Why is it called Boxing Day

Boxing Day was traditionally a day off for servants, their master would give them a box to take with them. It used to hold gifts, a bonus and sometimes ...

Sailing ships when setting sail would have a sealed box containing money on board for good luck. It used to hold gifts, a bonus and sometimes leftovers. The Victorians were the ones who made Boxing Day a Bank Holiday in 1871. Traditionally there was a box to collect money for the poor placed in Churches on Christmas day and opened the next day - Boxing Day aka St Stephen's Day. - Funny enough it has nothing to do with Boxing, instead, there's a confusing mix of traditions that kickstarted the day.

Boxing Day has been celebrated as a holiday in Britain since the 19th Century.

Coincidentally enough, the money would be stored in a box, further adding to the Boxing Day moniker. However, in these countries, the holiday is usually treated as a shopping event like Black Friday and marks a day when sales kick-off. ["The future used to be exciting... The tradition at the time dictated that servants could have the day off (an extremely rare occurrence in those days). They would also receive hand-selected presents from their masters as a way of showing gratitude for their services. Taking place on Monday, December 26, the holiday has been officially celebrated since 1871.

Today, December 26, is known as Boxing Day, with many people associating the day with different things. Some people hit the shops for the Boxing Day sales, ...

In some European countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands, Boxing Day is celebrated as a second Christmas Day. Today, December 26, is known as Boxing Day, with many people associating the day with different things. Firstly, it is nothing to do with the sport of boxing. The servants would also go home on Boxing Day to give Christmas boxes to their families. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term “Boxing Day” dates from the mid-18th century, and refers to the practice of giving tradespeople like postmen and servants “Christmas boxes” following Christmas Day. Some people hit the shops for the Boxing Day sales, while others will go for a walk after some festive indulgence, or cosy up on the couch and watch films or football.

Australia South Africa Cricket Teams on the field. South African players sing their national anthem ahead of play in the second cricket test between South ...

India has played Boxing Day Test matches in Australia in 1985, 1991, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2018 and 2020. Football and cricket matches are scheduled to take place, in hopes that this would improve the events’ viewership as it is a public holiday. According to Australia Broadcasting Corporation, the history can be traced back to how in 1892, the stadium hosted a Sheffield Shield match which started a tradition of Christmas period clashes between Victoria and New South Wales. Countries such as the UK and Australia see public holidays on the day as well. Others believe it comes from the post-Christmas custom of churches placing boxes outside their doors to collect money for distribution to less-fortunate members of society in need of Christmas cheer. It was particularly important as many countries in the Global North see biting temperatures prevail.

Some believe that it got its name from the fact that alms boxes placed in churches for collection of donations on Christmas Day were traditionally opened the ...

Charity and giving to the poor is one way to honour the holiday’s origin and is still a big part of Boxing Day. But, In recent years, the American tradition of ‘Black Friday’ with dramatic sales the day after Thanksgiving, each November, has spread to the United Kingdom and Canada and has largely overshadowed Boxing Week. Moreover, when Boxing Day falls on a Sunday or Saturday that is a non-working day, workers are entitled to a holiday with pay on a working day immediately preceding or following the general holiday. The market is flooded with Christmas gifts and products with huge sales. The tradition is still a part of the day’s celebrations. Other people donate the unneeded Christmas gifts they’ve received to the poor, or fill a donation box with canned food, basic commodities and clothing. So, Boxing Day has also become a day of sport. It’s believed that in the 10th century, a day after Christmas, the duke of Bohemia was surveying his land when he noticed a poor man trying to gather firewood in a blizzard. Some believe that it’s traditionally a day when boxes of gifts are given to helping hands, tradespeople and the poor. Some believe that it got its name from the fact that alms boxes placed in churches for collection of donations on Christmas Day were traditionally opened the next day. The presents given to the poor and helping hands were called a 'Christmas box'; hence the name Boxing Day. It’s a public holiday in countries that observe it: many European countries, the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries like Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago and Canada.

For me, it will begin like every other day – with a zing. I'll swim in the North Sea, as the sun rises, with my band of salt-water junkies.

A book of the scripts is published by Souvenir Press at £14.99 A brisk walk with my English setter, Jagger, will be followed by the meal I look forward to all year, Boxing Day leftovers lunch: cold turkey (much tastier than hot), with pickles and bubble and squeak. The sharp end of Christmas is over, Boxing Day has dawned and – relax! You can catch the Tottenham v Brentford match; dress up for the King George VI Chase Day race meeting at Kempton Park; join the shopping sales frenzy and swap that unwanted air fryer gift for a sturdy wok; or simply “consume an excess of Quality Street”, as my friend, Sarah, plans to do. It’s caused by the whole nation breathing a collective sigh of relief. Have you noticed a strong breeze this morning, bending trees and pinning back the ears of cavorting spaniels?

Despite merely being used as a day to recover from excess food intake after Christmas nowadays, Boxing Day has fascinating origins that date back to the ...

Boxing Day has served as a public holiday in the UK since 1871, but Scotland has only enjoyed it since 1974. These boxes are referenced in the diary of Samuel Pepys from 1663, and they were thought to contain gifts of gratitude for the services of others throughout the year. As a festive holiday the date has existed for centuries yet many people are not aware of its origins, particularly as there are many conflicting theories on Boxing Day.