Alm’s Box, 1515

In the collection of the University is a Renaissance era alm’s box.  This heavy wooden box would have been placed outside of a church in the doorway for citizens to contribute to the poor.

According to the Heritage Doncaster site, one theory for the origin of ‘Boxing Day’ is connected to the Catholic Christian commemoration of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr and patron saint of Deacons.  St. Stephen was appointed to distribute aid to the poor.

The term ‘Boxing Day’ is thought to come from the ‘boxing’ of alms in wooden donation boxes in churches, just like this one. The Priests would open the alms boxes on Christmas day. On the following day, during the Feast of St. Stephen, the contents would be distributed to the poor of the parish.