# Could We Please Stop With The Boxing Day Jokes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 28, 2005, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430 "2005-12-28T11:08:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/21 "2005-12-28T15:51:28Z")
Well, I just wanted to know if you made sure to give gifts to the ENTIRE staff, including the scullery maids. I know you all have them. My grandmother was Canadian and she started out as a scullery maid. True dat. ---
**Author:** ![Elret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Elret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elret)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/22 "2005-12-28T16:33:55Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > They just think of it as quirky Canadiana, like curling and liquid milk in bags. Really you don’t have milk in bags? _And_ no day off on the 26th? I think my head just fell off. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/23 "2005-12-28T16:40:56Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > Seriously – my last name is one letter off from a well-known Jewish holiday… Tom Kippur? Josh Hashana? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/24 "2005-12-28T16:47:30Z")
Purem? Pruim? Puram? Kipper? Skipur? can’t think of any more Jewish holidays! ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/25 "2005-12-28T16:56:09Z")
> [@elenorigby](#): > > can’t think of any more Jewish holidays! Tisha B’Av Sukkot Simchas Torah there is a Rosh Chodash every month Shmini Atzerat the list goes on ;j ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/26 "2005-12-28T16:57:36Z")
> [@Elret](#): > > Really you don’t have milk in bags? > _And_ no day off on the 26th? > I think my head just fell off. milk in bags is a bizarre concept to us 'Merikens but a lot of us had 12/26 off this year because 12/25 was a Sunday and our bosses are nice(-ish) ---
**Author:** ![Elret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Elret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elret)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/27 "2005-12-28T17:11:49Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > … but a lot of us had 12/26 off this year because 12/25 was a Sunday and our bosses are nice(-ish) Right, but I had 12/26 off for Christmas, _and_ 12/27 for Boxing Day… We only get one day for Thanksgiving, though, so I guess it all evens out. I just honestly had no idea! ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/28 "2005-12-28T17:17:43Z")
We do have a “Boxing Day” in the States (at least observed Canadian Style). It’s the day after Thanksgiving. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/29 "2005-12-28T17:24:05Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > Is it my imagination or did there used to be an old tradition on Boxing Day of Master and Staff swapping places? Or is that something the writers of M_A_S\*H made up to create a story situation? bump again Please somebody answer my question! [GlennClose]I will \*not \* be ignored[/GlennClose] ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/30 "2005-12-28T17:26:47Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > bump > again > Please somebody answer my question! > [GlennClose]I will \*not \* be ignored[/GlennClose] Learn patience. Obviously no one currently on line in this thread knows. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/31 "2005-12-28T17:34:07Z")
I’d ask Grandma, but since 1997 I’d have to hold a seance. ☹ I can just imagine all those millions of Canadian and Antipodean and UK servants, rosy cheeked and tugging at their forelocks as their magnificently dressed masters and mistresses grandly distribute a little present to each and every one. “Bless you, squire!” they cry. Awwwww. ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/32 "2005-12-28T17:44:58Z")
You think Boxing Day is rough; my hometown has a Wrestling Day as well. January 2 is Wrestling Day. It was first celebrated when all of the business owners noticed that on the day after New Years nobody was buying anything, so they figured they should have another day to nurse an obviously HUGE hangover they got together with the town council and created Wrestling Day. No joke it is still celebrated. 😃 If I can say one good thing about where I grew up, it is that people sure know how to drink. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/33 "2005-12-28T17:46:26Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > bump > again > Please somebody answer my question! > [GlennClose]I will \*not \* be ignored[/GlennClose] Here is the origin of [Boxing Day](http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/boxing.asp) from Snopes. Nothing that I can see about masters and servants switching places. I think the writers of M_A_S\*H may have been thinking of [Saturnalia](http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-sat1.htm), which was an old Roman holiday in the middle of December. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/34 "2005-12-28T17:47:14Z")
> [@Elret](#): > > Really you don’t have milk in bags? > _And_ no day off on the 26th? > I think my head just fell off. I’ve only ever had milk in bags in India. It was good milk, though, if that’s anything. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/35 "2005-12-28T17:53:28Z")
> [@Elret](#): > > Really you don’t have milk in bags? > _And_ no day off on the 26th? > I think my head just fell off. Crazy, isn’t it. They don’t have Coffee Crisp, either. And think of all the "u"s that are missing from their colours and honours. It’s sad, really. Perhaps we should start a Boxing Day tradition of a moment of silence for our friends down south who are deprived of all these blessings. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/36 "2005-12-28T18:08:16Z")
> [@Elret](#): > > I had absolutely no idea that Americans don’t have Boxing Day! The only time I ever hear of/about “Boxing Day” is when I listen to the Elvis Costello song. Which **Siege** apparently wouldn’t like. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/37 "2005-12-28T18:17:27Z")
Maybe instead of referring to it as Boxing Day, use “St. Stephan’s Day.” Let’s see them make a joke out of that! ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/38 "2005-12-28T19:34:18Z")
Harumph! You lot have cheered me up tremendously. I’m on a brief break, but I did want to pass this on to **NoClueBoy**. You see, I told the gentleman about your reply, and, knowing our history, he claims you just want to get me in a clench! He’s also disappointed he didn’t think of those lines first. By the way, I’m afraid I don’t know anything about masters and servants switching places, although I do remember the episode of _MASH_. I’m afraid my ancestors _were_ the servants and that’s if they had good jobs! CJ ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/39 "2005-12-28T19:47:18Z")
> [@Elret](#): > > Really you don’t have milk in bags? > _And_ no day off on the 26th? > I think my head just fell off. Isn’t it weird? When I moved here to Seattle and asked where in the world they kept their proper bagged milk at the grocery store, my husband burst into laughter. He thought I was joking. My milk pitcher is almost useless. And my husband went to work on the 26th. Cripes! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430/40 "2005-12-29T01:42:09Z")
Meh, it sounds more like a groaner, like the same people who would always chortle, “It must be free!” when at the checkout and something wouldn’t scan. Personally, I prefer “Nap Day”. That’s my day a few days after Christmas when all the hustle and bustle of parties, rich food, shopping and general chaos catch up with me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-please-stop-with-the-boxing-day-jokes/337430.md?page=3)