Editing Boxing Day (section)

== Etymology ==
There are competing theories for the origins of the term, none of which are definitive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/boxingday.asp|title=snopes.com: Boxing Day Origins|website=[[Snopes.com]]|date=7 November 2000 }}</ref>

The European tradition of giving money and other gifts to those in need, or in service positions, has been dated to the [[Middle Ages]], but the exact origin is unknown; it may refer to the [[Poor box|alms box]] placed in the [[narthex]] of Christian churches to collect donations for the poor. The tradition may come from a custom in the late [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] and [[History of Christianity|early Christian]] era, wherein alms boxes placed in churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the [[Saint Stephen's Day|Feast of Saint Stephen]],<ref name=":0">Collins, 2003, p. 38.</ref> which, in the [[Western Christianity|Western Christian Churches]], falls on the same day as Boxing Day, the second day of [[Christmastide]]. On this day, it is customary in some localities for the alms boxes to be opened and distributed to the poor.<ref name="Robb1984">{{cite book |last1=Robb |first1=Nancy |title=Mid-winter festivals: anthology of stories, traditions, and poems |date=1984 |publisher=S.E. Clapp |page=27 |language=en |quote=St. Stephen's Day or Boxing Day: Boxing Day, or Offering Day as it is sometimes called, derives its name from the ancient practice of giving boxes of money at the midwinter holiday season to all those who had given good service throughout the year. Boxing Day, December 26, was the day the boxes were opened. Later, it was the day on which the alms boxes, located in the churches on Christmas Day, were opened and the contents given to the poor.}}</ref><ref name="FaustSach2002">{{cite book |last1=Faust |first1=Jessica |last2=Sach |first2=Jacky |title=The Book of Christmas |date=2002 |publisher=Citadel Press |isbn=978-0-8065-2368-2 |language=en |quote=Yet another legend is that Boxing Day started the tradition of opening the alms boxes placed in churches during the Christmas season. The contents of the alms boxes were then distributed amongst the poor of the parish.}}</ref>

The ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' gives the earliest attestation from Britain in 1743, defining it as "the day after Christmas day", and saying "traditionally on this day tradespeople, employees, etc., would receive presents or gratuities (a "Christmas box") from their customers or employers."<ref name=":1">{{Cite OED|Boxing Day|id=22316}}</ref>

The term "Christmas box"<ref>{{Cite OED|Christmas box|id=32481}}</ref> dates back to the 17th century, and among other things meant:

<blockquote>A present or gratuity given at Christmas: In Great Britain, usually confined to gratuities given to those who are supposed to have a vague claim upon the donor for services rendered to him as one of the general public by whom they are employed and paid, or as a customer of their legal employer; the undefined theory being that as they have done offices for this person, for which he has not directly paid them, some direct acknowledgement is becoming at Christmas.</blockquote>

In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year.<ref>''Encyclopædia Britannica'', 1953 "Boxing day"</ref> This is mentioned in [[Samuel Pepys]]' diary entry for 19 December 1663.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1663/12/19/ |title=Saturday 19&nbsp;December 1663 (Pepys' Diary) |date=19 December 2006 |publisher=Pepysdiary.com |access-date=26 December 2010}}</ref> This custom is linked to an older British tradition in which the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families since they would have had to serve their masters on Christmas Day. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts, bonuses, and sometimes leftover food. Until the late 20th century, there continued to be a tradition among many in the UK to give a [[Christmas gift]], usually cash, to vendors, although not on Boxing Day, as many would not work on that day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boxing Day and it's surprising facts |url=https://www.shoppersinusa.com/2021/12/boxing-day-and-its-surprising-facts.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207053348/https://www.shoppersinusa.com/2021/12/boxing-day-and-its-surprising-facts.html |archive-date=7 December 2021 |access-date=7 December 2021 |website=shoppersinusa}}</ref>