Boxing Day

[Newt]

How do you celebrate it and where in the world did it get that name?

[corydoras]

I'm in a rush Newt. Catching the ferry to France in an hour or two.

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/boxing-day.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day

[Snatcher]

How do you celebrate it and where in the world did it get that name?

 

Here you go Newt

 

 

"The holiday's roots can be traced to Britain, where Boxing Day is also known as St. Stephen's Day. Reduced to the simplest essence, its origins are found in a long-ago practice of giving cash or durable goods to those of the lower classes. Gifts among equals were exchanged on or before Christmas Day, but beneficences to those less fortunate were bestowed the day after.

 

This expression came about because money was collected in alms-boxes placed in churches during the festive season. This money was then distributed during to the poor and needy after Christmas."

 

I learnt something new as well In the UK on Boxing day there are all sorts of crazy goings on,each town/village have developed their own traditions. Here in Whitley Bay a lot of folk feel there is a need to have a swim in the sea !!!!! Bearing in mind the North Sea is about 6 Deg C at this time of year it does tend to wake you up.

 

In our household we have a "Curry and Conkers day" Will add a few pictures to this thread after the event. To the uninitiated the game of conkers is

 

Have a good Xmas and Boxing Day mate

 

John

[Newt]

So, its mainly called Boxing day because either it was traditional to give money to the lower classes in boxes or because fights were traditional or for some other reason that no one is really sure about and is celebrated these days by going to high street shops that are having sales?

 

Hmmmmm.

[corydoras]

So, its mainly called Boxing day because either it was traditional to give money to the lower classes in boxes or because fights were traditional or for some other reason that no one is really sure about and is celebrated these days by going to high street shops that are having sales?

 

Hmmmmm.

Nothing at all to do with the pugilistic art Newt.

[chesters1]

So, its mainly called Boxing day because either it was traditional to give money to the lower classes in boxes or because fights were traditional or for some other reason that no one is really sure about and is celebrated these days by going to high street shops that are having sales?

 

Hmmmmm.

 

no its called that because parents of the vast families of the past spent the day compressing cardboard and wrapping paper to cram it in the dustbin .its a quaint old english custom ,15 of my dads brothers were chiminee sweeps you know and 12 sisters sold oranges or cockles mostly alive alive OH

families are far smaller today not because of the savage cardboard taxes today but the fact most modern houses don't have chimblies (chiminees or chimneys) and supermarket oranges and shell fish are fresher and cheaper.

my ancestors from deptford (clues in the name) wernt the greatest chiminee sweeps so branched into the night soil business and lost a packet

 

we celebrate it by having a great big knees up with mother brown ,sadly this bungalow doesnt have apples and pears so were short of cockney this year ,bad bad cockney year this year were down to our last 3

Edited December 24, 2011 by chesters1

[Zigs]

The Boxing bit comes from the opening of the collection boxes in the churches to give to the poor.

[Elton]

I had it down as being the day hungover chavs went and belted their neighbours for having the radio on too loud.

[Tony U]

A RATTLING GOOD BOXING DAY TRADITION

In bygone ages, farm workers went out on Boxing Day to celebrate and entertain with dancing and music around the pubs and houses, earning much-needed pennies and welcome tankards of ale. We are Dancing out tomorrow at the King George V in Brompton near Chatham it is a Long Sword Tradition, see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Sword_dance

 

Tony

Edited December 25, 2011 by Tony U

[Andrew]

Not bothered what it stands for TBH, used to be a boozing day with the lads, all day from opening until closing time, after the footy with the local boozer. in my younger days, LoL

Edited December 25, 2011 by Andrew