LET'S CELEBRATE BOXING DAY IN THE US!

Boxing Day at Eaton Center

Boxing Day is a day the higher classes gave gifts to the lower classes. Before or on December 25th people of similar class would exchange gifts to celebrate the Christmas season. Gifts were not exchanged with the lower class until the next day called Boxing Day. It is also known as St. Stephen’s Day.

Boxing Day in Toronto

Boxing Day is also a bank and public holiday commonly occurring on 26 December. It is observed in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Ghana, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Kenya, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica and other countries in the Commonwealth of Nations with a mainly Christian population. In South Africa this public holiday is now known as the Day of Goodwill.

Elaine's Boxing Day Page

While stories of the origins of Boxing Day sometimes conflict, the holiday (which falls on the first weekday after Christmas - usually December 26 - and coincides with the Feast of Saint Stephen) is celebrated in Britain, Canada and several other countries. Take a moment to observe the holiday. Read more: How to Celebrate Boxing Day

A group of orphans receiving gifts in East London, 1921
Topical Press Agency / Getty

Boxing Day is a day the higher classes gave gifts to the lower classes. Before or on December 25th people of similar class would exchange gifts to celebrate the Christmas season. Gifts were not exchanged with the lower class until the next day called Boxing Day. It is also known as St. Stephen’s Day.

Boxing Day History

Whether you are in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Hobart or Adelaide or somewhere else in Australia we hope to have you covered for what you want in your Boxing Day.

A holiday is also observed in Austria, Germany, Greenland, Norway, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, and Switzerland. In continental European countries, the day is often known as "Christmas II" or "Second Christmas Day".

Though it is not an official holiday in the United States, the term "Boxing Day" is used by some Americans, particularly those that live near the Canada – United States border. In Canada, Boxing Day is listed in the Canada Labour Code as an optional holiday. Only in the province of Ontario has it been made a statutory holiday where all workers receive the time off with pay.

Make your own Christmas Crackers Years ago I had a lovely friend named Eve. Eve was an elderly woman from London who was here visiting her stepson. I did her nails at the mall and we became pen pals once she went back home.

Carmen Maria's English Blog Eve told me about Boxing Day and how cool it was and explained the services/charity behind it. It was a lovely idea to do something nice for someone less fortunate at this time of year. One Boxing Day I received a large cardboard box from England.

It was lovely! The box was packed full of goodies from London. Bobby (policeman) ornament, a few wooden ornaments that were hand painted, tons of crumpets, jams, teas, and little cookies. Of course there were lots of "poppers" as we call them, Christmas Crackers in London.

You pull a string out of each end of the cracker and they "pop!" Such a marvelous gift... I'll never forget that day and how wonderful Eve was to send it. Sadly Ms Eve passed on but what a gift it was for me to meet her.

Read More about Christmas traditions in England like why do they wear those paper crowns on their heads?? HERE The paper crown hats they wear are found inside their Christmas crackers.

History of Boxing Day Some historians say the Boxing Day developed because servants were required to work on Christmas Day, but took the following day off.

As servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers would present them with gift boxes. Boxing Day is just one of the British bank holidays recognized since 1871 that are observed by banks, government offices, and the post office. The others include Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Whitmonday (the day after Pentecost), and the banking holiday on the last Monday in August.

The Feast of St. Stephen also takes place on December 26. St. Stephen was one of the seven original deacons of the Christian Church who were ordained by the Apostles to care for widows and the poor. For the success of his preaching and his devotion to Christ, St. Stephen was stoned to death by a mob. As he died, he begged God not to punish his killers. How to Celebrate Boxing Day