[HPforGrownups] (OT) Boxing Day

[Simon Biber]

No: HPFGUIDX 7108

> Anyone know why it is called "Boxing" day?  An odd name for a holiday,
> if you think about it.

Yes, see Rita Winston's post:
# However, according to my trove of obscure and not neccesarily 
# accurate lore, in England the servants had to work on Christmas. 
# (They must have had to work extra hard, to provide the party and 
# all its traditions for all the extended family members who gathered 
# at the biggest house.) Since the servants were working instead of 
# celebrating Christmas, their employers gave them their Christmas 
# presents (called 'Christmas boxes' in those days, whence the name 
# Boxing Day) and a day off, on the day AFTER Christmas. Presumably 
# the family members found it rather adventurous to feed themselves on 
# the leftovers from the Xmas party instead of summoning a servant to 
# bring them food. 
# 
# The wizard folk may never have done Boxing Day, as House Elves don't 
# want a day off.

Simon.