What is the name of the traditional gift given to servants on Boxing Day?

The traditional gift given to servants on Boxing Day was a Christmas box.

In Britain, servants often had to remain with their employers on Christmas Day. On the following day, they could travel home to visit their families, and employers traditionally sent them away with a box containing gifts, money, a bonus, or leftover food. The custom helped give Boxing Day its name, although the exact origin of the holiday’s title is not certain.

The phrase “Christmas box” was already in use by the 17th century. It could mean a gratuity for service, not necessarily a literal decorated container. Tradespeople and household servants might receive these seasonal payments from employers or customers as thanks for work performed during the year.

A common mix-up is to assume Boxing Day refers to boxing as a sport. In this context, “boxing” relates to gift boxes or alms boxes. The holiday falls on 26 December, the day after Christmas, and is also associated with Saint Stephen’s Day in some Christian traditions.