December 26th is Boxing Day (National holiday in the UK and Ireland) – what does it mean?

? A ‘Christmas Box’ in the seventeenth century, was a name for a Christmas present.

? Traditionally, Boxing Day was a day off for servants. Their employer would give them a ‘Christmas Box’. It was also a day for servants to go home to give ‘Christmas Boxes’ to their families.

? Also traditionally, a Box to collect money for the poor and placed in Churches on Christmas day, opened the next day on ‘Boxing Day’.

? Finally, sailing ships, when setting sail would have a sealed box containing money on board for good luck. A successful voyage meant the box was given to a priest, opened at Christmas and the contents given to the poor.

…So now we know!