Q 01/05

How does the 1971 Act listing England's bank holidays describe Boxing Day?

A) As 'Boxing Day'

B) As '26th December, if it be not a Sunday'

C) As 'the day after Christmas'

D) As 'the first weekday after Christmas Day'

Answer · why

B) As '26th December, if it be not a Sunday'

Schedule 1 of the 1971 Act lists the holiday as '26th December, if it be not a Sunday', substituting 27th December when the 25th or 26th is a Sunday; ...

Q 02/05

Boxing Day originated in which country?

A) The United States

B) The United Kingdom

C) New Zealand

D) South Africa

Answer · why

B) The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom carried the custom across its empire, which is why 26 December is still a public holiday in Commonwealth countries such as Canada, ...

Q 03/05

Boxing Day was traditionally a day for doing what?

A) Watching prizefights in the town square

B) Giving gifts to the needy and to servants

C) Boxing up the Christmas decorations

D) Returning unwanted presents to shops

Answer · why

B) Giving gifts to the needy and to servants

Giving gifts to the needy and to servants: employers handed servants and tradesmen a 'Christmas box' of money or small presents on 26 December, their ...

Q 04/05

One theory traces Boxing Day's name to which church box, opened the day after Christmas?

A) A choir collection plate

B) An alms box for the poor

C) A saint's reliquary

D) A vestry ballot box

Answer · why

B) An alms box for the poor

An alms box for the poor: on this theory the clergy emptied it on 26 December and shared out the money, though the custom is older than the name and n...

Q 05/05

Which diarist mentioned tradesmen collecting 'Christmas boxes' in an entry for 19 December 1663?

A) Samuel Pepys

B) John Evelyn

C) Daniel Defoe

D) Jonathan Swift

Answer · why

A) Samuel Pepys

Samuel Pepys's diary for 19 December 1663 records paying his shoemaker's bill and giving 'something to the boys' box against Christmas', an early note...