The day after Christmas, Boxing Day, is celebrated for the commemoration of the first Christian martyr St. Stephan, who was stoned to death shortly after Christ's crucifixion. Boxing Day originates from the UK, and there are a few theories as to where the name comes from. According to one theory, the name originates from the tradition of opening the alms boxes placed in churches during the Christmas period. After Christmas, the donations collected in these boxes were distributed to poor people. Another theory mentions, that it was a custom among members of the merchant class, to give boxes of food stuffs to servants the day after Christmas, as an expression of gratitude for there work.

In much the same way, during the Christmas time in most of the cities in Finland, you see charitable organizations starting subscriptions for the less fortunate. At these collecting points, people can bring boxes and bags of clothes, toys and preserved foods, which are then distributed to the poor.

In Finland it is also common nowadays, that many companies instead of sending Christmas cards to their customers, donate a sum of money to a charity. Nowadays employees often get a little gift or bonus around Christmas from there employers, just as the masters in older times, remembered their servants after Christmas.

In Finland, Tapaninpäivä is traditionally a day when families visit friends and relatives and do outdoors sports, such as skating, skiing and sledging. In the old days it was also tradition to go sleigh riding "Tapaninajelu" on Boxing Day.

For information on how to cook and prepare Traditional Finnish Christmas Foods, please visit the Finnguide Finnish Christmas Recipes Section.

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