Boxing Day is a holiday that is celebrated in the United Kingdom on the day after Christmas. This holiday is also known as Saint Stephen’s Day in other parts of the Christian world. However, Boxing Day is not as well-known as Christmas Day.
Boxing Day (2022) is a tradition that originated in the United Kingdom and has since expanded to other countries, such as Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Boxing Day has mostly become a day for shopping and athletic events in those nations.
In the UK and several of its former colonies, Boxing Day is a recognized holiday. Here is everything you need to know about Boxing Day, including how it is celebrated and the origin of the name.
What Is Boxing Day 2022?
Boxing Day, which falls on the second day of the Christmas season, is a holiday observed after Christmas on 26th December 2022.
Boxing Day was first observed as a day to distribute gifts to the less fortunate, but nowadays, it is mostly associated with shopping. It originated in Great Britain and is now observed in many nations that were formerly a part of the British Empire.
To make sure the attached bank or public holiday occurs during the week, it may be observed on December 28. Saint Stephen’s Day, a Catholic holiday, falls on the same day as Boxing Day.
In the countries where it is honored, Boxing Day has grown into an important shopping day, similar to the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States.
Also Read: Boxing Day 2022: History, and Gift Ideas
How Is Boxing Day Celebrated?
Boxing Day is a day that some individuals choose to spend with friends or family. There will be a lot of people getting together for meals, going outside, or just staying inside to rest and enjoy their day off.
Baked ham, pease pudding, and mince pies with brandy butter, as well as a piece of Christmas cake or another dessert, are traditional Boxing Day foods.
In some ways, Boxing Day is analogous to Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, in that retailers offer discounted prices for Boxing Day sales. Boxing Day has also recently come to be associated with watching sports.
On Boxing Day, football and rugby games are played by several leagues in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, while cricket matches are popular in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Horse racing and ice hockey are two additional sports that typically take place on Boxing Day. Boxing Day traditions have historically included fox hunts; however, in 2004, the United Kingdom passed a law prohibiting the use of dogs in fox hunting.
Hunters still gather, dressed in red hunting coats, to the sound of the hunting horn, but they now travel on tracks that have been intentionally created.
Why Is It Called Boxing Day?
Boxing Day’s usage was first noted in 1833, although its true etymology has never been established. There are several theories, some of them are as follows:
The name refers to holiday gifts. On Boxing Day, traditionally, servants were given the day off and were also given a gift by their employer. On Boxing Day, the servants would also return home to deliver gifts to their families.
The term alludes to fundraising efforts. Traditionally, on Christmas Day, churches would install a box to collect donations for the needy, which would then be opened on Boxing Day.
The name alludes to a practice that is common in maritime environments. Ships would carry a sealed box filled with money for good luck when setting sail. If the journey was successful, the box was delivered to a priest, who subsequently opened it around Christmas and distributed the items to the underprivileged.
What Is the Boxing Day Test?
The red ball cricket match, known as the Boxing Day Test, is played on December 26. (a day after Christmas). It is customarily hosted at Victoria state’s Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australia’s most famous stadium.
During the Ashes series that took place in 1974–1975 between Australia and England, the inaugural Boxing Day Test was played at MCG. The rights to start a Test match at the MCG on Boxing Day (Dec. 26) each year were acquired by the Melbourne Cricket Club and Cricket Australia in 1980.
Since then, on December 26, Australia has been hosting a cricketing nation for a Test match. In the year 2020, the Australian cricket team hosted a Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against India.
COVID Effects On Boxing Day
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, several stores were compelled to remain closed on Boxing Day, which is expected to have a negative impact on sales.
In several parts of the UK, stricter regulations have been implemented, and 40% of the population of England is now subject to Tier 4 regulations, which mandate the closure of non-essential businesses.
