determined by the status of the worker and his relative family size, with spun cloth, leather goods, durable food supplies, tools, and whatnot being handed out. Under this explanation, there was nothing voluntary about this transaction; the lord of the manor was obligated to supply these goods. The items were chucked into boxes, one box for each family, to make carrying away the results of this annual restocking easier; thus, the day came to be known as "Boxing Day."
Many years ago, on the day after Christmas, servants in Britain carried boxes to their masters when they arrived for the day's work. It was a tradition that on this day all employers would put coins in the boxes, as a special end-of-the-year gift. In a closely-related version of this explanation, apprentices and servants would on that day get to smash open small earthenware boxes left for them by their masters. These boxes would house small sums of money specifically left for them.
This dual-versioned theory melds the two previous ones together into a new form; namely, the employer who was obligated to hand out something on Boxing Day, but this time to recipients who were not working the land for him and thus were not dependent on him for all they wore and ate. The "box" thus becomes something beyond ordinary compensation (in a way goods to landed serfs was not), yet it's also not a gift in that there's nothing voluntary about it. Under this theory, the boxes are an early form of Christmas bonus, something employees see as their entitlement.
Boxes in churches for seasonal donations to the needy were opened on Christmas Day, and the contents distributed by the clergy the following day. The contents of this alms box originated with the ordinary folks in the parish who were thus under no direct obligation to provide anything at all and were certainly not tied to the recipients by a employer/employee relationship. In this case, the "box" in "Boxing Day" comes from that one gigantic lockbox the donations were left in.
Thanks for that Bunn. I have never know really what Boxing Day was all about, except for the fact it's another holiday. Must be a Commonwealth thing I think.
Thanks for that Bunn. I was never quite sure what it was all about. I remember when I was small we used to have to give some money to the bin-men (their Christmas "box") to ensure that they would "remember" to empty your bins for the rest of the year - they would come and remind you! And a bung to the milk-man, to make sure you got the freshest milk. The only one I give a Christmas "box" to is my window-cleaner - probably as he is the only "service" that I use privately.
I don't have anyone, to tip, except for the newspaper carrier and my delivery is so erratic, I won't tip her. The mail carrier and city garbage people aren't allowed to accept tips.
When I was in New York some years back a woman actually asked me for a tip after she brought us our lunch, so I told her to try using a shampoo for dry hair.
She scowled and walked off. If they ask for a tip they won't get what they expect.
She scowled and walked off. If they ask for a tip they won't get what they expect.
We dont tip in New Zealand and at first I had no idea that you had to tip in the US. I didnt tip at first until hubby explained to me that it is customary. Now I feel guilty if I feel I dont have enough to tip!
Boxing Day
The day after Christmas, the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is better known as Boxing Day. The term may come from the opening of church poor boxes that day; maybe from the earthenware boxes with which boy apprentices collected money at the doors of their masters' clients.
Nowadays, we often see, in certain families, gifts (boxes) given to those who provide services throughout the year.
"Boxing Day" is listed in the Canada Labour Code as a holiday.
Boxing Day originated in England in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria. December 26th became a holiday as boxes were filled with gifts and money for servants and tradespeople.
Also, poor people carried empty boxes from door to door, and the boxes were soon filled with food, Christmas sweets, and money. Parents gave their children small gifts such as, oranges, handkerchiefs, and socks. People also placed old clothing that they didn't need anymore in boxes, and they were given to those in need.
Today, Boxing Day is a holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, and many other Commonwealth nations. It is spent with family and friends at open gatherings with lots of food, fun, and the sharing of friendship and love.
While government buildings and small businesses are closed, the malls are filled with people either exchanging gifts or buying reduced priced Christmas gifts, cards, and decorations.
Throughout the Christmas season, many organizations follow the original tradition of Boxing Day by donating their time, energy, and money to fill the Food Bank, provide gifts for children who live in poverty, or to help an individual family who is in great need at the time.
The day after Christmas, the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is better known as Boxing Day. The term may come from the opening of church poor boxes that day; maybe from the earthenware boxes with which boy apprentices collected money at the doors of their masters' clients.
Nowadays, we often see, in certain families, gifts (boxes) given to those who provide services throughout the year.
"Boxing Day" is listed in the Canada Labour Code as a holiday.
Boxing Day originated in England in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria. December 26th became a holiday as boxes were filled with gifts and money for servants and tradespeople.
Also, poor people carried empty boxes from door to door, and the boxes were soon filled with food, Christmas sweets, and money. Parents gave their children small gifts such as, oranges, handkerchiefs, and socks. People also placed old clothing that they didn't need anymore in boxes, and they were given to those in need.
Today, Boxing Day is a holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, and many other Commonwealth nations. It is spent with family and friends at open gatherings with lots of food, fun, and the sharing of friendship and love.
While government buildings and small businesses are closed, the malls are filled with people either exchanging gifts or buying reduced priced Christmas gifts, cards, and decorations.
Throughout the Christmas season, many organizations follow the original tradition of Boxing Day by donating their time, energy, and money to fill the Food Bank, provide gifts for children who live in poverty, or to help an individual family who is in great need at the time.
