Boxing Day
Boxing Day(Canada)
Celebrated annually on every December 26th, the Boxing Day is a Canadian federal holiday and has nothing to do with boxing with your siblings or in the ring! It’s that day where people in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia enjoy some post-Christmas purchases or watch a few games of ice hockey! But the actual legend behind Boxing Day tells us a different story!
Year | Date | Day | Where |
2020 | 26th December | Saturday | United States |
2021 | 26th December | Sunday | United States |
2022 | 26th December | Monday | United States |
Twitter Hashtags:
#BoxingDay
Related: Other National Days Celebrated on December 26th:
Why Boxing Day?
The legend states that Boxing Day has its roots traced back to the United Kingdom! Celebrated the next day of Christmas Day, it was also known as the second Christmas Day in some regions of Europe!
There are many theories behind the Day gaining its name. The Middle Ages account states that it was a European way of donating money and gifts for the needy. The idea also traces back to the early church practices where Alms Box was kept to raise funds for the poor. The recent definition comes from the 1830s where Boxing Day meant that servants of any kind would expect to receive a Christmas box!
It is also believed that landlords would pay the laborers with boxes of practical goods such as clothes, food, and relevant tools after Christmas Day. Today, a similar tradition is being followed by employers by gifting small boxes of food or money. In Canada, you can still find people gifting to those who provide services for them.
Boxing Day is a federal holiday in the UK and other countries including Canada is a much-required break after Christmas Day celebrations. This day many people spend time with their families either at home or by shopping for the best discounts that are equivalent to Black Friday sales! Many shopkeepers use this day to promote their post-Christmas sales and don’t end till New Year’s eve.
Most often the week between Christmas and New Year is promoted as Boxing Week with surprising price drops that people queue up in front of the stores to make all their purchases for the year ahead. Today you can also enjoy various sports like football, Ice Hockey, Rugby, Boxing contests and some Test Cricket matches depending on the country you live in or visiting! Also, Boxing Day is the start of the hunting season too!
How Can We Observe Boxing Day?
- Box up a few gifts!
Celebrate Boxing Day by following the traditions of our forefathers! Bring in some practical gifts that may support and feed the people who have offered their services be it small or big. Box them up and deliver them today!
- Enjoy the day off with your family!
Celebrate Boxing Day by doing things that you can enjoy as a family! It could be shopping, hitting off on nature’s trails, or any sports event that excites your family! You may also consider boxing gifts for children’s homes and homeless shelters to aid the less privileged.
- Save Money and Buy lots!
How can one save money while buying lots? Well, Boxing Day and Boxing Week have prices that are nothing like it throughout the year! So buy all that you need at the Boxing Day sales! You can shop for anything from toys, electronics, winter apparel, appliances, and decors too!
- Awaken the sports fan in you!
If you are a sports fan, Boxing Day offers various popular sports events! Team up with your best buddies and cheer for your favorite sport today!
- Share some Boxing Day tips on social media!
Share your Boxing Day experience and the best deals you could get your hands on with friends and family on social media! Leave a few pro tips to best celebrate the day with pictures and blogs using #BoxingDa
Interesting Facts About Boxing Day:
- South Africans celebrate Boxing Day as “Day of Goodwill” to give to the poor
- Few European countries celebrate the National Boxing Day as the second Christmas Day
- Ireland celebrates Boxing Day as the Feast of Saint Stephen or Saint Stephen’s Day. it is also one of the state’s official holiday
- Boxing Day traditions majorly include giving gifts and/or money to the less privileged, shopping, and watching sports!
- 2004’s Boxing Day was one of the most unfateful days in history. The tsunami resulted in 300,000 fatalities.
- Canada observes Boxing Day as a bank holiday since 1871
History of Boxing Day:
The exact origin and the founder of Boxing Day remain unknown to our research. It is celebrated as a fun official holiday in many formerly British countries and Canada as well.