Christmas with the Lincoln family in Springfield

[L Verge]

Gifts in this era were more useful than glitzy. Children's toys ran the gamut from trains to dolls to spinning tops, toy soldiers, pocket knives -- all depending on the family income.

I believe that Boxing Day was unique to England and its colonies. In the South, household slaves would rush to be the first to greet their owners with Merry Christmas greetings in order to receive a special present. Later in the afternoon, rounds were made in the quarters to dispense gifts of food, clothing, material, etc. Again, the gifting depended on the economics of the plantation as well as the generosity.