December 26th marks more than just the day after Christmas; in the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth nations like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, it’s celebrated as a public holiday known as “Boxing Day.” Despite its name, Boxing Day has absolutely nothing to do with the sport of boxing, discarding cardboard boxes after Christmas, or the post-Christmas rush of returning unwanted gifts. The term is deeply rooted in British tradition, with its first recorded use dating back to 1833 in the Oxford English Dictionary, predating even Charles Dickens’ mention in “The Pickwick Papers” by four years. While the precise origins of the name remain somewhat shrouded in mystery, two prominent theories link back to charitable customs traditionally observed on the day following Christmas, aimed at benefiting the less fortunate.
One prevailing theory suggests that the name “Boxing Day” originates from the historical practice of wealthy landowners and the aristocracy distributing “Christmas boxes” to their household staff and employees on December 26th. These servants and employees, who were obligated to work on Christmas Day itself, would receive these boxes as a token of gratitude for their year-round service. Often, these “Christmas boxes” were filled with small presents, monetary gifts, and leftover food from the lavish Christmas Day feast. In essence, these boxes served as holiday bonuses, a tangible expression of appreciation from the upper classes to those in their service. This tradition of giving boxes of goodwill to those who served others is strongly considered as a key origin of the name “Boxing Day.”
Another widely accepted explanation connects the “Boxing Day” name to the alms boxes placed in churches during the Advent season. Throughout Advent, parishioners would contribute monetary donations to these boxes as acts of charity. Then, on December 26th, which also coincides with the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr renowned for his charitable deeds, church clergy would open these alms boxes and distribute their contents to the poor and needy within the community. In Ireland, December 26th is actually observed as St. Stephen’s Day, further emphasizing the day’s association with charity and giving. This practice of distributing alms from church boxes on this specific day is another compelling origin story for why it’s called Boxing Day, linking the “boxes” to charitable donations.
While the custom of giving alms on December 26th has largely diminished over time, with charitable giving now often focused in the weeks leading up to Christmas, the name “Boxing Day” has remarkably endured. Today, December 26th remains a beloved holiday in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries. It has evolved into a day for different kinds of traditions, including enjoying sporting events like soccer and cricket matches, taking advantage of post-Christmas shopping sales, and spending quality time socializing and visiting friends and family. Although the direct charitable acts associated with “boxes” may be less prominent now, the historical roots of Boxing Day provide a fascinating glimpse into traditions of giving and social structures of the past, and continue to give the holiday its unique name and identity.
