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Boxing Day - Word of the Day - Dec 26, 2024

Myr

Entry posted by Myr in Word of the Day

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Boxing Day - (noun) - (in parts of the British Commonwealth) a public holiday celebrated on the first day (strictly, the first weekday) after Christmas Day

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On Boxing Day, many people enjoy shopping for post-Christmas sales or watching sports events like cricket and football.

 

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drpaladin

drpaladin 82,625

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Originally,  Boxing Day was a day for giving to the needy.

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Paladin

Paladin 8,868

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The entry in my copy of Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable gives the following information.

Small gratuities given on Boxing Day. Boxes placed in churches for casual offerings used to be opened on Christmas Day and the contents called the "dole of the Christmas box" or the "box money" were distributed the next day by the priests. I assume to the needy.

I avoid Boxing Day sales and only watch the cricket highlights. I do enjoy watching the beginning of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Boxing Day.

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Bill W

Bill W 47,467

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No, it isn't the day Mohammed Ali fought Joe Frasier or George Foreman.  :gikkle:

Boxing day originated in the mid 19th century from the custom of giving tradespeople a Christmas box on this day.  History.com explains that one theory of the holiday's origin is that the day after Christmas was when boxes filled with small gifts and money would be given to household servants and employees who had to work on Dec. 25. The gifts were meant as a thank you for their service throughout the year.
 
Boxing Day is an an official bank holiday in Britain, Canada, New Zealand and most of Australia. While boxes aren't typically given to the poor anymore, it's not unusual for service employees to get bonuses around this time of year, says Britannica.  Some countries, such as South Africa, now refer to Boxing Day as The Day of Goodwill.  
 
 
 
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Paladin

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1 hour ago, Bill W said:
Boxing Day is an an official bank holiday in Britain, Canada, New Zealand and most of Australia.

A bit of clarification about Australia.

In Australia the concept "bank holiday" is very limited. It refers to a holiday for banks and a few other groups. Generally very few Australians would know the date of bank holiday. It is not an official public holiday.

The day after Christmas day is a national public holiday across all Australian states and territories. It is called Boxing Day in all states and territories except South Australia where the same day is called "Proclamation day". Same day, same holiday, different name.

 

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