Boxing Day, a traditional British holiday marking the day after Christmas, provides an extension of the festivities. People in countries like Canada, the UK and South Africa spend more of the day with friends, shopping or watching sports.
Andrew McLean and his wife moved to the US from Manchester almost 25 years ago. They brought the holiday celebration to the lake with them and hosted a Boxing Day party every year.
“We enjoyed America. We love being here,” he said. “But there are many things about Britain that we miss. Boxing Day is probably in the top 10.”
What is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day is celebrated on Dec. 26 is the United Kingdom, its commonwealth countries and other former colonies.
Shops have shopping deals, such as Black Friday, and fans enjoy sporting events such as football, cricket, rugby, horse racing and hunting.
McLean said throwing a Boxing Day party was a great way to get rid of some of the Christmas food. Turkey is a British Christmas dish and on Boxing Day, many enjoy turkey curry. Another classic Boxing Day dish is bubble and squeak, or leftover roast potatoes and vegetables such as cabbage or Brussels sprouts.
Diana Miller
Why is it called Boxing Day and what is its origin?
There are two main theories as to where this holiday originated.
Some believe that Boxing Day began with churches collecting boxes of monetary donations from parishioners, according to Britannica. The church would give these donation boxes to the poor on the day after Christmas.
The name still stands, but now, people usually donate to charities in the weeks leading up to the holidays.
Some believe that this day was celebrated because the servants had to work on Christmas dinner and festivities, so they celebrated the holiday on December 26. According to History.com, kings and nobles gave their servants “Christmas boxes” full of leftovers and small gifts after parties, leading to the name “Boxing Day.”
Employers still give bonuses to employees during the holidays, just as leftovers are still part of the celebrations today.
A third theory, according to TimeOut, is that British warships would close the money box at the beginning of a long journey, and at the end, priests would open the boxes and donate money to those in need.
McLean said other ideas for the name include the empty boxing matches that take place the day after Christmas, or that many people return their unwanted gift boxes on that day.
Is Boxing Day a public holiday?
Yes, Boxing Day is a public or bank holiday recognized in the UK and internationally. It was made an official UK holiday in the 1800s. If Dis. 26 falls on the weekend, observed on the following Monday. In 2024, it will be Thursday and in 2025, it will be Friday.
Where is it celebrated?
Countries that are part of the British Commonwealth such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand celebrate but other former colonies such as South Africa and Hong Kong also observe this holiday.
However, people can celebrate anywhere, as shown by McLeans' party. Even though some of their American friends are working on the 26th, people gather at their house in the evening for delicious pub quizzes, delicious leftovers and mulled wine.
Is Boxing Day the same as St. Stephen's Day?
Not so, because St. Stephen is a religious holiday, but the two are connected and observed on the same day. Christians celebrate St. Stephen when celebrating the first Christian martyr who was known for helping the poor and his charitable work. St. Patrick's Day Stephen is widely recognized in Ireland and other European countries.
Why don't Americans celebrate Boxing Day?
The US is one of the few English-speaking countries that does not celebrate Boxing Day. Americans do not celebrate mainly because the country is not part of the British Commonwealth and the holiday was not officially recognized until 1871, nearly a century after the US gained independence.
What sporting events are happening on Boxing Day this year?
Unlike in the US, where Americans can expect an NBA game on Christmas, Boxing Day is when the competition in the UK goes down.
Eight Premier League soccer matches will be contested on Dec. 26. At GMT, the games are:
- Manchester City vs Everton at 12:30
- Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace at 15:00
- Chelsea vs Fulham at 15:00
- Newcastle vs Aston Villa at 15:00
- Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham at 15:00
- Southampton vs West Ham at 15:00
- Wolves vs Manchester United at 17:30
- Liverpool vs Leicester at 20:00
The BKT United Rugby Championship between the Dragons and Cardiff Rugby will face off at 17:15 GMT. Two other rugby matches will be contested. Meanwhile, five cricket matches will be contested.
11 horse races are also lined up on Boxing Day.
Getty Images/iStockphoto
McLean emphasized the joy of sharing British culture with American friends.
“Of course, it's a good thing to be able to bring people together, not just on days that everyone celebrates.”
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