Boxing Day is the day after Christmas (26 December) and is traditionally about generosity, especially giving to people in need or to workers and service staff, though today it is also known for family time and big shopping sales in many countries.

What Boxing Day Is For

At its core, Boxing Day is about giving and appreciation.

Originally, wealthy households and churches prepared “Christmas boxes” of food, money, or gifts to give to servants, tradespeople, and the poor the day after Christmas.

Over time, the meaning broadened:

  • A day to donate or help those in need, linked with the Christian Feast of St. Stephen, known for charity.
  • A chance to thank people who serve you all year (like mail carriers or delivery workers) with small gifts or tips.

How It Started

Several historical roots are often mentioned:

  1. Servants’ day off: In Victorian Britain, servants worked on Christmas Day and were given 26 December off, plus a “Christmas box” of food, gifts, or money to take home.
  1. Church alms boxes: Churches collected donations in boxes during Advent and opened them on 26 December to distribute to the poor.
  1. Name “Boxing Day”: The “boxing” refers to these gift or alms boxes, not to the sport of boxing.

All of these traditions revolve around one idea: showing gratitude and supporting people who have less.

What Boxing Day Looks Like Now

In many places (especially the UK and other Commonwealth countries), Boxing Day today is:

  • A public/bank holiday on 26 December, sometimes moved to the next weekday if it falls on a weekend.
  • A relaxed day for:
    • Visiting family and friends.
* Watching football and other sports.

* Enjoying leftover Christmas food and winter activities.

It has also become a major shopping day, similar to Black Friday, with big sales and promotions in stores and online.

Quick FAQ Style Summary

  • Date: 26 December, the day after Christmas.
  • Original purpose: Giving boxes of gifts, food, or money to the poor and to workers/servants as a thank you.
  • Modern purpose: A mix of charity, relaxation with family, sports, and post-Christmas shopping.

Meta description (SEO):
Boxing Day, celebrated on 26 December, began as a charitable tradition of giving “Christmas boxes” to the poor and workers and today mixes generosity with family time, sports, and huge shopping sales.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.