Experiences – Life – Inspiration 🇨🇭🇯🇵

Many many years back in the Netherlands, I used to rent a room with a Scottish family while I was a student in The Hague. It was during this time that I learned the most about British culture and the English, well, Scottish language. Fun fact: back then, I wasn’t fluent in English at all, but when I became the Scottish family’s tenant, I quickly picked up Scottish English, which was, in hindsight, kind of hilarious. I celebrated many joyful Scottish Christmases and Boxing Days, discovering haggis, black pudding, fish and chips with mushy peas, as well as chips with salt and vinegar, all while drinking Irn Bru—the manliest soft drink from Scotland.

Today marks the Second Christmas Day, or Tweede Kerstdag as the Dutch call it, which always brings back fond memories. I found myself pondering a curious question: why is the day after Christmas called Boxing Day? Does it have anything to do with boxes? As always, when my curiosity is piqued, I dig a little deeper and I’m excited to share my findings with you.

Boxing Day, celebrated on December 26th, is a public holiday in many countries, particularly those with historical ties to the United Kingdom, like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Its name and origins are tied to several theories and traditions:

• Charity and Gift-Giving
  • Historical Origin: In Victorian England, it was customary for the wealthy to give gifts or “Christmas boxes” to their servants, tradespeople, and those in need. These “boxes” often contained money, food, or other small gifts as a token of gratitude for their service throughout the year.
  • Religious Connection: Boxing Day is also linked to the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr and a patron saint of charity, whose day is also celebrated on December 26. The day aligns beautifully with the spirit of giving and helping the less fortunate.
• Church Alms Boxes
  • Another theory suggests that the name comes from the practice of opening alms boxes in churches. These boxes collected donations from parishioners during the Advent season and were distributed to the poor on Boxing Day.
• Modern Observance
  • Today, Boxing Day is associated with shopping, sports, and leisure in many countries. It’s a major day for sales (similar to Black Friday in the U.S.) and is also famous for sporting events like football (soccer) matches and horse racing in the UK.

Boxing Day has evolved into a blend of traditions depending on the country, but its roots remain tied to generosity and gratitude.

Have you ever celebrated Boxing Day? What does it mean to you?

#BoxingDay #ChristmasTraditions #ScottishCulture #Generosity #Holidays #CulturalExperiences #FoodAndTradition