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Boxing Day (St Stephen's Day) falls on the 26th December, which of course is the day after Christmas Day. In the UK this day is celebrated by watching (or playing) a little festive sport. If Christmas Day is for the family, then Boxing Day is when the men go out and watch the big local derby football game. You know you're back out with mates when the first thing they do is take the Mickey out of your new Christmas cardigan.
In addition to the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are also countries where Boxing Day is big. Could it be that the idea of Boxing Day is spreading to the USA? Usually it's the other way around we English import American concepts like Santa (Father Christmas).
- Boxing Day Jokes
- Funny Boxing Day Pictures
- Why is it Called Boxing Day?
- Boxing Day Origin
- Fox Hunting on Boxing Day
Boxing Day Jokes
- A new Ryanair pilot called Michael was flying into London Heathrow on Boxing Day. He cannot get the undercarriage down,
so he calls the control tower in panic and says, 'St Patrick's Day, Easter Sunday, Boxing Day!'An air controller comes back on the airwaves and says, 'Michael, I think the call sign you're looking for is: Mayday, Mayday, Mayday!'. - How do you make an idiot laugh on Boxing Day? Tell him a joke on Christmas Eve.
- Spirit of Boxing Day: It was just after Christmas and the judge was in a festive mood. He asked the prisoner in the dock,
'What are you charged with?' The prisoner replied, 'Doing my sales shopping too early.' 'That's no crime', said the magistrate. 'Just
how early were you doing this shopping?' 'Before the shop opened', answered the prisoner. - Question. Why was Cinderella no good at football? Answer. Because her coach was a pumpkin.
- Boxing Day Latest: Semi-Annual after Xmas Sale.
- Here are more Christmas riddles that you can adapt as Boxing Day Jokes
Funny Boxing Day Pictures
Three Santa Clauses Relaxing on Boxing Day
Boxing Day: That time of year when everyone gets Santamental.
Boxing Day Joke - A Seat In the Stand?
Lance and Jimmy were fortunate in that they each had a season ticket to watch Manchester United. However, they had a friend Eddie who would give is right arm for season ticket. They could not help noticing that there was always a spare seat (L39) next to theirs.
One half-time Lance went to the ticket office and asked if they could by buy the season ticket for L39. The club official said that unfortunately the seat had been sold. Nevertheless, week after week the L39 was still empty.
Then on Boxing day, much to Lance and Jimmy's amazement the seat was taken for the first time that season. Jimmy could not resist asking the newcomer, 'Where have you been all season'.
'Don't ask he said, the wife bought the season ticket back last summer, and kept it for a surprise Christmas present.
An Amusing Boxing Day Try-on
Mary-Jo was going to the New Year party but needed a special party dress. So she went shopping on Boxing Day. In the clothing store she asked the assistant, 'May I try on that dress in the window, please?'
'Certainly not, madam,' responded the salesgirl, 'You'll have to use the fitting room like everyone else.'
Why is St Stephen's Day Called Boxing Day?
Boxing Day Origin
Boxing Day history goes back at least to Medieval times in Britain. Whereas Christmas was a day for celebrating Christ's nativity, Boxing Day, or St Stephen's Day, was the time for giving and receiving gifts.
For the ordinary country working man, a Boxing Day present from the lord of the manor was particularly welcome. Incidentally, the 26th of December is also known as St Stephen's Day.
The origin of Boxing Day has nothing to with the art of pugilism, and everything to do with 'Christmas Box'. The idea started with a
clay box used in artisan workshops. Apprentices, their masters, and their customers, would put gratuities into the box, which acted like
a 'piggy bank'. Then on the day after celebrating Christmas, the box would be ceremonial smashed and the money shared among the workers. Thus the origin of Boxing Day was all to do with a Christmas present or bonus. The phrase 'Christmas box' lives on as gift householders give to postmen, paperboys and dustbin [garbage collectors] that visit their home.
Nowadays people open their presents on Christmas Day, thus Boxing Day traditions involve visiting members of the wider family circle on 26th December, one by-product is having two Christmas meals in two days. Will and Guy are unsure if turkey is more tasty hot on Christmas Day, or cold with mashed potato and pickle on Boxing Day.
Fox Hunting on Boxing Day
In the UK and Ireland Boxing Day is a associated with fox hunting. Horse riders dressed in red and white riding gear, assisted by a pack of
foxhounds, chase foxes through the countryside in the hope of running them to earth and killing them.
Townies think this barbaric and in 2004 British MPs voted to ban hunting foxes with dogs. This proved a particularly tough law to enforce,
given that the majority of country people actively or passively supported fox hunting. Rightly, catching foxhunters was never going to be a
police priority, and the foxhunters shrugged off their "hooray Henry" images when it cam to fighting case in court.
Nasty Foxhunting Fall
Joe and Eric are out hunting foxes. Then for no good reason Eric falls off his horse. Joe checks him over, but he doesn't seem to be
breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. Fortunately Joe has his trusty mobile (cellphone) and calls the emergency services. He
gasps to the operator: "My friend Eric seems dead! What can I do?"
The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: "Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure."
There is a silence, then a shot is heard.
Joe comes back on the line. He says: "OK, what next?"
Boxing Day on a Sunday
St Stephen's Day is always celebrated on 26th of December, however, Boxing Day, as in the public holiday, is celebrated on Monday 27th December whenever the 26th falls on a Sunday. The public holiday situation is even more complicated when Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, in these years Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th are public holidays to make up for the festivities falling at the weekend. As time goes on, this seems less of a problem has people have a Christmas week or even a Christmas fortnight of holidays.
Kwanzaa - African-Amercian Holiday
Kwanzaa, is an African-American celebration of cultural reaffirmation, and is one of the fastest-growing holidays in the history of the world. It should be twinned with Boxing Day!
Kwanzaa, which can also be spelt Kwaanza, is a week-long secular holiday that celebrates African American heritage. Each year it is
celebrated from December 26th to January 1st. It took root 30 years ago, when graduate student Maulana Karenga, disturbed by the 1965 riots in Los Angeles, Watts area, decided that African-Americans needed an annual event to celebrate their differences rather than the melting pot.
Footnote: Boxing Day jokes seem as rare as hen's teeth, if you know of any good ones please send them to us.