Boxing day, What is it?

So I've wondered many times before, what is boxing day, where did it come from? It didn't take long to find out that Boxing day is a totally awesome day but not for what it is today.

Boxing Day dates back to past centuries when it was the custom for the wealthy to give gifts to employees or to people in a lower social class, most especially to household servants and other service personnel.

The tradition was that gifts were exchanged among equals on or before Christmas day. But on Boxing day cash or durable goods were given to those less fortunate. This originated in Britain and thus inherited to Australia and New Zealand.

There are a few origins as to why it is called Boxing day:
- People would give a gift of gratitude to those who worked for them which usually was a box of food or fruit
- Employees brought boxes to work with them on Boxing day which the employer would then put money into as an end of year gift
- A similar origin to the above was that an employer was obliged to give gifts of a practical nature to his/her employees
- The church gathered tithes to give to those less fortunate and were delivered from the collection box.

But it is clear in all these examples that boxing day was a day giving to those less fortunate. How did we lose such an awesome day on the calender, what a great thing to do.

I feel that this should be brought back. Thus today I will be making a group on Facebook, posting this in various places. Time to bring back the true Boxing day! Though I'm unprepared to celebrate the true Boxing day this year. I want to spread the word and I hope for something true next year. Although you could still thank people that serve you today! Even if it's not a gift...
It's all about the true meaning.

To join my group on Facebook or just take a look go to:
http://tinyurl.com/boxingday
You can take a look even if you aren't registered on facebook!