Every year on December 26, residents of English-speaking countries celebrate Boxing Day, which falls on a significant date for all Catholics - the second day after Catholic Christmas. It is celebrated only in a few countries - mainly in those that are historically connected with Great Britain (Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand) and in some European countries. In Germany, it is called "Zweite Feiertag", which means "second celebration".
The name of the holiday - Boxing Day - is literally translated as "Day of Boxes". This is due to the fact that in Great Britain it is customary to present all gifts in a special square or rectangular package. The history of the holiday dates back to the 17th-18th centuries, when noble people magnificently celebrated Christmas and exchanged gifts.
Some historians claim that the tradition dates back to Roman times, when money for sports games was collected in boxes. Clay pots filled with coins were found among the ruins of Pompeii. Later, the Romans brought this idea to Britain, and monks and clergy soon began to use the boxes to collect donations throughout the year, and on Christmas the funds were distributed to the poor.
The second day of Christmas is traditionally dedicated to charity - earlier on this day the nobility gave gifts to servants, court workers and simply the poor on the streets. Each wealthy family brought a huge basket of gifts packed in boxes to the church on December 26, which were intended for those who could not afford purchases.
The clergy themselves distributed the presents among the poor parishioners, based on their need for a particular family. Thus began the tradition of giving gifts on the second day of Catholic Christmas.
It is also customary to attend various sporting events on this day - football, rugby, cricket, horse racing, regattas. For example, matches of one of the rounds of the top leagues of the English, Scottish and Northern Irish football championships are held annually on December 26 on Boxing Day. Also on Boxing Day, the Sydney-Hobart regatta begins in Melbourne.
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