If you have family roots in the United Kingdom – UK, (England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland), or countries historically connected to the UK (such as Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand), you may be familiar with the tradition of celebrating “Boxing Day”.

I had never heard of Boxing Day, until I served a mission in England . I got to experience what a traditional Christmas in England was like, including Boxing Day, for the two Christmas seasons I spent there. I loved being able to extend the Christmas season by one day.

The main explanation I was given for what this day was for and why is was celebrated, was that It was the day when rich land owners would give ‘gifts’ (often some leftover food from the main Christmas feast!) to those who worked and lived on their land. Later on it became traditional that servants got the day off to celebrate Christmas with their families on Boxing Day. I did some research and learned that the tradition of boxing day celebrations went much further back in time than what I had been told.

Starting in the Middle Ages, it was the day when the alms box, collection boxes for the poor often kept in churches, were traditionally opened so that the contents could be distributed to poor people. Some churches still open these boxes on Boxing Day. In The Netherlands, some collection boxes were made out of a rough pottery called ‘earthenware’ and were shaped like pigs. Perhaps this is where we get the term ‘Piggy Bank’.

Boxing Day has now become another public holiday in countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand (If Christmas is at the weekend, normally the next working day is made into a public holiday as a ‘substitute’ for Boxing Day).

Often our calendar bulges with appointments and gatherings in December to celebrate Christmas. Why not include the day after Christmas, Boxing Day, to get together with friends and family, reflect on blessings and to thank those who have served us and blessed our lives in the past year. Maybe we can open our piggy banks and contribute to a worthy cause to help those in need.

If you have worked on your genealogy, and/or had your DNA tested, maybe you have family ties to the UK, where Boxing Day is celebrated, what a great tradition, to include Boxing Day part of your family Christmas celebration.

— Elaine Hardman