(continued from "Christmas Past, part II")

Leftover Holiday Notes

Boxing Day: In England, there's an addition to mere gift-giving: the alms box. Alms would be put in; then the box would be opened and distributed to the poor.

Employers borrowed from that tradition and started giving the Christmas Bonus.

The people of Holland were thought to be practical and efficient business people. They gave their kids a box in which to save money to buy the roast pig for the holidays. The box, of course, came to be shaped as a pig, and we now know this to be the piggy bank.

Christmas cards: In the 1800's, it was fashionable to give out Christmas cards, which were self-made. It wasn't until about 1875 that the first commercial Christmas cards were made.

Christmas caroling: people used to carry around wassail, an alcoholic drink, as they sang. They'd be invited into the home to eat and drink. The Scandinavians had glog, which was very high in alcohol.

Wreaths: In Ireland, people would place a wreath in the window with a candle so that political prisoners could find their way to a welcoming home.