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Boxing
Day Prostate Cancer Recipes
by Alecia Dixon
Source: kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/around/boxingday.html
BOXING DAY
When is it?
December 26th, Boxing Day takes place on December 26th
or the following Monday if December 26 falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
Where did it
come from?
Boxing Day began in England, in the middle of the nineteenth century,
under Queen Victoria. Boxing Day, also known as St. Stephen's Day, was a
way for the upper class to give gifts of cash, or other goods, to those
of the lower classes.
Where is
Boxing Day celebrated?
Boxing Day is celebrated in Australia, Britain, New Zealand, and
Canada.
How is
Boxing Day celebrated?
There seems to be two theories on the origin of Boxing Day and why
it is celebrated. The first is that centuries ago, on the day
after
Christmas, members of the merchant class would give boxes
containing food and fruit, clothing, and/or money to trades people
and servants. The gifts were an expression of gratitude much like
when people receive bonuses, from their employer, for a job well
done, today. These gifts, given in boxes, gave the holiday it's
name,
"Boxing Day".
The second
thought is that Boxing Day comes from the tradition of
opening the alms boxes placed in churches over the Christmas season. The
contents thereof which were distributed amongst the poor, by the clergy,
the day after Christmas.
Today,
Boxing Day is spent with family and friends with lots of food
and sharing of friendship and love. Government buildings and small
businesses are closed but the malls are open and filled with
people
exchanging gifts or buying reduced priced Christmas gifts, cards,
and
decorations.
To keep the
tradition of Boxing Day alive, many businesses,
organizations, and families donate their time, services, and money
to
aid Food Banks and provide gifts for the poor, or they may choose
to
help an individual family that is in need.
What a great
extension of the Christmas holiday spirit. You might
consider making this holiday a tradition in your family. No matter
where you live the simple principle of giving to others less
fortunate
than yourself can be put into practice.
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