“How do you make an idiot laugh on Boxing Day?”/“Tell him a joke on Christmas Eve.”

There is Christmas Eve (December 24th), then Christmas Day (December 25th), and then Boxing Day (December 26th) in the United Kingdom. A riddle is:
 
Q: How do you make an idiot laugh on Boxing Day?
A: Tell him a joke on Christmas Eve.
 
The joke has been cited in print since at least 2002.
 
       
Wikipedia: Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated on the day after Christmas Day. It originated in the United Kingdom, and is celebrated in a number of countries that previously formed part of the British Empire. Boxing Day is on 26 December, although the attached bank holiday or public holiday may take place either on that day or two days later.
         
Google Groups: uk.games.video.gamecube
letters section in gforce issue 1…
Ian Osborne
5/25/02
(...)
How do you make Chris Flowers laugh on Boxing Day?
 
Tell him a joke on Christmas Eve 😉
   
Google Groups: alt.happy.valley
And some one liners for you too
Anita Carter
10/27/02
What did Adam say on the day before Christmas ?
It’s Christmas, Eve !
How do you make an idiot laugh on boxing day ?
Tell him a joke on Christmas Eve !
 
23 December 2004, The Globe and Mail (Toronto, ON), “Social Studies,” pg. A24:
How do you make a National Post reader laugh on Boxing Day? Tell him a joke on Christmas Eve.
   
25 December 2004, The Daily Telegraph (Surry Hills, New South Wales), “Ho, ho, ho at Santa’s jolly jokes - Christmas Day 2004,” pg. 2:
Q: How do you make a blonde laugh on Boxing Day?
A: Tell her a joke on Christmas Eve
 
22 December 2005, Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia), “Try these Christmas crackers” by Mike Edmonds, Luke Dennehy & Chloe Adams:
How do you make an idiot laugh on Boxing Day?
Tell him a joke on Christmas Eve.
 
Twitter
Ruth Flearmoy‏
@lamados
How do you make a idiot laugh on Boxing Day?Tell him a joke on Christmas Eve!Did you know the 1st bar code scanned was Wrigley’s gum.
10:52 AM - 3 Dec 2009
   
Google Books
A Man Walks Into a Bar 3
By Jonathan Swan
London, UK: Ebury Press
2010
Pg. 76:
How do you make an idiot laugh on Boxing Day?
Tell him a joke on Christmas Eve!
   
Google Books
The Mammoth Book of Really Silly Jokes:
Humour for the whole family
Edited by Geoff Tibballs
London, UK: Constable & Robinson Ltd
2011
Pg. ?:
How do you make an idiot laugh on Boxing Day?
Tell him a joke on Christmas Eve.
 
Twitter
Shit Jokes‏
@ShitJokes
How do you make an idiot laugh on Boxing Day?
Tell him a joke on Christmas Eve.
7:16 AM - 26 Dec 2017