Boxing Day
Queue for Boxing Day sale outside a Future Shop store in Canada. Future Shop is Canada's largest consumer electronics retailer
Observed by	Commonwealth of Nations
Type	Commonwealth countries
Date	26 December
Related to	St. Stephen's Day

Boxing Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, as well as many other members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. St Stephen's Day, or the Feast of St Stephen, is a Christian Saint's day celebrated on 26 December in the Western Church and The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. It is based on the tradition of giving gifts to the less fortunate members of society.

It is usually celebrated on 26 December, the day after Christmas Day;^[1][2], but its associated public holiday can be moved to the next weekday if 26 December is a Saturday or Sunday. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. The movement of Boxing Day varies between countries.

Contents 1 Origins 1.1 Christmas box 1.2 Folk etymologies 2 Date 3 Observance by country 3.1 Australia and New Zealand 3.2 Canada 3.3 South Africa 3.4 United Kingdom 4 References 5 External links

Origins

Boxing Day is a traditional celebration dating back to the Middle Ages, of which the primary practice is the giving of gifts to employees or to people in a lower social class. Social class refers to the hierarchical distinctions (or stratification) between individuals or groups in Societies or Cultures. The name has numerous folk etymologies^[3]. Folk etymology is a term used in two distinct ways A commonly held misunderstanding of the origin of a particular word a False etymology.

Christmas box

A Christmas box is, in English tradition, a clay box used in artisan shops. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Terra cotta ( Italian: "baked earth" is a Ceramic. Its uses include vessels water & waste water pipes and surface embellishment in Building construction An artisan, also called a Craftsman, is a skilled manual worker who crafts items that may be functional or strictly decorative including furniture clothing Apprentices, masters, visitors, customers, and others would put donations of money into the box, like a piggy bank, and then, after Christmas, the box would be shattered and all the contents shared among the workers of the shop. For the song by 50 Cent see Piggy Bank (song. "Money Box" redirects here Thus, masters and customers could donate bonuses to the workers anonymously, and the employees could average their wages. Anonymity is derived from the Greek word ανωνυμία, meaning "without a Name " or "namelessness" The habit of breaking the Christmas box lent its name to Boxing Day. The term "Christmas box" now refers generally to a gift or pay bonus given to workers. ^[4]

The Oxford English Dictionary attributes it to the Christmas box; the verb box meaning: "To give a Christmas-box (colloq. The Oxford English Dictionary ( OED) published by the Oxford University Press (OUP is a comprehensive Dictionary of the English ); hence the term boxing-day. " The date coincides with the Feast of St. Stephen. St Stephen's Day, or the Feast of St Stephen, is a Christian Saint's day celebrated on 26 December in the Western Church and

• It was the day when people would give a present or Christmas box to those who had worked for them throughout the year.
• In England many years ago, it was common practice for the servants to carry boxes to their employers when they arrived for their day's work on the day after Christmas. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Their employers would then put coins in the boxes as special end-of-year gifts. This can be compared with the modern day concept of Christmas bonuses. The servants carried boxes for the coins, hence the name Boxing Day.

Folk etymologies

• In feudal times, Christmas was a reason for a gathering of extended families. Feudalism, a term first used in the early modern period (17th century in its most classic sense refers to a Medieval Europe Political system composed All the serfs would gather their families in the manor of their lord, which made it easier for the lord of the estate to hand out annual stipends to the serfs. On 26th December, after all the Christmas parties, the lord of the manor would give practical goods such as cloth, grains, and tools to the serfs who lived on his land. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. Each family would receive a box full of such goods, hence "Boxing Day. " According to this tradition, the lord of the manor did not volunteer, but was obliged to supply these gifts.
• In churches, it was traditional to open the church's donation box on Christmas Day, and the money inside was to be distributed to the poorer or lower class citizens on the next day. In this case, the "box" in "Boxing Day" comes from that lockbox in which the donations were left.
• Boxing Day was the day when the wren, the king of birds,^[5] was captured and put in a box and introduced to each household in the village when he would be asked for a successful year and a good harvest. The wrens are Passerine birds in the mainly New World family Troglodytidae. See Frazer's Golden Bough. The Golden Bough A Study in Magic and Religion is a wide-ranging comparative study of Mythology and Religion, written by Scottish anthropologist Sir
  • Evidence can also be found in songs such as The Cutty Wren:

Where are you going ? said Milder to Malder,

Oh where are you going ? said Fessel to Foe,

I'm going to hunt the cutty wren said Milder to Malder,

I'm going to hunt the cutty wren said John the Rednose. The Cutty Wren and its variants like The Hunting of the Wren are traditional English folk songs

And what will you do wi' it ? said Milder to Malder,

And what will you do wi' it ? said Fessel to Foe,

I'll put it in a box said Milder to Malder,

I'll put it in a box said John the Rednose.

• Because the staff had to work on such an important day as Christmas by serving the master of the house and his family, they were given the following day off. As servants were kept away from their own families to work on a traditional religious holiday and were not able to celebrate Christmas dinner, the customary benefit was to "box" up the leftover food from Christmas Day and send it away with the servants and their families.

Date

In the countries that observe this holiday, 26 December is commonly referred to as Boxing Day no matter what day of the week it occurs. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. ^[6] However, in some countries, fixed-date holidays falling on Saturday or Sunday are often observed on the next weekday.

If Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, then Monday 28 December is declared a public holiday. Events 1065 - Westminster Abbey is Consecrated. 1308 - The reign of Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of In the United Kingdom and some other countries this is accomplished by Royal Proclamation. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A proclamation (Lat proclamare, to make public by announcement is an official declaration

If Boxing Day falls on a Sunday, then in countries where it is a public holiday the Statutory Holiday is moved to Monday 27 December. Lists of holidays The words holiday or vacation have related meanings in different English-speaking countries and continents but will usually refer to one of In Canada, public holidays are legislated at the national provincial and territorial levels Events 537 - The Hagia Sophia is completed 1512 - The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the ^[7][8][9] In that event, Christmas Day would be on a Saturday, so Tuesday 28 December would be declared a holiday in lieu, that being the next available working day - thus the Boxing Day holiday occurs before the substitute Christmas holiday. Events 1065 - Westminster Abbey is Consecrated. 1308 - The reign of Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of

If Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, then Boxing Day is on Monday 26 December, and no Royal Proclamation is required. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. A proclamation (Lat proclamare, to make public by announcement is an official declaration In such a circumstance, a 'substitute bank holiday in lieu of Christmas Day' is declared for Tuesday 27 December; again with the Boxing Day holiday occurring before the substitute Christmas holiday. Events 537 - The Hagia Sophia is completed 1512 - The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the

Although the same legislation—the Bank Holidays Act 1871—originally established the Bank Holidays throughout the United Kingdom, the holiday after Christmas was defined as Boxing Day in England and Wales, and the feast day of St. Stephen's Day which is celebrated by the western church is fixed as the 26 December in Northern Ireland, though the name "Boxing Day" is usually used there also. The Bank Holidays Act 1871 established the first Bank Holidays in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located History The Roman occupation of Britain was the first period in which the area of present-day England and Wales was administered as a single unit (with the exception St Stephen's Day, or the Feast of St Stephen, is a Christian Saint's day celebrated on 26 December in the Western Church and Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of ^[10]

While Boxing Day is actually on 26 December, many retailers who hold Boxing Day Sales will run the sales for several days after 26 December - often up to New Year's Eve. New Year's Eve is on December 31, the final day of the Gregorian year and the day before New Year's Day.

Observance by country

Boxing Day is a holiday of particularly British origin, but in many other countries worldwide, 26 December is also a holiday under various names. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. St. Stephen's Day also falls on 26 December in the Western Church. St Stephen's Day, or the Feast of St Stephen, is a Christian Saint's day celebrated on 26 December in the Western Church and The Latin Rite is one of the 23 Sui iuris Particular Churches within the Catholic Church.

Australia and New Zealand

Boxing Day is a day when stores launch one of the year's biggest sales. Boxing Day has become so important for retailers that they often extend it to New Year's Eve. New Year's Eve is on December 31, the final day of the Gregorian year and the day before New Year's Day. Some Australian states—including New South Wales—are tightening restrictions on Boxing Day retail trading [2], deferring the post-Christmas sales to 27 December. Events 537 - The Hagia Sophia is completed 1512 - The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the

Boxing Day is not officially observed in South Australia; instead a public holiday called Proclamation Day is observed on what would have been the next working day after Christmas. South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country Proclamation Day is the name of a number of days either commemorating or marked by a Proclamation being issued ^[11] However, it is still referred to as Boxing Day.

In Australia, Boxing Day has become a significant sporting day (similar to ANZAC Day celebrations). For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. In Melbourne the Boxing Day Test Match is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, often before the largest single day crowd of the Australian cricket season. The Boxing Day Test match is a Cricket Test match hosted in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia involving Australian cricket team In Sydney, the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race starts on Boxing Day. For the current edition of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race see 2007 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Canada

In Canada, Boxing Day is observed as a holiday, except in some cases for those in the retail business. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Boxing Day and the days immediately following are when many retail stores sell their Christmas and retired model products by holding clearance sales. Some shoppers will line up for hours at night sometimes before midnight and after midnight on December 26 for retailers to open their doors. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. Except in Quebec, retailers often open their stores earlier than usual, such as 6 am or 7 am. Many retail companies internally refer to the sales week after Christmas as the "thirteenth month" or Boxing Week and over the last couple of years have actually changed the name from the "Boxing Day sale" to the "Boxing Week Sale". Boxing Week is at least the six-day period that starts with Boxing Day and ends with New Year's Eve. It is similar to Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, in the United States. Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, where it is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Boxing Day 2005 was the single largest economic transaction day ever in the history of Canadian commerce according to Visa. Individual big box stores can even gross over CAD$1,000,000 on one single Boxing Day.

As an exception, most retail stores are not permitted to open on Boxing Day in Atlantic Canada, nor in some Ontario communities. Atlantic Canada, also known as the Atlantic provinces, is the region of Canada comprising four provinces located on the Atlantic coast: Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec The Nova Scotia government eliminated its ban on Boxing Day openings in 2006; however, most retailers voluntarily remained closed. Nova Scotia (ˌnəʊvəˈskəʊʃə ( Latin for New Scotland; Alba Nuadh Nouvelle-Écosse is a Canadian province located on Canada 's The ban was reinstated in 2007. ^[12] In these areas, most stores offer the same specials on December 27 that they would offer elsewhere on the 26th. This distinction is not well known in central and western Canada. ^[13]

In Alberta, Boxing Day is not recognized as a statutory holiday. Alberta (ælˈbɝtə is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1 1905 Alberta employment lists Boxing Day along with Easter Monday and Alberta Heritage Day as optional holidays. ^[14] Employers are not required to give holiday pay or time off but many choose to do so.

From a sporting perspective, Boxing Day in Canada has many implications. It is usually on Boxing Day when the IIHF begins the World Junior Hockey Championship. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF was founded in 1908 as the Ligue Internationale de Hockey sur Glace and is the worldwide governing body for Ice The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship (colloquially known as the World Junior Hockey Championship WJHC) is an annual event organized by the This is a significant event for Canada and Hockey Canada which have done extremely well at this particular international event. Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of Ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Boxing Day is also the start of another international hockey tournament: The Spengler Cup. Spengler Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held in Davos, Switzerland. This tournament, usually played in Davos, Switzerland, along with the World Juniors, are aired on the two big sports networks in Canada, TSN and Rogers Sportsnet. The Sports Network (commonly known as TSN) is a Canadian English language Cable television Specialty channel and is Canada's leading Rogers Sportsnet (often referred to only as Sportsnet) is a Canadian English language Cable television Sports Specialty channel

South Africa

In South Africa, Guyana, and for other countries Boxing Day is known in the official calendar as Day of Goodwill. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Guyana (ɡaɪˈænə or /ɡiːˈɑːnə/ officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and previously known as British Guiana, is the only Nation state The Day of Goodwill is a South African Public holiday celebrated annually on the 26th of December It is a day on which food, left over from Christmas Day, is 'boxed', (in picnic baskets, bags, cake tins, etc. ) and family and friends head to the beach or any other place of relaxation to enjoy these left-overs. Food is shared and enjoyed together in this way. With the advent of the new political dispensation, this day was changed to 'Day of Goodwill' to symbolise sharing and togetherness.

United Kingdom

It is common to spend the day with family members or friends as a sort of 'second' Christmas Day, where presents may be exchanged, the left-overs of the previous day are eaten or another family meal is prepared in celebration.

Boxing Day is a day when stores launch one of the year's biggest sales periods. Boxing Day has become so important for retailers that they often extend it into a "Boxing Week".

Boxing Day in the UK is traditionally a day for sporting activity, originally fox hunting, but as this is now banned (in some parts of the UK, and also to a certain extent - see article), alternative hunts take place. Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking chase and sometimes killing of a fox traditionally a Red fox, by trained Foxhounds or other Scent hounds Football, horse racing and Rugby (both codes) are also played. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered This article is about the sport For other uses see Horserace (drinking game or Horse race (politics. Rugby football (usually just " rugby " may refer to a number of sports through history descended from a common form of Football developed at Rugby School Boxing Day is also the start of the IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championship. The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship (colloquially known as the World Junior Hockey Championship WJHC) is an annual event organized by the

List of Boxing Day sporting events:

• English, Welsh and Scottish football matches
• Boxing Day Dip - in certain UK coastal towns (including Hartlepool, Hastings, Sunderland, Whitby, Tenby and most coastal parts of Cornwall), people wade into the sea on Boxing Day - often in fancy dress, and usually to raise money for a local charity. Football is the National sport of England and plays a significant role in English culture. Football in Wales (Pêl-droed is governed by the Football Association of Wales (FAW which was established in 1876. (Association Football is the most popular Sport in Scotland and is one of the country's National sports There is a long tradition of "football" The Boxing Day Dip is a charity event where people in fancy dress swim in the sea on Boxing Day. Hartlepool ('hɑːtlɪpuːl is a North Sea port in North East England Hastings is a town on the coast of East Sussex in England; it is also the administrative centre for the Borough of the same name Sunderland (, or /ˈsʌn(dlən/ is a City in Tyne and Wear, England. Whitby is a historic town and Civil parish in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire on the north-east coast of England. Tenby ( Welsh language: Dinbych-y-Pysgod "little town of the fishes or little fortress of the fish" is a walled Seaside Town in Pembrokeshire Cornwall ( Kernow ˈkɛɹnɔʊ is the most southwesterly county of England, on the Peninsula that lies to the west of the River Tamar
• Football Matches are played in Northern Ireland
• Boxing Matches are normally played on the Sports channels
• Derby Magners League rugby matches played in Wales and Scotland
• Horse racing meetings take place across the country. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of Sport is an Activity that is governed by a set of rules or Customs and often engaged in competitively Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. This article is about the sport For other uses see Horserace (drinking game or Horse race (politics. The most famous regular Boxing Day meet is the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park in Surrey. The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race in the United Kingdom for four-year-old and above horses Kempton Park Racecourse is a Horse racing track in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, which is a western suburb of London 16 miles Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties.
• Hunts often take place in England.

References

External links

• Snopes: The Origins of Boxing Day

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