Normally, the day after Christmas Day you would perhaps spend with your family, head out to the sales or watch a football match.

The day before you will have eaten the turkey, opened the presents, and you’re feeling relaxed and happy.

But in a year like no other, you might just be spending it inside with your household or support bubble.

Whatever you usually do on the day after Christmas, most of us have the same name for it. December 26 is known as Boxing Day.

But you might not know the bizarre reason why it got its name.

Here are some of the biggest theories as to why it’s called Boxing Day, and it’s got nothing to do with the sport of boxing.

Why is Boxing Day called Boxing Day?

It’s generally accepted that the name boxing day comes from the giving of Christmas “boxes”, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

The earliest mention of this was in the 1800s when a Christmas box was a name for present, specifically to the poor.

Boxing Day was made a Bank Holiday in 1831, when servants were given time off to spend with their families.

Their master would give them a box to take with them, and it used to hold gifts, a bonus and sometimes leftovers if they were lucky.

• 

  Tesco shopper refunded as 'kissing penguin' pillows display rude '69' position

Another reference to the Christmas box was a box to collect money for the poor, which was placed on Churches on Christmas day. These boxes were opened the next day.

Sailing ships would also have a sealed box containing money on it for good luck.

If the voyage was a success, the box was given to a priest who opened it at Christmas and gave the contents to the poor.

Source: Read Full Article