Boxing Day: Difference between revisions

The European tradition of giving money and other gifts to those in need, or in service positions, has been dated to the [[Middle Ages]], but the exact origin is unknown; it may reference the [[Poor box|alms box]] placed in the [[narthex]] of Christian churches to collect donations for the poor. The tradition may come from a custom in the late [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] and [[History of Christianity|early Christian]] era, wherein alms boxes placed in churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the [[Saint Stephen's Day|Feast of Saint Stephen]],<ref>Collins, 2003, p. 38.</ref> which, in the [[Western Christianity|Western Christian Churches]], falls on the same day as Boxing Day, the second day of [[Christmastide]]. On this day, it is customary in some localities for the alms boxes to be opened and distributed to the poor.<ref name="Robb1984">{{cite book |last1=Robb |first1=Nancy |title=Mid-winter festivals: anthology of stories, traditions, and poems |date=1984 |publisher=S.E. Clapp |page=27 |language=en |quote=St. Stephen's Day or Boxing Day: Boxing Day, or Offering Day as it is sometimes called, derives its name from the ancient practice of giving boxes of money at the midwinter holiday season to all those who had given good service throughout the year. Boxing Day, December 26, was the day the boxboxes were opened. Later, it was the day on which the alms boxes, located in the churches on Christmas Day, were opened and the contents given to the poor.}}</ref><ref name="FaustSach2002">{{cite book |last1=Faust |first1=Jessica |last2=Sach |first2=Jacky |title=The Book of Christmas |date=2002 |publisher=Citadel Press |isbn=978-0-8065-2368-2 |language=en |quote=Yet another legend is that Boxing Day started the tradition of opening the alms boxes placed in churches during the Christmas season. The contents of the alms boxes were then distributed amongst the poor of the parish.}}</ref>