Boxing Day may be something you’ve heard of, but what is it and why is it celebrated? Who celebrates Boxing Day and When is boxing day celebrated?
The holiday calendar has already moved on to the next significant event—Boxing Day—while the turkey has barely had time to settle. But how is it observed?
The idea for December 26 originated in the United Kingdom and has now spread to other Commonwealth nations like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
It started out as a public holiday where employees, craftspeople, and individuals who were deemed to be in need might receive gifts.
Naturally, as the 21st century began, it evolved into a commercial phenomena where stores offered discounts.
Who celebrates boxing day
Spain’s Irish and Catalan areas also observe Saint Stephen’s Day on this day, which has religious connotations.
And every time December 26 happens on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is declared a public holiday, much like this year’s Christmas, which also falls on a weekend.
Boxing Day is observed annually on December 26 in a few nations, especially those with historical ties to the UK and some European nations.
It is observed just one day following Christmas.
When is Boxing Day Celebrated?
Boxing Day occurs on December 26, directly following Christmas Day. Some companies will reopen after their brief holiday closure in 2022 because it falls on a Monday.
Boxing Day traditionally has connections to sporting occasions as well, particularly in the UK. Christmas Day and Boxing Day were usually the days that football games were played, with each team playing the other twice.
For instance, if Everton and Manchester United played on Christmas Day in Manchester, the match would be made up on Boxing Day on Merseyside.
In the UK, Christmas Day football is now mostly a thing of the past, which has increased the importance of the Boxing Day games.
What are the boxing day traditions?
The name refers to the act of the aforementioned poor and lower classes opening gift boxes.
The Boxing Day idea was created as a means of rewarding servants who had to work on Christmas Day.
It was viewed as their alternative to Christmas, allowing them to have their own festival.
What is the difference between Boxing Day and St. Stephen’s Day?
Boxing Day is not just a holiday, but it is also St. Stephen’s Day. St. Stephen’s Day, or localized versions of St. Stephen’s Day, is celebrated on December 26 in Ireland and many other European nations.
He was the patron saint of horses, hence Boxing Day came to be associated with traditional sports like rugby and horse racing.
Why is December 26th called Boxing Day
Although originally Monday, December 27, would be Boxing Day, in recent years, the day after Christmas Day, December 26, is referred to as “Boxing Day” even when it comes on a Sunday.
The Catholic celebration of Saint Stephen’s Day also falls on December 26.
In contrast to how Boxing Day is often understood nowadays, the related bank holiday or public holiday is always a weekday.
When December 26 falls on a Sunday, Boxing Day is always observed on December 28, instead.
This is so that Christmas Day, which is usually observed on December 25, is not observed when Boxing Day falls on a Sunday.
What is the history of Boxing Day?
Boxing Day’s precise origins are not well understood, but a variety of origin tales might help us understand its past and original significance.
According to the BBC, Boxing Day earned its moniker during Queen Victoria’s reign in the 1800s because it became customary for affluent households to package gifts to donate to the less fortunate.
Due to the fact that servants of aristocrats were expected to work on Christmas, the following day was when their employers would load up boxes with gifts, cash, and leftovers from Christmas for them, acting as a sort of holiday bonus. After that, the servants may return home and give the presents to their families.
Another hypothesis is that the term came from alms boxes that were put in churches to collect gifts for those in need, according to History.com.
The needy would receive these cash on December 26 in remembrance of St. Stephen’s Day, a Christian martyr noted for his humanitarian deeds.
Due to the importance of St. Stephen, Boxing Day in Ireland is also known as St. Stephen’s Day.
The ballad “Good King Wenceslas” provides even another clue to the holiday’s name. This carol, according to TIME, tells the story of the Duke of Bohemia in the tenth century.
He saw a poor man struggling to gather wood on his property on St. Stephen’s Day in the midst of a snowstorm.
This image moved him so much that he gathered food and drink and brought it to his door, starting a custom.
Knowing exactly when Boxing Day started is challenging because there are so many conflicting stories. However, it is obvious that the elements of giving, festivity, and charity have persisted and are still prominent in how this holiday is honored today.
Also Read: 200 Merry Christmas wishes 2022 For My Love, Friends, And Colleagues