Latest / The Infographics Show Podcast / The History and Evolution of Boxing Day

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The History and Evolution of Boxing Day · The Infographics Show Podcast

• 0:09
  Speaker 1: Happy Boxing Day everyone. I bet some of you are
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: out there grabbing some incredible deals oh yeah, or maybe
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: just relaxing at home after all that holiday chaos. But
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: did you ever stop and think about how a day
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: known for, you know, post Christmas sales also has these
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: like ties to charitable giving. They go back like centuries.
• 0:31
  Speaker 2: It really is a fascinating kind of paradox, isn't it.
• 0:34
  Speaker 2: The Boxing Day we know today seems so different from
• 0:37
  Speaker 2: how it started.
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: So okay, let's unpack this. Okay, In this deep dive,
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: we're going way back in time to explore how Boxing
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: Day evolved from a day of like alms giving to
• 0:48
  Speaker 1: the shopping and sports extravaganza it is. Now. We'll be
• 0:53
  Speaker 1: looking at medieval England, the Victorian era, and TRACE's journey
• 0:59
  Speaker 1: across the globe.
• 1:00
  Speaker 2: I think what's fascinating here is the name Boxing Day itself. Okay,
• 1:03
  Speaker 2: it hints at those charitable roots. It all started with
• 1:06
  Speaker 2: these donation boxes and churches.
• 1:08
  Speaker 1: Oh so we're talking like literal boxes, you got it.
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: That's where the name comes from.
• 1:12
  Speaker 2: Churches would collect money in these boxes throughout advent and
• 1:16
  Speaker 2: then on December twenty sixth, the day after Christmas they'd
• 1:19
  Speaker 2: open them up and distribute the money to the poor.
• 1:21
  Speaker 1: That really changes my understanding of Boxing Day. Yeah, but
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: why December twenty sixth.
• 1:27
  Speaker 2: Well, December twenty sixth is also Saint Stephen's Day, Oh right,
• 1:31
  Speaker 2: the first Christian martyr, and Saint Stephen was known for
• 1:34
  Speaker 2: helping the poor.
• 1:36
  Speaker 1: So Boxing Day was built on this foundation of religious observance, yes,
• 1:40
  Speaker 1: and that strong emphasis on giving to the less fortunate.
• 1:43
  Speaker 2: Exactly.
• 1:44
  Speaker 1: It's such a contrast to what we think of now.
• 1:46
  Speaker 1: It is, but we have to remember it. This was
• 1:49
  Speaker 1: the medieval period, right, Feudalism was everything.
• 1:51
  Speaker 2: Yeah, social structures were so important back then.
• 1:54
  Speaker 1: So how did feudalism play into Boxing Day?
• 1:56
  Speaker 2: We'll think of it like this, Okay, Wealthy landowners would
• 1:59
  Speaker 2: use Boxing Day to show gratitude their servants and tenants, Okay,
• 2:04
  Speaker 2: giving them gifts or food as a thank you.
• 2:06
  Speaker 1: For their service, like the ancestor of our modern holiday.
• 2:09
  Speaker 2: Bonus, ha ha exactly, but.
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: Instead of a check, it was like a Christmas goose
• 2:13
  Speaker 1: or something precisely.
• 2:15
  Speaker 2: Even traits people would get Christmas boxes from their customers, like.
• 2:19
  Speaker 1: The blacksmith or the baker.
• 2:21
  Speaker 2: Yeah, as a gesture of appreciation.
• 2:23
  Speaker 1: It sounds like this original Boxing Day had this really
• 2:26
  Speaker 1: beautiful element of community, yeah, and recognizing people's contributions. It
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: really did so different from our version, but really beautiful.
• 2:35
  Speaker 2: The spirit of giving back was really at the heart.
• 2:38
  Speaker 1: Of it, regardless of your social standing for centuries. But
• 2:41
  Speaker 1: how did we go from this system of charity to
• 2:46
  Speaker 1: the Boxing Day we know? Now, I'm guessing the Victorians
• 2:49
  Speaker 1: had something to do with it.
• 2:50
  Speaker 2: You're on the right track. The Victorian era brought big.
• 2:53
  Speaker 1: Changes socially and economically.
• 2:55
  Speaker 2: Exactly, and those definitely influenced how Boxing Day was celebrated.
• 2:59
  Speaker 1: Right, the Industrial Revolution was happening, the middle class was growing,
• 3:02
  Speaker 1: things were changing. Did they abandon the charitable aspects of
• 3:06
  Speaker 1: the holiday?
• 3:06
  Speaker 2: Not completely? Victorian values were different, but they still valued
• 3:10
  Speaker 2: charity and goodwill. Queen Victoria herself was a big proponent
• 3:14
  Speaker 2: of Boxing Day. Oh wow, it helped make it an
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: officially recognized.
• 3:18
  Speaker 1: Holiday, so she was like, we're doing Boxing Day. Yeah.
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: And what's interesting is they also blended these charitable traditions
• 3:25
  Speaker 2: with new leisure activities that were becoming popular.
• 3:29
  Speaker 1: So this is where we start to see the shift, yes,
• 3:31
  Speaker 1: to where the Boxing Day we're more familiar with. Yes,
• 3:34
  Speaker 1: what did these Victorian traditions look like.
• 3:36
  Speaker 2: Family gatherings became a big part of it. People enjoying
• 3:40
  Speaker 2: big meals, exchanging gifts, just spending time together.
• 3:44
  Speaker 1: Sounds familiar.
• 3:45
  Speaker 2: You also start to see sporting events really becoming a
• 3:48
  Speaker 2: Boxing Day staple.
• 3:49
  Speaker 1: Like what kind of sporting events?
• 3:50
  Speaker 2: I think fox hunting among the upper classes. Oh, and
• 3:53
  Speaker 2: cricket matches were gaining popularity as a Boxing Day tradition.
• 3:57
  Speaker 1: Box hunting, Yeah, wow, some of those ditions have an age.
• 4:00
  Speaker 2: Well uh huh.
• 4:02
  Speaker 1: Thankfully we moved on indeed.
• 4:04
  Speaker 2: But you see, even in these early Victorian celebrations, there
• 4:08
  Speaker 2: was this tension the traditional charity of Boxing Day and
• 4:11
  Speaker 2: the new leisure and entertainment, like.
• 4:13
  Speaker 1: The holiday was trying to find its place in a
• 4:15
  Speaker 1: changing world. Yeah, did this lead to Boxing Day becoming
• 4:18
  Speaker 1: an official holiday?
• 4:19
  Speaker 2: It definitely set the stage for it. Okay, it wasn't
• 4:22
  Speaker 2: until eighteen seventy one that Boxing Day was officially declared
• 4:26
  Speaker 2: a public holiday in the UK oh Okay, and from
• 4:29
  Speaker 2: there it spread to other Commonwealth nations, right.
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: Canada, Australia, New Zealand exactly. That makes sense with that
• 4:35
  Speaker 1: health connection. Yeah, I imagine it didn't stay exactly the
• 4:37
  Speaker 1: same at all those countries.
• 4:38
  Speaker 2: Though, right, You're right. As boxing Day spread, it started
• 4:41
  Speaker 2: to adapt, okay, reflecting the unique cultures and climates of
• 4:45
  Speaker 2: each place.
• 4:46
  Speaker 1: I'm really curious to hear how those variations played out. Yeah,
• 4:49
  Speaker 1: but before we get there, I want to know when
• 4:52
  Speaker 1: that big consumer shift happened. When did boxing day become
• 4:57
  Speaker 1: all about the sales?
• 4:59
  Speaker 2: That shift really took hold after World War Two? Okay,
• 5:02
  Speaker 2: as economies recovered and consumerism started to boom, boxing day
• 5:07
  Speaker 2: went through a major change.
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: So post war prosperity and a surge in buying stuff
• 5:13
  Speaker 1: that led to the shopping bananza we see today. Right,
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: thinks you wonder was this a natural thing or did
• 5:19
  Speaker 1: retailers plan this?
• 5:21
  Speaker 2: That's a great question. Yeah, it really shows how culture
• 5:25
  Speaker 2: and economics are connected. It's probably a mix of both.
• 5:28
  Speaker 2: After the war, retailers wanted to boost sales.
• 5:31
  Speaker 1: Makes sense.
• 5:31
  Speaker 2: What better time than after Christmas.
• 5:33
  Speaker 1: Everyone's already in a spending mood exactly.
• 5:36
  Speaker 2: And it's only gotten bigger in recent decades. Right, But
• 5:39
  Speaker 2: it's important to remember those older boxing day traditions.
• 5:42
  Speaker 1: They haven't disappeared completely, No, they haven't. It's not just
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: about shopping. We still have those sporting events, family gatherings,
• 5:50
  Speaker 1: and even charitable giving.
• 5:51
  Speaker 2: It's what makes Boxing Day so interesting. Keeps evolving, reflecting
• 5:56
  Speaker 2: how our values change.
• 5:57
  Speaker 1: But we can still see traces of how it all
• 6:00
  Speaker 1: began right under the surface. So even when we're shopping
• 6:03
  Speaker 1: or watching football, Yeah, we're taking part in a tradition
• 6:06
  Speaker 1: that goes back centuries exactly.
• 6:09
  Speaker 2: And now that we've looked at its origins, yeah, let's
• 6:12
  Speaker 2: look at how those regional variations developed, starting with a
• 6:16
  Speaker 2: trip around the Commonwealth.
• 6:17
  Speaker 1: I'm ready, great, let's go.
• 6:19
  Speaker 2: Let's start with the UK, where Boxing Day is still
• 6:23
  Speaker 2: really connected to its traditional elements. You'll find packed shopping
• 6:28
  Speaker 2: streets and stadiums full of football fans.
• 6:31
  Speaker 1: So like picture this, Yeah, the energy of those Boxing
• 6:34
  Speaker 1: Day football matches. Everyone trying to snag a deal at
• 6:37
  Speaker 1: the sales. Yeah, pretty classic British Boxing.
• 6:40
  Speaker 2: Day right, absolutely. Now, if we hop over to Canada, okay,
• 6:44
  Speaker 2: we see a mix of British and North American traditions.
• 6:47
  Speaker 2: They've got the shopping frenzy too, but they've also added
• 6:50
  Speaker 2: their own Canadian twist.
• 6:52
  Speaker 1: I bet I can guess.
• 6:53
  Speaker 2: Go ahead, hockey, you got it. Boxing Day in Canada
• 6:57
  Speaker 2: isn't complete without some hockey games. Families get together and
• 7:01
  Speaker 2: watch their favorite teams.
• 7:02
  Speaker 1: Ah. I can almost hear the crowd and those hockey
• 7:06
  Speaker 1: sticks clashing.
• 7:07
  Speaker 2: It's exciting.
• 7:08
  Speaker 1: But it's not all action in deals, right, Canadians still
• 7:11
  Speaker 1: make time for family.
• 7:12
  Speaker 2: Of course. It's a day for cozy gatherings and meals.
• 7:16
  Speaker 1: Just relaxing with loved ones after Christmas exactly. Okay, last
• 7:20
  Speaker 1: stop on our Commonwealth trip. Okay, Australian New Zealand. All right,
• 7:25
  Speaker 1: it's summer there, so I'm guessing Boxing Day is totally different.
• 7:28
  Speaker 2: You're right, Well, the UK is bundled up, Australians and
• 7:32
  Speaker 2: New Zealanders are at the beach. Wow, are having barbecues?
• 7:36
  Speaker 1: So different.
• 7:37
  Speaker 2: It's all about enjoying the outdoors and the sun.
• 7:40
  Speaker 1: From snow boots to swimsuits. What a contrast it is.
• 7:44
  Speaker 1: But they still have sports traditions, right. Oh yeah, I've
• 7:47
  Speaker 1: heard about a big cricket match.
• 7:49
  Speaker 2: You're thinking of the Boxing Day Test cricket match.
• 7:52
  Speaker 1: That's it.
• 7:52
  Speaker 2: It's huge. It draws massive crowds. Everyone's watching.
• 7:55
  Speaker 1: So whether you're surfing, having a barbecue or at the
• 7:58
  Speaker 1: cricket match. Yeah, Boxing Day down Under is all about
• 8:01
  Speaker 1: those summer vibes exactly. It's amazing how one holiday can
• 8:05
  Speaker 1: be so different.
• 8:06
  Speaker 2: It really shows how traditions adapt as they spread around
• 8:09
  Speaker 2: the world.
• 8:10
  Speaker 1: It's not just common Wealth countries, right yet, lots of
• 8:12
  Speaker 1: cultures have similar celebrations after Christmas. They do, even if
• 8:16
  Speaker 1: they don't call it Boxing Day.
• 8:18
  Speaker 2: Exactly, Like in Germany they celebrate tie fire tag.
• 8:22
  Speaker 1: What does that mean?
• 8:23
  Speaker 2: It means second holiday, makes sense. It's a day for
• 8:26
  Speaker 2: relaxing family and just taking a.
• 8:28
  Speaker 1: Break after all the Christmas stuff.
• 8:30
  Speaker 2: Yeah, and in many parts of Europe, uh huh, December
• 8:33
  Speaker 2: twenty sixth is Saint Stephen's.
• 8:34
  Speaker 1: Day, right, which also had those roots and charity we talked.
• 8:37
  Speaker 2: About exactly like Boxing Day.
• 8:39
  Speaker 1: It seems like taking a break after Christmas is pretty universal.
• 8:42
  Speaker 2: It does, doesn't it.
• 8:43
  Speaker 1: But as we've seen, Boxing Day is more than just
• 8:46
  Speaker 1: a day off it is. It's got all this history,
• 8:49
  Speaker 1: cultural differences in traditions that keep changing.
• 8:52
  Speaker 2: Exactly, and that brings us back to you, our listeners. Yeah,
• 8:57
  Speaker 2: how do you see Boxing Day?
• 8:58
  Speaker 1: Now?
• 9:00
  Speaker 2: This has changed your perspective on how you celebrate it.
• 9:03
  Speaker 1: It's definitely given me a lot to think about. Yeah,
• 9:05
  Speaker 1: for me, it's less about the sales now okay, and
• 9:08
  Speaker 1: more about remembering that sense of community and generosity. Maybe
• 9:11
  Speaker 1: we can all find ways to bring that back into
• 9:13
  Speaker 1: our celebrations.
• 9:14
  Speaker 2: I love that idea. Yeah, whether it's donating to a
• 9:17
  Speaker 2: local charity or just saying thank you to the people
• 9:20
  Speaker 2: around us, those acts of kindness are really at the
• 9:24
  Speaker 2: heart of this holiday.
• 9:25
  Speaker 1: Yeah they are.
• 9:26
  Speaker 2: Maybe this will inspire some new Boxing Day traditions for
• 9:29
  Speaker 2: our listeners out there.
• 9:30
  Speaker 1: Ooh, I like that idea. Yeah, maybe start a new
• 9:33
  Speaker 1: family tradition, like volunteering at a shelter or just making
• 9:39
  Speaker 1: a point of thanking the people who make our lives better. Yeah,
• 9:43
  Speaker 1: you know, those acts of kindness and generosity. That's really
• 9:47
  Speaker 1: what this holiday is all about.
• 9:48
  Speaker 2: It's so interesting how Boxing Day shows us what do
• 9:51
  Speaker 2: we mean that even in a world that's obsessed with
• 9:53
  Speaker 2: buying things right and wanding everything right away.
• 9:56
  Speaker 1: Yeah, instant gratification.
• 9:58
  Speaker 2: Exactly, there's still space for those values.
• 10:00
  Speaker 1: The community and giving.
• 10:02
  Speaker 2: Back and appreciating what really matters.
• 10:04
  Speaker 1: So, as we wrap up this Boxing Day deep dive, Yeah,
• 10:07
  Speaker 1: I want to hear from you, our listeners. How are
• 10:10
  Speaker 1: you spending the rest of your day?
• 10:11
  Speaker 2: Hmmm, good question.
• 10:13
  Speaker 1: Are you going to use any of these historical bits
• 10:16
  Speaker 1: in your own celebrations. Yeah, maybe you'll donate to a cause,
• 10:20
  Speaker 1: or maybe you'll just raise a glass to those medieval
• 10:22
  Speaker 1: folks who started at all.
• 10:24
  Speaker 2: Hau huh. I love it.
• 10:25
  Speaker 1: However you celebrate, Yeah, we hope this deep dive gave
• 10:28
  Speaker 1: you a new appreciation for this unique holiday for sure.
• 10:32
  Speaker 1: From medieval alms giving to Victorian fox hunts, yeah, and
• 10:38
  Speaker 1: modern shopping sprees.
• 10:39
  Speaker 2: Crazy how it's changed.
• 10:41
  Speaker 1: Boxing Day has definitely come.
• 10:43
  Speaker 2: A long way, it really has.
• 10:45
  Speaker 1: Who knows what the future holds for Only time will tell,
• 10:48
  Speaker 1: but one thing's for sure. What's that It's a holiday
• 10:51
  Speaker 1: that brings people together.
• 10:53
  Speaker 2: In so many ways.
• 10:54
  Speaker 1: So from all of us here the Deep Dive, have
• 10:57
  Speaker 1: a happy Boxing.
• 10:58
  Speaker 2: Day everyone, however you celebrate, We'll see you next time
• 11:02
  Speaker 2: for another deep dive.
• 11:03
  Speaker 1: Into the fascinating stories behind everyday things.
• 11:07
  Speaker 2: The things we take for granted.
• 11:09
  Speaker 1: Until then, keep exploring, keep questioning, and keep those brains buzzing.