Re: Happy Boxing Day!

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Posted by Kate on December 27, 2000 at 16:16:49:

In Reply to: Happy Boxing Day! posted by Elaine on December 26, 2000 at 21:16:04:

Thanks for all this information, Elaine! I had absolutely no idea about the wren's involvement, though I knew about:

The traditional celebration of Boxing Day (Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) included giving money and other gifts to charities, the poor, and those in 'service' jobs. The holiday dates from the Middle Ages, though its exact origin is unknown. It is believed to have begun with priests, who opened the church's alms boxes on the day after Christmas and distributed the contents to the poor. Wealthy Lords and ladies of England imitated the practice by presenting Christmas gifts in boxes to their servants on December 26 and offering donations to the poor. The 'Box' can be the Alms Box, the Gift Boxes from British Lords, or the Boxes carried about by those begging alms.

I guess I just took the above at face value and never looked beyond it. It's funny, because I have just been watching a programme on TV about an archeological team investigating the Brochs of Orkney and they mentioned stoneage rituals - so much we take for granted has 'roots' going waaaaaaay baaack....

I really HAVE to do MUCH more research on things like this... when I get the time... But thank you again for another little piece of history!! Now - the question IS - can you relate the above to LOTM?? Within six degrees will do, of course... :o)

Kate.

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: Thanks for all this information, Elaine! I had absolutely no idea about the wren's involvement, though I knew about:

: The traditional celebration of Boxing Day (Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) included giving money and other gifts to charities, the poor, and those in 'service' jobs. The holiday dates from the Middle Ages, though its exact origin is unknown. It is believed to have begun with priests, who opened the church's alms boxes on the day after Christmas and distributed the contents to the poor. Wealthy Lords and ladies of England imitated the practice by presenting Christmas gifts in boxes to their servants on December 26 and offering donations to the poor. The 'Box' can be the Alms Box, the Gift Boxes from British Lords, or the Boxes carried about by those begging alms.

: I guess I just took the above at face value and never looked beyond it. It's funny, because I have just been watching a programme on TV about an archeological team investigating the Brochs of Orkney and they mentioned stoneage rituals - so much we take for granted has 'roots' going waaaaaaay baaack....

: I really HAVE to do MUCH more research on things like this... when I get the time... But thank you again for another little piece of history!! Now - the question IS - can you relate the above to LOTM?? Within six degrees will do, of course... :o)

: Kate.

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