Since there are so many Canadian sisters out there please answer the following:

Without appearing completely daft, please explain to this American exactly what Boxing Day is and what the significance is? Pretty please???

Some American's (to my knowledge) know nothing of Boxing Day. I just happened to learn from a Canadian colleague years ago that it was a National Holiday for our northern neighbors!

Thank you SO much!

It originated in England, so I'm told. My parents always explained that it was the day that the "staff" were given a holiday and were also given Boxes of leftovers to take home to their families. I think this was Victorian England so you guys didn't have it when you dumped the tea - or did we dump the tea? Anyhow, it has nothing to do with fighting although there is many a family fight on that day.

It is also the Feast of St Stephen who was the first Christian martyr. Remember Wenceslaus? He lugged out food and wine to the poor man - probably in a box.

ROFLMAO

And there's more--actually, the tradition of Boxing day started in Medieval times (not the restaurant!) when the nobility would leave their unwanted Christmas boxes from gifts out on the side ofthe road as the poor would come and take the boxes home. As years passed, they started putting stuff in it (as Ruth said). Now Boxing day is simply an extention of Christmas--a time to get together with family and eat some more! ( are you stuffed yet?) and then there's the Boxing day sales--my oh my, the day after Christmas is shopping madness. We never used to be able to do it but a few years back merchants started opening up on Boxing Day and of course the police charged them and then it got all political and so now everyone is open on Boxing Day. So there, in a nutshell more or less.