This post is going to be way off topic.
I have an unhealthy fascination with wishing people a 'Happy Boxing Day.'
Most Americans have no idea what I am talking about, unless it is written on the calendar they like to refer to. Because of this, I would like to attempt to illuminate at least a few folks about this custom.
It began in Britain. I realize we can that about a lot of the things that we know and love, or at least tolerate (given the Founders overall British lineage) to the Brits, including but not limited to: Doctor Who, Fruitcake, the proper way to drink Tea, the concept of Scones (although American scones are most like muffins or cookies while British scones are more like biscuits...I mean like our biscuits, not the British 'biscuits' they have with tea), traffic circles, using the word 'bloody' as a swear word, and disliking the French.
The original purpose of the Holiday was to mark some kind of appreciation for low income workers who worked in a household, or who may consistently assist a more Lordly or loftily positioned Aristocrat in their day-to-day life. The oldest traditions seem to stem from the Lords and Ladies giving their servants the day after Christmas off to spend some time with their families.
As they did this, many folks gave out a Christmas Box, filled with a bonus, cash, food, or other appreciatory gifts. Thus the name Boxing Day came into regular use.
What started off as a day to tip your regular workers, but then expanded into a day to help the underprivileged, thank those that give you goods and services all year long, and has also become an extra Bank holiday in many countries.
For Catholics, the day is known as St. Stephan's Day, and commemorates St. Stephan, who was the first known martyr for the Christian faith.
This day is also where we get 'The Feast of Stephen' in the song Good King Wenceslas.
So there you have it. A little bit about my favorite, non-American holiday. I realize this isn't too much about music, but there is at least one holiday song involved in all of this!
HAPPY BOXING DAY!
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