Français | Call Us

Facebook  Linkedin

Login

Western Financial Group
  • Insurance open insurance menu
  • Services open services menu
  • Reviews
  • About Us open menu
  • Contact Us

Find a Broker

Get a Quote

Insurance

Personal Insurance

Car

Home

Renter's

Farm

RV

Boat

Travel

Business Insurance

Start-ups to Mid-size Businesses

Employee Benefits

National Enterprises & Associations

Health & Life

Life

Disability

Critical Illness

Services

Registry Services

Claims

MyWestern

Payment Setup

Reviews

About Us

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Who We Are

Executive Team

Western News

Careers

Divisions

Partners

Sponsors

COVID-19 Info

Blog

Western Communities Foundation

Western Coast Insurance

Western Business Insurance

Wyatt Dowling Insurance

Contact Us

Personal Insurance

Car

Home

Renter's

Travel

Farm

RV

Boat

Business Insurance

Start-ups to Mid-size Businesses

Employee Benefits

National Enterprises & Associations

Health & Life

Life

Disability

Critical Illness

View All Products

Services

Registry Services

Claims

MyWestern

Payment Setup

About Us

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Who We Are

Executive Team

Western News

Careers

Divisions

Partners

Sponsors

COVID-19 Info

Blog

Western Communities Foundation

Western Coast Insurance

Western Business Insurance

Wyatt Dowling Insurance

Do You Know the Origins of Boxing Day?

Do You Know the Origins of Boxing Day?

Boxing Day on December 26 is often a day of sale shopping after Christmas for Canadians. What do you know about the history of Boxing Day?

Boxing Day is also known as the Feast of St. Stephen, who was the first Christian martyr.

The origins of Boxing Day

The term “boxing day” may come from empty boxes from Christmas and returning presents to stores. It originated in Britain, and it occurred in print for the first time in 1833, four years before it was referenced in Charles Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers.

The history of Boxing Day includes two theories for how the holiday started and both have to do with the tradition of charity to the poor.

“Christmas bonus” boxes

The first theory is that December 26 was the day that aristocrats and lords of the manor distributed Christmas boxes filled with Christmas dinner leftovers, small gifts, and money to employees and servants, who worked on December 25. The boxes were Christmas bonuses.

Donation boxes in churches

The second theory is that the name Boxing Day originated from donation boxes placed in churches around Christmas time to collect money from parishioners. The donations were distributed on December 26 to the poor.

Almsgiving after Christmas

Almsgiving has been associated with December 26 since the 10th century and the Bohemian duke Wenceslas I (the one from the Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas). He became known for his virtue and, according to the song, he had a servant give food and wine to a poor man gathering wood “on the feast of Stephen,” which is now known as Boxing Day. Wenceslas was murdered by his brother for political and religious reasons and canonized centuries later.

St. Stephen was also known for charitable acts and in Ireland, Boxing Day is known as St. Stephen’s Day. Stephen was selected by the Apostles as one of seven deacons that distributed alms to poorer church members. He was a Jew who converted to Christianity and preached among Hellenist Jews. He was seen as a man of good reputation and of Christian faith, which is indicated by his appointment as a deacon. After he became a target of people who did not want to be converted, he was charged with blasphemy, arrested, and stoned to death after being cast out of the community.

Boxing Day traditions

Almsgiving on December 26 is no longer tradition, but charity is given in the weeks leading up to Christmas, and Boxing Day is still celebrated on December 26. A range of other traditions has been customary on Boxing Day. Boxing Day fox hunts take place in England, although dogs are no longer allowed to kill prey.

In Ireland, St. Stephen’s Day is for Hunting the Wren which, today, consists of people wearing costumes and parading around town with musicians.

In Newfoundland, mumming was a boxing day tradition. It was resurrected in the 70s after researchers discovered it and mummers go door to door performing plays based on the resurrections of characters like St. George and collecting money.

Modern Boxing Day traditions mostly include shopping, lounging at home, seeing friends, and in some Commonwealth countries and the United Kingdom, watching soccer and cricket.

Recent News Posts

How Farm Insurance Protects Your Way of Life

June 6, 2023


Life Insurance vs. Self-Insurance: Pros and Cons
Life Insurance vs. Self-Insurance: Pros and Cons

June 6, 2023


How to Boat Safely
How to Boat Safely

June 5, 2023


Bundle car and home to save

Home Insurance
Home Insurance
Car Insurance
Car Insurance
Car Insurance
Car Insurance

Car & Truck

Home Insurance
Home Insurance

Home

Business Insurance
Business Insurance

Business

Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance

Travel

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Life

Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance

Renter's

Call Us

Sales
Personal Insurance

1-866-860-1958

Business Insurance

1-866-860-1947

Life Insurance

1-888-594-3105

General Inquiries
and Services

1-866-245-2779
Mon-Fri: 8am-8 pm MT
Sat: 9am-6 pm MT

Claims

1-866-245-2779
Mon-Fri: 7:30am-4 pm MT
Sat: 9am-6 pm MT

1-877-599-7299
(After Hours)

Western Financial

About

Our Story

Executive Team

Careers

MyWestern Login

Mergers and Acquisition

Western Communities Foundation

Western News | Sitemap

Products & Services

All Insurance

Personal Insurance

Business Insurance

Health Insurance

Award Winning Brokerage

IBC Top Brokerage Top 100 Seal 2023  Top 100 Seal 2022

Privacy / Legal  |   Accessibility Guidelines |   Fair Treatment of Customers Policy |   Terms of Use  |   Compensation Disclosure  |  Whistle-Blower Policy |   Complaints Process  |   Media Relations  |   Sitemap


2020 Western Financial Group. All rights reserved.

2023 Western Financial Group. All rights reserved.