Actually, Boxing Day was around before Victorian times. Christmas Day being a Quarter Day, rents and accounts were due. But since, in the Middle Ages, everyone would be at Church most of the day, it became customary to pay them on the 26th.

The Quarter Days also became the days on which people settled their accounts with tradespeople for the previous three months. 26th of December also became the day on which annual bonuses were given to employees. These were not only cash, but also includes the opportunity for tradesman and customer, or employee and boss, to 'drink each other's health'. Generally in some form of hot punch, mulled ale or wine, or rum or brandy in hot water.

The result of so much health drinking was that far too many people were pretty much hammered by lunchtime (including local Constables) and things got a bit dodgy. So in 1871 the day was declared a Bank Holiday so people could go home and sleep it off!

I see your nefarious relative 'Feathers' McGraw is up to his old tricks again!