Gift day

Boxing dayOn this day in Nigeria, as in many other countries, people exchange gifts. It's a pretty old tradition. The name Boxing Day, which is usually translated as “gift day” in Russian, actually means “day of boxes”. There is no contradiction - I mean just the boxes in which the gifts were placed.

A long time ago, among the upper class, it was customary to give gifts to servants on December 26, who had a day off on that day. From their servants, the owners did not expect any return gifts, it was pure blessing. The exchange of gifts was only possible between equals.

Another plausible version, considering the origin of this holiday, suggests that centuries ago, merchants had the habit of handing out boxes of delicious provisions to those who worked for them (sellers, servants) on December 26. It was like a Christmas award for good work. Hence the name Boxing Day.

Finally, it is possible that the holiday owes its name and another custom: on December 25, the clergy opened a box into which charitable parishioners threw coins all year round, and 26 gave this money to those in need.