What is Boxing Day?

As an American, I have no idea what Boxing Day is, except that it is on December 26th. (I asked an American friend who happens to live in England about Boxing Day. She referred to it as "Hangover Day." And it could be that now and then, too).

Since Boxing Day has been a national holiday in Britain, Ireland and Canada since 1871, how did it come to exist? There seems to be a few histories as to how Boxing Day began and what its purpose was:

1. Alms Giving
During Advent, Anglican parishes displayed a box for churchgoers to fill with monetary donations. The boxes were broken open the day after Christmas to distribute to the poor. 

2. Gift Giving
Since servants of the aristocracy were required to work for their employers on Christmas Day, they were given the following day off from work to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts and bonuses, and sometimes leftover food.

3. Tip Giving
It was also customary for tradesman to receive money or presents, "Christmas boxes," on the day after Christmas as gratitude for good service throughout the year. Samuel Pepys' diary entry for December 19, 1663 mentions making an errand to the shoemakers to pay a bill and give to "the boys' box against Christmas."

Saturday 19 December 1663
Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and I laboured hard at Deering’s business of his deals more than I would if I did not think to get something, though I do really believe that I did what is to the King’sadvantage in it, and yet, God knows, the expectation of profit will have its force and make a man the more earnest. Dined at home, and then with Mr. Bland to another meeting upon his arbitration, and seeing we were likely to do no good I even put them upon it, and they chose Sir W. Rider alone to end the matter, and so I am rid of it. Thence by coach to my shoemaker’s and paid all there, and gave something to the boys’ box against Christmas. To Mrs. Turner’s, whom I find busy with Sir W. Turner, about advising upon going down to Norfolke with the corps, and I find him in talke a sober, considering man. So home to my office late, and then home to supper and to bed. My head full of business, but pretty good content.

(http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive/1663/12/19/)

When looking at the calendar, December 26th will no longer be a mystery to me.

Christmas, Victorian Style

Like many things from the Victorian Era, we have inherited celebrating Christmas the way we do: as a day with family and friends, surrounded by green decorations and a tree, exchanging presents. Prior to the nineteenth-century, Christmas was hardly celebrated. Yet by the end of the century, Christmas was fully installed as the family-oriented tradition we have today.

And it began with Her Majesty, Queen Victoria. Her marriage to Prince Albert brought German traditions to Britain, such as the decorated Christmas tree, which was a tradition reminiscent of Prince Albert's childhood in Germany.

Shortly after this image was published in the Illustrated London News, Britains began decorated a tree, decorated with candles, fruit, and ornaments.

Decorating homes for the Christmas holiday became an elaborate affair during the Victorian era. Using evergreens, a medieval tradition, continued still but the way decorations were styled and placed became more uniformed, orderly, and elegant. Instructions were provided for elaborate decorations in lady's magazines, such as this entry in Cassell's Family Magazine for cultivating evergreens.

The Victorian magazine The Designer, published an article regarding holiday decorations that advises "a few simple floral decorations carefully and harmoniously carried out will assuredly add to the pleasures of the day." And of course, evergreens are a focus:

If one has an abundance of greens, such as Holly, Mistletoe, Laurel or anything else that is evergreen, the decoration of archways, the mantel, or even of corners between the windows and doors may be appropriately carried out but only when there is an abundance of material.

So as you decorate your tree and home this season, give small thanks to the Victorians who imbued the holiday with the practices we have today for celebrating the season.

References:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/victorianchristmas/history.shtml
http://victoriantimes.us/