Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26, the day after Christmas. It is a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries with British ties. Despite the name, it has nothing to do with the sport of boxing. It began as a day for giving gifts and money, packed in boxes, to servants, tradespeople and the poor. Today, it's known for sports, family visits, leftovers and big sales.
History of Boxing Day
The exact origin of Boxing Day is debated, but several traditions point to 'Christmas boxes'. In Britain, wealthy households gave their servants the day after Christmas off, along with boxes containing gifts, money or leftover food, so they could visit their own families. Tradespeople such as messengers and bakers also collected Christmas boxes of money from customers. The diarist Samuel Pepys mentioned Christmas boxes in the 1660s.
Churches also played a role. Alms boxes collected money for the poor during Advent, and the money was distributed on December 26, the Feast of St. Stephen, a saint known for charity.
In 1871, Boxing Day became an official bank holiday in England and Wales. Over time, it became a day for sports, including football matches and horse racing in Britain, the Boxing Day cricket Test in Melbourne and the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, which has started on December 26 since 1945. In recent decades, it also became one of the biggest shopping days of the year in Canada, the U.K. and Australia. Boxing Day is not a public holiday in the United States.
Why Boxing Day Matters
Boxing Day began as a day of generosity toward workers and people in need, a tradition worth remembering amid modern sales.
It gives families an extra day to relax, visit relatives and enjoy holiday leftovers.
For Americans, learning about Boxing Day is a fun way to understand holiday traditions in the U.K., Canada and Australia.
How to Celebrate Boxing Day
- Give to others: donate to a charity or tip service workers.
- Relax with family: enjoy leftovers and games.
- Watch sports: catch a football match or cricket Test.
- Shop smart: look for post-Christmas sales if you need something.
- Take a walk: many families go for a Boxing Day stroll.
Celebrating at Work, School and Home
At work, international teams can share how they spend Boxing Day; U.S. teams can use it as a quiet day to thank service workers. In classrooms, students can compare holidays in different English-speaking countries or learn about Victorian Christmas traditions. At home, families can fill a 'Christmas box' with donations for a food bank, play board games with leftovers, or watch a Boxing Day sporting event online.
Fun Facts About Boxing Day
- Boxing Day became a bank holiday in England in 1871.
- The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race has started on December 26 since 1945.
- Boxing Day has nothing to do with the sport of boxing.
Boxing Day FAQs
When is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26, the day after Christmas.
Why is it called Boxing Day?
It comes from the tradition of giving 'Christmas boxes' of gifts or money to servants, tradespeople and the poor.
Is Boxing Day related to the sport of boxing?
No, Boxing Day has nothing to do with the sport of boxing.
Is Boxing Day a holiday in the U.S.?
No. It's a public holiday in the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries.
What happens on Boxing Day?
People relax with family, watch sports, enjoy leftovers and shop at sales.
What if Boxing Day falls on a weekend?
In some countries, the public holiday moves to the next weekday.