Boxing Day

For other uses, see Boxing Day (disambiguation). "Christmas box" redirects here. For the genus of shrubs, see Sarcococca.

Boxing Day
Boxing Day crowds shopping at Toronto's Eaton Centre
Also calledOffering Day[1]
Observed byCommonwealth nations
TypeBank holiday, public holiday
Date26 December
FrequencyAnnual
Related to

Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December).[1] Boxing Day was once a day to donate gifts to those in need, but it has evolved to become a part of Christmas festivities, with many people choosing to shop for deals on Boxing Day. It originated in the United Kingdom and is celebrated in several Commonwealth nations. The attached bank holiday or public holiday may take place on 27 or 28 December if necessary to ensure it falls on a weekday. Boxing Day is also concurrent with the Christian festival Saint Stephen's Day.

In parts of Europe, such as several regions of Spain,[2][3] the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Slovakia,[4] Slovenia, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, and the Republic of Ireland, 26 December is Saint Stephen's Day, which is considered the second day of Christmas.[5]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Robb1984 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Sant Esteve, les raons mil·lenàries d'una festa" [St. Stephens day, millenary explanations of a festivity]. vilaweb.cat (in Catalan). 27 December 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Esteve (sant)". Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana (in Catalan). 1987. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Druhý sviatok vianočný je aj dňom návštev" [The second day of Christmas is also the day of visits]. SME / MY Zvolen (in Slovak). 26 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  5. ^ Brown, Cameron (2006). Christmas Facts, Figures & Fun: Facts, Figures and Fun. Facts, Figures & Fun. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-904332-27-5.