What Is Boxing Day?

Boxing Day strictly speaking was the first week day after Christmas. Today it is the following day after Christmas. The 26th of December was the day to open the Christmas Box and share the contents with the poor. The box was a wooden or clay container where people placed gifts. Boxes would be placed in churches the Sunday before Christmas, and the gifts would be distributed to the poor in the Parish on Boxing Day.This was also a day when servants could visit their families. Their employers would have prepared boxes of leftover food for them to take and share.