December 26th is the traditional Boxing Day in some countries. The United Kingdom is the best known to students of this holiday's history, the earliest mention being Samuel Pepy's diary entry for December 19,1663, that very same diary in which he described fondling a maid's breasts, acting like a seventeenth century Harvey Weinstein with another and keeping track of his masturbating.
Boxing Day has nothing to do with boxing, the manly art of self-defense, or assembling corrugated cartons. In a couple of African countries and in Italy there are boxing matches but why quibble?
One of the lesser known figures of Boxing Day is from the tenth century: Good King Wenceslas. The Feast of Stephen, or St Stephen's Day, is on December 26. The lyrics to the carol as published by John Mason Neale in 1853: Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the Feast of Stephen When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gathering winter fuel
Hither, page, and stand by me,
If thou knowst it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?
Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes fountain.
Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I shall see him dine
When we bear them thither.
Page and monarch, forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude winds wild lament
And the bitter weather
Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how
I can go no longer.
Mark my footsteps, good my page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shall find the winters rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.
In his masters step he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye, who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.
Good King Wenceslas assisted the poor. Although Wenceslas was, during his lifetime, only a duke, Holy Roman Emperor Otto (which is "toot" inside out) posthumously elevated him to king which is which is why e refer to him as a king to this day. But why quibble?
The practice evolved to giving to the poor, then to servants a box containing gifts and food as a reward for faithful service and then into giving tradesmen a box as a tip.
Former British colonies often celebrate Boxing Day as a national holiday. In Bermuda, Gombeys dance in a 18th century tradition of slaves being permitted to gather to celebrate Christmas. It is also a sporting day for soccer and a shopping day similar to our Black Friday ... but who knows?