News / National
Zim celebrates Boxing Day
27 Dec 2012 at 04:49hrs | Views
The world celebrated Boxing Day yesterday with some Zimbabweans saying the tradition of giving out gifts of food, money and clothes in a small gift box should be upheld and continued as it helps to cement relationships.
The world over, the day after Christmas is well known for giving, receiving and opening of gifts.
Some Zimbabweans told ZBC News that it is important for people to exchange gifts and appreciate each other after a year of hard work.
But while others were exchanging gifts it was work as usual for some people who decided to spend the day in their maize fields.
Some said they would like to take advantage of the rains and the public holiday to weed their fields and apply fertiliser.
Meanwhile, in the Harare central business district, there was not much activity though some people said they are still in the Christmas mood of shopping.
The origins of the Boxing Day holiday began in England during the middle ages.
Some historians say the holiday developed because servants were required to work on Christmas day but took the following day off and as servants prepared to leave to visit their families their employers would present them with gift boxes.
Another theory is that the boxes were placed in churches where congregants would deposit coins for the poor and were opened a day after Christmas and the contents distributed to the needy on December 26.
As time went on, Boxing Day gift giving expanded to include everyone, the employer and employee, friends and relatives.
The tradition had survived to date where people give presents to others who have helped them throughout the year.
The world over, the day after Christmas is well known for giving, receiving and opening of gifts.
Some Zimbabweans told ZBC News that it is important for people to exchange gifts and appreciate each other after a year of hard work.
But while others were exchanging gifts it was work as usual for some people who decided to spend the day in their maize fields.
Some said they would like to take advantage of the rains and the public holiday to weed their fields and apply fertiliser.
Meanwhile, in the Harare central business district, there was not much activity though some people said they are still in the Christmas mood of shopping.
The origins of the Boxing Day holiday began in England during the middle ages.
Some historians say the holiday developed because servants were required to work on Christmas day but took the following day off and as servants prepared to leave to visit their families their employers would present them with gift boxes.
Another theory is that the boxes were placed in churches where congregants would deposit coins for the poor and were opened a day after Christmas and the contents distributed to the needy on December 26.
As time went on, Boxing Day gift giving expanded to include everyone, the employer and employee, friends and relatives.
The tradition had survived to date where people give presents to others who have helped them throughout the year.
Source - ZBC
