Tradition that failed to be adopted by the USA B
RITAIN– and bits of the Commonwealth – are the only nations that observe Boxing Day. Which is America’s loss. Americans are bemused by our bank holiday, but then, they’re bemused by most things and have, instead, such federal holidays as Labor Day (US spelling), Thanksgiving and Independence Day which we, of course, ignore on the grounds that independence was just the first in a long list of mistakes made by our upstart cousins that have continued for 241 years, including being late to world wars, electing Donald Trump as President and not being able to spell Labour.
As if to compound their lack of historical grasp, they also celebrate Columbus Day, despite the fact the explorer never set foot in North America. The closest he got was an island in the Bahamas.
He also, to be pedantic, didn’t discover America because it had never been lost. Ask the native Americans who lived there.
So what makes Boxing Day special in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada?
As with anything old, it is surrounded in myth, but is said to have started in the Middle Ages when alms boxes, into which parishioners put donations to the poor, were opened and the cash distributed the day after Christmas.
In Victorian times, it has been suggested this was when domestic staff were allowed a day off to visit relatives, taking with them boxes of left-over food from the feast served to their betters the day before.
“I’ve Brussels sprouts, a turnip, slices of beef with hardly any teeth marks in, a spilled trifle, cold potatoes and ham shank I rescued from one of the hunting dogs.”
Boxing Day was consolidated during the reign of Victoria, as many Christmas customs were, along with that great British tradition of having a decorated tree in the front room which was introduced from Germany by Victoria’s husband Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
The same age saw the introduction of cards to send to people you see every day to wish them the season’s greetings. Boxing Day itself was one of the dates named in the 1871 Act that which created Bank Holidays. Except in Scotland. They got New Year’s Day instead.
Now it is viewed as a day of activity to blow away the soporific cobwebs acquired after the previous 24 hours of rich food and too much alcohol, sedentary television light entertainment, the Queen’s Speech, and avoiding mistletoe, karaoke and family charades, as if wearing a reindeer jumper and pretending to enjoy the company of your boisterous brother-in-law and Aunt Elsie’s cooking, wasn’t charade enough.
It’s celebrated by taking a hike in the country, sporting events and boxing up unwanted presents to return to the store.
“And can I have a refund on this reindeer jumper, never been worn, bought in error with only one a small gravy stain?”
Americans don’t know what they’re missing. Painting yourself green and dressing up as a pack of toy soldiers, like these revellers in Wigan, is one of the more novel ways to enjoy the Boxing Day bank holiday in England and Wales
Boxing Day itself was one of the dates named in the 1871 Act that which created Bank Holidays.