Dec 26th – Boxing Day

Happy Boxing Day everyone!

Comic Breakdown

“Hey look, it’s Boxing Day!  What do we get on Boxing Day?” – Child reads the calendar

“Boxes” – Child’s mother

Why is this funny?

The mother is being literal.  Boxing Day is the day after Christmas when many start their holiday clean up.  She gets empty gift boxes to clean up.  

What is Boxing Day?

Boxing Day is a secular holiday tradition that takes place on December 26th (the day after Christmas) in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many Commonwealth countries and former parts of the British Empire.  This tradition is not observed in the United States. 

Boxing Day is a holiday for many so most people get the day off from work.  Also, it is like Black Friday when there are huge discounts and sales so a lot of people love to go shopping and buy things they want and did not get for Christmas.  To read more about Black Friday, click here.

Boxing Day sales now last for several days to a week after Christmas.  Many people now call the week after Christmas up to New Years, (December 26th to January 1st) Boxing Week.

A lot of people go shopping on Boxing Day but many more just stay home to relax or clean up now that Christmas is over.

Boxing Day traditions differ slightly by region, culture, and country. 

Where did the name Boxing Day come from?

The origins of Boxing Day are not clear and differ by country and location.  In Britain and the English speaking world, servants and tradespeople received gifts such as money or other nice things in a Christmas box on December 26th as a thank you from their employers (known as masters).   The masters also allowed their servants and workers to take December 26th off from work to relax and visit their families. 

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, here, and here.