Shutterstock
Boxing Day is one of those holidays that pop up on your calendar that you really don’t know what it is, what it means and why it exists.
The origin for Boxing Day starts back in the 1800s. The meaning of the holiday has shifted since its origin but is still celebrated.
If you want to learn more about Boxing Day, read below.
What Is Boxing Day?
Boxing day originated in the United Kingdom and it celebrated by countries that were part of the British Empire and were Commonwealth nations. Based on the Church Calendar, Boxing Day is the second day of Christmastide. Boxing Day and St. Stephen’s Day fall on the same day.
Some countries call Boxing Day, Second Christmas Day.
The term Boxing Day was first used in the 1830s in England. The holiday got its name because the day after Christmas is when most service workers would receive Christmas boxes from the people they worked for. Most of the service workers would typically have to work during Christmas so these boxes were compensation for working through the holiday. Giving money is also normal as well as boxes of gifts.
The boxes that the workers would receive helped coin the term Boxing Day.
When Is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day is the day after Christmas, December 26. If Boxing Day falls on a Sunday it’s moved to the following Monday. The holiday is considered secular and not religious.
How Do You Celebrate Boxing Day?
There’s not a right way to celebrate Boxing Day. The holiday has evolved from one showing appreciation to service workers to a shopping holiday. Because so many people are gifted gift cards and money during Christmas, the following day is a big shopping day. It’s like the Christmas version of Black Friday.
The UK, Canada, Australia, Trinidad, Tobago and New Zealand primarily shop on Boxing Day.
Boxing Day is also a big sports day for the countries who celebrate. In the UK soccer and rugby games are on all day. While in former African Commonwealth nations, specifically Ghana, celebrate the holiday with boxing matches.
The British royals celebrate the holiday by going on a pheasant hunt. There have been rumors that Prince Harry won’t be partaking in the tradition because his new wife Meghan Markle is an avid animal lover.
