Originally posted by jfarnsworth
Not to sound too dumb here but what is this holiday?
Boxing Day was created to reinforce the English class system, when the middle and upper classes would give money or goods to their servants and tradesmen the day after Christmas Day.
This practice was known as giving them their 'Christmas Box' hence the name, Boxing Day.
Some people, such as garbage men, mail men and assorted regular delivery men still uphold the tradition in this country, although how much support they get is debatable.
(If you want the reward you should give the service, I always say)
The Irish use this day to celebrate St. Stephen's Day.
St. Stephen the Protomartyr, as he is officially known, was the first Christian martyr. He was stoned to death shortly after Jesus was killed on Calvary, according to New Testament accounts.
Some legends say that a screeching wren betrayed St. Stephen's hiding place in a bush before he was stoned.
Therefore, (here's the fun part), wrens should be hunted down and stoned like St. Stephen was. Although these days most young Irish boys tie a holly branch to the top of a stick as they go door to door celebrating St. Stephen's Day, the original custom was to hunt down a wren and tie the carcass to the stick.
How festive!
Another Celtic myth says that the robin (representing the new year) kills off the wren (representing the old year) the day after Christmas.
This national holiday in Ireland features a dead saint and a dead bird. What a great combination. Any excuse to down an extra few pints of Guinness.
What Stephen, the patron saint of stonemasons and horses, may have to do with Boxing Day, I've never figured out.
Whatever its true origins, historians agree, Boxing Day has nothing to do with your unofficial American Boxing Day rituals of tossing empty gift boxes and wrapping paper out of the house, or returning unwanted gifts to the department store.
So now you know.
Les
C-L-A-S-S-I-C
:lol:
