Where does the phrase “dog days of summer” come from? 

Research Desk

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Research service is available during library open hours.

Email us: Research Desk, or call: 307-733-2164 x3110

Current trivia question:

Why is December 26th called Boxing Day? 

Answer: According to History.com, the term "Boxing Day" is of British origin, and the Oxford English Dictionary traces its earliest print attribution to 1833, four years before Charles Dickens referred to it in “The Pickwick Papers.” The exact roots of the holiday name are unknown, but there are two leading theories, both of which are connected to charity traditionally distributed to lower classes on the day after Christmas. 

One idea is that December 26 was the day centuries ago when lords of the manor and aristocrats typically distributed “Christmas boxes” often filled with small gifts, money and leftovers from Christmas dinner to their household servants and employees, who were required to work on December 25, in recognition of good service throughout the year. These boxes were, in essence, holiday bonuses. Another popular theory is that the Boxing Day moniker arose from the alms boxes that were placed in churches during the Advent season for the collection of monetary donations from parishioners. Clergy members distributed the contents of the boxes to the poor on December 26, which is also the feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr and a figure known for acts of charity. (Ireland celebrates December 26 as St. Stephen’s Day.) 

Why not make your own Boxing Day tradition and choose one (or more) of the seven Sylvester Stallone Rocky movies to watch?

Check the catalog here for availability.

Research Questions

Looking for a local news article from 1984 to help solve a family mystery? Trying to make an informed choice for your next mattress? Need a stack of books pulled to help you put together an anti-inflammatory diet? We're on it! The research team can help you find trustworthy resources to answer life's burning questions. Email us at research@tclib.org.

School Projects

Your history teacher just assigned you a research project that's worth a third of your grade.  Don't panic!  The research team can steer you toward reliable resources that will support your thesis and help you ace the assignment. Appointments available for one-on-one or group help.

Teachers! Bring your students to the library for a tour of the collection and some pointers on how to do research using library databases. 

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