In Britain, the day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day. Every December 26 I wonder what in the world that means — and I never find out for sure. Maybe someone can tell me, Victoria, what it is. Definitively!
Here’s what Wikipedia says: “The exact etymology of the term “boxing day” is unclear. There are several competing theories, none of which is definitive.” This comes after they have already defined Boxing Day as a time when servants get their gifts.
So I turned to Snopes — which says the claim that Boxing Day means it is time to get rid of Christmas boxes is false… so where besides Nordstrom’s do stores have boxes any more?
Snopes goes on: “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. And that’s about as much as anyone can definitively say about its origin because once you step beyond that point, it’s straight into the quagmire of debated claims and dueling folklorists.”
Love it! And, yes, must go buy those discounted Christmas cards! Now, ladies, is there any connection between Boxing Day and those small rooms in Edwardian homes known as "box rooms"?
Things in England are fairly literal – Pudding Lane was where they made puddings. Cow Lane was the path used to drive cattle into London to market. Green Park is, er, Green. The box room is where they kept the boxes – dress boxes, plate boxes, strong boxes, hat boxes, boxes of tea, wine, etc. It was a store room. Typically for boxes cause most things came in or were stored in boxes at the time. Boxing Day was when workers were given their Christmas boxes, containing, typically, something other than, or in addition to, money – a turkey, wine, clothing. There were no gift bags back then, so they used boxes, instead.