This morning 'the frost is all around, deep and crisp and even.' Do those lyrics ring a bell?
A national holiday in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries, Boxing Day, traditionally celebrated on 26 December, is also known as St. Stephen's Day, a religious holiday mainly in Ireland.
A national holiday in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries, Boxing Day, traditionally celebrated on 26 December, is also known as St. Stephen's Day, a religious holiday mainly in Ireland.
Morris men - commons.wikimedia.org The traditional celebration of Boxing Day included giving money and other gifts to charitable institutions, needy individuals, and people in service jobs. Today, Morris men with their ribbons and bells still dance in villages across the country to mark the occasion.
This got me wondering why the day is so-named. Here are some of the suggestions:
1) Some say the tradition stems from Roman times when money to pay for athletic games was collected in boxes. Amongst the ruins of Pompeii, boxes have been found made out of earthenware with slits in the top full of coins. Later the Romans brought the idea of collecting boxes to Britain, and monks and clergy soon used similar boxes to collect money for the poor at Christmas.
2) A ‘Christmas Box’ in Britain is a name for a Christmas present.
Originating in England in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria, Boxing Day was rest day for servants and when they received a ‘Christmas Box’ from the master. The servants could also go home to give ‘Christmas Boxes’ to their families if they were close enough to reach by horse transport.
This got me wondering why the day is so-named. Here are some of the suggestions:
1) Some say the tradition stems from Roman times when money to pay for athletic games was collected in boxes. Amongst the ruins of Pompeii, boxes have been found made out of earthenware with slits in the top full of coins. Later the Romans brought the idea of collecting boxes to Britain, and monks and clergy soon used similar boxes to collect money for the poor at Christmas.
2) A ‘Christmas Box’ in Britain is a name for a Christmas present.
Originating in England in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria, Boxing Day was rest day for servants and when they received a ‘Christmas Box’ from the master. The servants could also go home to give ‘Christmas Boxes’ to their families if they were close enough to reach by horse transport.
St.Stephen - en.wikipedia.org 3) A box placed in Churches on Christmas day to collect money for the poor would be opened the next day.
4) Great sailing ships when leaving port would have a sealed box containing money on board for good luck. If the voyage was successful the box was given to a priest, opened at Christmas and the contents distributed to the needy.
In Ireland, Boxing Day is known as 'St Stephen's Day'. Hence, the carol beginning with the words: 'Good King Wenceslas Looked Out On The Feast Of Stephen'. Lyrics here.
The message contained in the song tells about the virtue of giving to the poor. I love the line: 'In his master's steps he trod, where the snow lay dented.'
4) Great sailing ships when leaving port would have a sealed box containing money on board for good luck. If the voyage was successful the box was given to a priest, opened at Christmas and the contents distributed to the needy.
In Ireland, Boxing Day is known as 'St Stephen's Day'. Hence, the carol beginning with the words: 'Good King Wenceslas Looked Out On The Feast Of Stephen'. Lyrics here.
The message contained in the song tells about the virtue of giving to the poor. I love the line: 'In his master's steps he trod, where the snow lay dented.'
Wren boys - en.wikipedia.org Another tradition in Ireland is the famous "Wren Boys". Tradition says that to kill a wren is unlucky unless it's on Boxing Day. St Stephen was killed, reportedly stoned to death, for believing in Jesus. In Ireland many years ago the Wren Boys would go out with blackened faces from burnt cork and would stone wrens to death. They would then tie them to a pole decorated with holly and ribbons and carry their catch around the town knocking at doors and asking for money, food or a gift. In return for a donation the recipient received a feather from the Wren as a thank you.
Um—a bit gruesome and hardly good news for all the poor innocent wrens in the area. Anyway, who would want a feather?
Some of the old traditions have no use in modern times, but it's interesting to find out the origins.
Um—a bit gruesome and hardly good news for all the poor innocent wrens in the area. Anyway, who would want a feather?
Some of the old traditions have no use in modern times, but it's interesting to find out the origins.
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