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Boxing Day: Middle Ages
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Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. It falls on December 26, which is ... St. Stephen's Day. The public observance of Boxing Day takes place on the following Monday if December 26 falls on a Saturday or Sunday. The traditional celebration of Boxing Day included giving money and other gifts to charitable institutions, needy individuals, and people in service jobs. The holiday may date from the Middle Ages (A.D. 400's-1500's), but the exact origin is unknown.
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Boxing Day... known as the Feast of St. Stephen (after the first Christian martyr), originated in England in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria. It originated as a holiday for members of the merchant class to give boxes containing food and fruit, clothing, and/or money to trades people and servants. The gifts were an expression of gratitude similar to the bonuses many employers offer their employees today. These gifts, usually given in boxes, gave the holiday it's name, "Boxing Day".
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Boxing Day originated in the Middle Ages and is generally believed to have begun with the practice of lords of the manor distributing gifts to the servants and other workers on their lands. As the merchant class developed they ... joined the practice of giving gifts on December 26th to household servants and tradesmen with whom they dealt. December 26th is also the feast of St. Stephen the martyr, the first disciple of Christ to be martyred following the crucifixion of Christ. On St. Stephen's Day the churches would distribute the money and goods, that had been deposited in their alms boxes by their parishioners, to the poor.
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Boxing Day takes place on December 26th and is only celebrated in a few countries. It was started in the UK about 800 years ago in the Middle Ages. It was the day when the alms box, collection boxes for the poor often kept in churches, were opened so that the contents could be distributed to poor people. Some churches still open these boxes on Boxing Day.
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On average, men plan to spend significantly more on Boxing Day than women ($414 versus $222). Given that male shoppers are more likely to purchase larger ticket items, including computers and home furnishings, it's not surprising to see their average spend increase by $50 this year. Female shoppers, who expect to spend $222 today, are more likely to shop for clothing, housewares and Christmas wrap or decorations. Younger Canadians, those between the age of 18 and 29, will outspend their older counterparts ($355 versus $342 for those 30-49 years and $239 for shoppers over 50) - in fact, 36 percent plan to spend more than $200 today.
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Godless liberals have declared war on Boxing Day, the beloved post-Christmas hangover celebrated in the UK and all the colonies that were too lazy to take up arms against them. In Canada, Boxing Day is a day of charity… and great savings! Stores across the frozen north open their doors and slash their prices, and everyone in Canada briefly forgets the unceasing misery of their gray, bland lives. more
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