# So what is this "Boxing Day" you speak of? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 27, 2000, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901 "2000-11-27T19:39:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2000, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/1 "2000-11-27T19:39:07Z")
My company usually gives two days off for Christmas - Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Sincy C. Eve falls on a Sunday, we’re getting Boxing Day off instead. What am I supposed to do on Boxing Day? What are the prescribed activities? What exactly is Boxing Day? What do you Commonwealthers usually do? That’s about all I want to know! ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2000, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/2 "2000-11-27T19:58:29Z")
Called a “search engine”. You see, you type in a subject and a list of websites with possible information show up. Wow! Anyway, on it I found: [http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/7214/boxing.htm](http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/7214/boxing.htm) Which contains: > [@](#): > > Boxing Day originated in England in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria. December 26th, or Boxing Day, 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. Happy reading! Zette ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2000, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/3 "2000-11-27T20:09:19Z")
Well in Ireland the 26th is St. Stephens Day. I guess we changed the name after we got independence. It is a day that most people (nearly everyone I know) go to the pub and have a right good piss up. Some local pubs have a closed door policy and only allow locals in. Pubs are closed here on x-mas day (unlike the UK) so we have to make up for a whole day without a pub 😉 ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2000, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/4 "2000-11-27T21:09:36Z")
**Zette** , thanks so much for your helpful link; however, I was really interested in what _you_ do on Boxing Day (hence, my posting this in IMHO, not GQ)! Let me restate my OP: What do you think a good Boxing Day activity would be? (yojimbo: that definitely sounds like a good start!) ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/5 "2000-11-28T00:03:06Z")
Around here everybody shops on Boxing Day. When you watch the news that night, its amazing how many people will stand in line for hours just for a good deal. Me, I stay the hell away from all stores! ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/6 "2000-11-28T00:24:55Z")
I remember one M_A_S_H episode where a British officer was in camp, and told them about a boxing day tradition where the owners waited on the servants for a day, so the British officers took orders from enlisted men for a day, and the M_A_S_H camp decided to do the same thing. I don’t know a whole lot of British army guys, and none of the British people I’ve talked too has ever done that, how common is it, or did M_A_S\*H make it up for the entertaining and comical situations it would result in? ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/7 "2000-11-28T03:50:02Z")
Not an option for you perhaps, but I go to the Boxing Day Test Match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Christmas leftovers, old friends and the West Indies cricket team. Only downside is that it seems unlikely to last five days this year. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Gretchen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Miss\_Gretchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Gretchen)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/8 "2000-11-28T05:23:41Z")
Boxing Day is my favourite holiday of the year! It kicks ass on Christams, Easter, Thanksgiving, you name it! (I’m not kidding, either!)Typically, my Boxing Day goes like this: 1. Get up. (Late, of course. You’ll still be recovering from Christmas Day food & beverage indulgence) 2. Don’t bother with “Boxing day sales” shopping. The crowds are insane, and most stores have Boxing week sales now, so you’ll have plenty of time to shop in the rest of the week. But then again, if you’re in the States, you probably won’t have “Boxing Day” Sales anyways. 3. This is a day for sloth, basically. Kick back, put your feet up, and enjoy the season now that all of the pressure is off. I’ll take a long bath, usually while listening to a new CD from “Santa”. The Herald usually prints a massive Boxing Day Crossword puzzle, and I like to have a beverage while filling in it. 4. I have a buddy who I hardly ever see any more, but we always have the traditional Boxing Day phone call. We’ll talk for an hour or two on the phone, and it’s really nice to catch up with him. 5. By now you’ll have worked up an appetite, so make a Dagwood sandwich out of all of the leftovers: gravy, cranberry sauce and veggies included. 6. Now that you’re all rested and feelin’ groovy, it’s time to go out to a pub or club for the requsite BD party. Since I was a teenage lass this occurred at the Republik (A noted Calgary landmark of the “alternative punk - grunge bar” scene, but it closed its doors in April. Now I’m sad and I’m not sure where to go this year)Once at the bar, you’ll meet up with all of your mates and close the place down. (the Republik, for example, would have Boxing Day Sale prices at the bar. Can you really go wrong with “3 for the price of 1” drinks?) So you see, the beauty of Boxing Day is a day to enjoy all of the fun stuff of Christmas without all of the pressure. The gifts are given, the baking and cooking are done. All that you are required is to enjoy your presents and eat all of the delicious leftovers. Do you non-Commonwealth types just go back to work the day after Christmas? My God, that’s unthinkable! And while we’re on this U.S. - Canada holiday divide, Why do you guys have Thanksgiving a month before Christmas? Isn’t that a heavy concentration of major holidays in one spot? Just asking. ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/9 "2000-11-28T14:08:29Z")
If I spend Christmas with my parents in Devon (my homeland, my beautiful homeland), we wrap up warm and go for a walk on the beach on Boxing Day. This year, I’m spending Christmas with my partner’s family in Cumbria. A visit to the aunt and uncle is scheduled for Boxing Day, which should provide a chance to observe 60 years of ingrained sibling rivalry in action. You go, girls. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/10 "2000-11-28T14:16:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miss Gretchen \* > \*\*Do you non-Commonwealth types just go back to work the day after Christmas? My God, that’s unthinkable! > > And while we’re on this U.S. - Canada holiday divide, Why do you guys have Thanksgiving a month before Christmas? Isn’t that a heavy concentration of major holidays in one spot? Just asking. \*\* Yeah, normally we have to trudge back to work on the 26th. In fact, my husband will have to work because his company only gives Christmas Day off…sucker! I kind of like the Thanksgiving a month before Christmas situation. It seems to stave off Christmas until nearly December (although that doesn’t seem to be working quite as well this year). Everything’s sort of autumn-y with Halloween and Thanksgiving, then the day after Thanksgiving _boom_ it’s the official start of the Christmas season. Christmas shopping starts in earnest, decorations go up, Christmas carols play on the radio, everybody seems to start smiling more. Boxing Day sounds like my type of holiday. I think I’m going to follow Miss Gretchen’s example…sleep in, do the crossword, then go drinking. I’m going to have to start lobbying our local barman now to set up some drink specials! ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/11 "2000-11-28T14:28:42Z")
Well, Boxing Day in my house is a treat. It’s my birthday. I get up late…about 6am, and do nothing until dinner. I always have to eat leftovers. That’s the only bad thing about having a birthday right next to a holiday. Oh ya…I usually get half a gift on Xmas and the other half on Boxing day. Half of a pool cue, one shoe…you get the picture. ---
**Author:** ![SoMoMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@SoMoMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoMoMom)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/12 "2000-11-28T18:13:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miss Gretchen \* > \*\*And while we’re on this U.S. - Canada holiday divide, Why do you guys have Thanksgiving a month before Christmas? Isn’t that a heavy concentration of major holidays in one spot? Just asking. \*\* Our last harvest is later here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/13 "2000-11-28T20:10:26Z")
Mister Nipples! You and I have the same Birthday! I’ll be 31 this year! You doin’ your radio show on your b-day? I’d be happy to call in… ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/14 "2000-11-29T02:56:29Z")
I’ve you’re insane, you go shopping. It’s traditional shopping/big sale day. If you’re like me, you sit around and eat leftover turkey while playing cards with friends. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/15 "2000-11-29T03:01:35Z")
Ali could’ve beaten Tyson. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/16 "2000-11-29T03:34:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by C3 \* > \*\*My company usually gives two days off for Christmas - Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Sincy C. Eve falls on a Sunday, we’re getting Boxing Day off instead. > > What am I supposed to do on Boxing Day? What are the prescribed activities? What exactly is Boxing Day? What do you Commonwealthers usually do? That’s about all I want to know! \*\* You play with your new toys. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![Kipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kipper)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-boxing-day-you-speak-of/42901/17 "2000-11-29T03:55:05Z")
Some British Regiments have the tradition that on Christmas Day the Sargents wait on the private soldiers for Christmas dinner. This is, I assume, based on the Roman feast of Saturn which was held on December 25th, untill the God botherers stole the day of them. In this feast the household servants became the masters and were waited apon for one day.