Boxing day in Jamaica

by June
(Charlotte, NC)

Question
What does boxing day means in Jamaica?

I know many countries have different meaning to this holiday, but I never knew the meaning and why we celebrate it.

Answer: by Wellesley Gayle, November 23, 2008
Hi June,

Thanks for the question.
It looks like you are a Jamaican living in the US right? I recall how you said, 'why we celebrate it' but noticed you are from NC.

Anyway, I did a bit of research and found an interesting article by Tesi Johnson for the Gleaner, that may prove helpful.

Here in the excerpt.

"BOXING DAY, which falls on the first weekday after Christmas, has nothing to do with gory fist fights.

Though it remains unclear as to how it began or how it is traditionally celebrated, it is now a bonafide public holiday in Jamaica, and in many other Commonwealth countries and Europe.

The theories which herald the beginnings of the post-Christmas holiday are as varied as the ways it is celebrated.

One theory suggests the holiday's roots can be traced to Britain, where Boxing Day is also known as St. Stephen's Day.

On that day, December 26, the alms boxes placed in churches where parishioners deposited coins for the poor were opened and the contents distributed.

Another theory explains that the servants who were required to work on Christmas Day were given the following day off, and as the servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers would present them with gift boxes.

Even another story is that Boxing Day is the day to pack away all the Christmas decorations in their boxes to await next year's festivities.

Nowadays, Boxing Day is usually the day when persons meet with their extended family to have a 'second Christmas'.

Also, the day is used to remember those who have provided a service to you during the year. The postal delivery person, the newspaper delivery person, and employees of your household or business should be remembered with a tip, bonus or gift basket.

These gifts are still called 'Christmas Boxes.' It is also customary for sporting events like horse racing and football games to be held on Boxing Day."

(source: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20051227/life/life1.html)


I hope this helps.

Keep in touch June!

Regards,
Wellesley