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| {{redirect|Christmas box|the genus of shrubs|Sarcococca|other uses|Boxing Day (disambiguation)}} | bla bla bla bla{{redirect|Christmas box|the genus of shrubs|Sarcococca|other uses|Boxing Day (disambiguation)}} | ||
| {{EngvarB|date=December 2016}} | |||
| {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} | |||
| {{Infobox holiday | |||
| | holiday_name = Boxing Day | |||
| | longtype = ], ] | |||
| | image = | |||
| | caption = | |||
| | observedby = ] | |||
| | duration = 1 day | |||
| | frequency = Annual | |||
| | date = 26 December | |||
| | relatedto = ]<br />Day of Goodwill<br />] | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Boxing Day''' is a holiday celebrated the day after ]. It originated in the United Kingdom, and is celebrated in a number of countries that previously formed part of the ]. Boxing Day is on 26 December, although the attached ] or ] may take place either on that day or a day later.<!-- Do not expand this in the Lead; it is explained correctly in the Date sub-section--> | |||
| In the ] of ], Boxing Day is the ] of ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestatesman.com/mobi/news/northeast/meghalaya-celebrates-boxing-day/112807.html|title=Meghalaya celebrates Boxing Day|date=26 December 2015|publisher=]|language=English|accessdate=31 December 2015|quote=Boxing Day – December 26 – is the feast day of Saint Stephen and is also called St. Stephen's Day. Boxing Day got its name because it was the tradition for employers to give a Christmas gift to their staff on that day – a Christmas box. Boxing Day is also part of the 12 days of Christmas tradition and is officially classed as the second day of Christmastide.}}</ref> and also ].<ref name="Senn2012">{{cite book|last=Senn|first=Frank C.|title=Introduction to Christian Liturgy|year=2012|publisher=Fortress Press|language=English|isbn=978-1-4514-2433-1|page=103}}<!--|accessdate=26 December 2015--></ref> In some European countries, notably Germany, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands <!-- please add only sourced countries/regions --> and the Nordic countries, 26 December is celebrated as a Second Christmas Day.<ref name="Second Christmas Day">{{cite book|pages=21|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6w6u6YTsDdcC&pg=PA21|title=Christmas Facts, Figures & Fun: Facts, Figures and Fun|isbn=978-1-904332-27-5|author1=Brown|first1=Cameron|date=28 August 2006}}</ref> | |||
| == Etymology == | |||
| There are competing theories for the origins of the term, none of which is definitive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/boxingday.asp|title=snopes.com: Boxing Day Origins|publisher=]}}</ref> The '']'' gives the earliest attestations from Britain in the 1830s, defining it as "the first week-day after Christmas-day, observed as a holiday on which post-men, errand-boys, and servants of various kinds expect to receive a Christmas-box".<ref>"Boxing-day, ''n''.", ''OED Online'', 1st ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1887).</ref> | |||
| The term "Christmas-box" dates back to the 17th century, and among other things meant: | |||
| <blockquote>A present or gratuity given at Christmas: in Great Britain, usually confined to gratuities given to those who are supposed to have a vague claim upon the donor for services rendered to him as one of the general public by whom they are employed and paid, or as a customer of their legal employer; the undefined theory being that as they have done offices for this person, for which he has not directly paid them, some direct acknowledgement is becoming at Christmas.<ref>"Christmas-box, ''n''.", ''OED Online'', 1st edn (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1889), sense 3.</ref></blockquote> | |||
| In Britain, it was a custom for tradespeople to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year.<ref>Encyclopædia Britannica, 1953 "Boxing day"</ref> This is mentioned in ]' diary entry for 19 December 1663.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1663/12/19/ |title=Saturday 19 December 1663 (Pepys' Diary) |publisher=Pepysdiary.com |accessdate=26 December 2010}}</ref> This custom is linked to an older British tradition: since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts, bonuses and sometimes leftover food. | |||
| In South Africa (a former British colony) as recently as the 1980s, milkmen and garbage collectors, who normally had little if any interaction with those they served, were accustomed to knock on their doors asking for a "Christmas box", being a small cash donation, in the week or so before and after Christmas. | |||
| The European tradition, which has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions, has been dated to the ], but the exact origin is unknown. It is believed to be in reference to the Alms Box placed in areas of worship to collect donations to the poor. Also, it may come from a custom in the late Roman/early Christian era, wherein metal boxes placed outside churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the ],<ref>Collins, 2003, p. 38.</ref> which in the ] falls on the same day as Boxing Day. | |||
| == Date == | |||
| Boxing Day is a ] that is traditionally celebrated on 26 December, the day after Christmas Day. 26 December is also ], a ].<ref>''American Heritage Dictionary'', Fourth Edition – 'Boxing Day'</ref><ref>''Oxford English''</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/11_november/17/radio4_sun26.shtml |title=BBC Radio 4 schedule, 3 December 2004 |date = 17 November 2004 |accessdate =17 December 2009}}</ref> When 26 December falls on the weekend (Saturday or Sunday), the Boxing Day ] is moved to the following day (27 December). In the UK, Boxing Day is a ]. On the occasions when Christmas Day is on a Sunday, the following Monday is Boxing Day and Tuesday the substitute bank holiday for Christmas Day. | |||
| In Scotland, Boxing Day has been specified as an additional bank holiday since 1974,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/46377/pages/9343 |title=London Gazette, 18 October 1974 |publisher=London-gazette.co.uk |date=18 October 1974 |accessdate=26 December 2010}}</ref> by ] under the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/bank-holidays/FAQs|title=Bank Holidays in Scotland – Frequently Asked Questions|publisher=|accessdate=21 December 2014}}</ref> | |||
| In ] – when the island as a whole was part of the ] – the ] established the feast day of ] as a non-movable public holiday on 26 December. Following ], ] reverted to the British name, Boxing Day. | |||
| In Australia, Boxing Day is a federal public holiday. The Australian state of ] instead observes a public holiday known as ] on the first weekday after Christmas Day or the Christmas Day holiday.<ref></ref> | |||
| In New Zealand, Boxing Day is a statutory holiday; penalty rates and lieu time are provided to employees who work on Boxing Day. | |||
| In Canada, Boxing Day is a federal statutory holiday. Government offices, banks and post offices/delivery are closed. In some Canadian provinces, Boxing Day is a statutory holiday<ref name="Manitoba">{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards/doc,gen-holidays-after-april-30-07,factsheet.html#q13 |title = Fact Sheet |author = Manitoba Employment Standards Branch |date = 27 November 2009 |accessdate =17 December 2009}}</ref> that is always celebrated on 26 December. In Canadian provinces where Boxing Day was a statutory holiday, and it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, compensation days are given in the following week.<ref name="Manitoba" /> | |||
| In the United States, 26 December is not observed as "Boxing Day", per se by the Federal Government, however it may be converted to an extension of "Christmas Day Observed" when Christmas falls on a Sunday, thus affecting Federal offices and services, as well as banking, regular postal delivery and trading markets. The 26th is given as a holiday to some state employees, mainly ], states: Kansas,<ref>{{cite web|title=Holidays for State of Kansas Executive Branch Employees|url=http://admin.ks.gov/offices/personnel-services/holidays|website=Department of Administration|publisher=State of Kansas|accessdate=8 October 2014|location=Topeka, KA}}</ref> Kentucky,<ref>{{cite web|title=State Holidays|url=https://personnel.ky.gov/pages/leave.aspx|website=Kentucky Personnel Cabinet|publisher=Commonwealth of Kentucky|accessdate=8 October 2014}}</ref> North Carolina,<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 Holiday Schedule |url=http://www.oshr.nc.gov/Holidays/holiday2014.pdf |website=Office of State Human Resources |publisher=State of North Carolina |accessdate=8 October 2014 |location=Raleigh, NC |format=pdf |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402142259/http://www.oshr.nc.gov/Holidays/holiday2014.pdf |archivedate=2 April 2014 }}</ref> South Carolina,<ref>{{cite web|title=South Carolina Code of Laws – Title 53 – Sundays, Holidays and Other Special Days|url=http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t53c005.php|website=Legislative Services Agency|publisher=State of South Carolina|accessdate=8 October 2014|location=Columbia, SC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://statelaws.findlaw.com/south-carolina-law/south-carolina-legal-holidays-laws.html|title=South Carolina Legal Holiday Laws}}</ref> and Texas<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Texas State Holidays|url=https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ref/abouttx/holidays.html|website=Texas State Library and Archives Commission|accessdate=8 October 2014|location=Austin TX}}</ref> but it is not known as Boxing Day. On 5 December 1996, ] Gov. ] declared 26 December as Boxing Day in ], in response to the efforts of a local coalition of British citizens to "transport the English tradition to the United States",<ref>.</ref> but not as an employee holiday.{{cn|date=December 2016}} | |||
| In Nigeria, 26 December is a public holiday for working people or students. When it falls on Saturday or Sunday, there is always a holiday on Monday.{{cn|date=December 2016}} | |||
| == Shopping == | |||
| ] in Canada, 2007]] | |||
| In the UK,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/boxing-day-sales-soar-as-shoppers-flock-to-malls-429935.html |title = Boxing Day sales soar as shoppers flock to malls |author = Terry Kirby |date = 27 December 2006 |accessdate =17 December 2009 | location=London |work=The Independent }}</ref> Canada,<ref name="ctv.ca">{{cite web|url=http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/CTVNewsAt11/20051226/boxing_day_051226/ |title=Boxing Day expected to rake in $1.8 billion |author=CTV.ca News Staff |date=26 December 2005 |accessdate=17 December 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228163816/http://www.ctv.ca:80/CTVNews/CTVNewsAt11/20051226/boxing_day_051226 |archivedate=28 December 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref> Australia,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/12/26/boxing-day-sales-top-2bn-retailers | title = Boxing Day sales to top $2bn: retailers | date=26 December 2014|accessdate =26 December 2014 | publisher =]}}</ref> and New Zealand,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://i.stuff.co.nz/business/75337680/boxing-day-still-big-for-bargain-hunters-despite-prechristmas-retail-sales | title = Boxing Day still big for bargain hunters despite pre-christmas retail sales | date=21 December 2015 |accessdate =22 December 2015 | publisher=Stuff}}</ref> Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday, much like ] (the day after ]) in the United States. Boxing Day sales are common in Canada and Australia. It is a time when shops hold sales often with dramatic price reductions. For many merchants, Boxing Day has become the day of the year with the greatest revenue. In the UK in 2009 it was estimated that up to 12 million shoppers appeared at the sales (a rise of almost 20% compared to 2008, although this was also affected by the fact that the ] was about to revert to 17.5% from 1 January, following the temporary reduction to 15%).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8432144.stm |title=Boxing Day sales attract 'record' number of shoppers |publisher=BBC News |date=28 December 2009 |accessdate=26 December 2010}}</ref> | |||
| Many retailers open very early (typically 5 am or even earlier) and offer ] deals and ]s to draw people to their stores. It is not uncommon for long queues to form early in the morning of 26 December, hours before the opening of shops holding the big sales, especially at ] retailers.<ref name="ctv.ca" /> Many stores have a limited quantity of big draw or deeply discounted items.<ref name="toronto.ctv.ca">{{cite web |url=http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20071213/boxing_day_071213?hub=EdmontonHome |title = How to become a Boxing Day shopping pro |date = 25 December 2007 |author = Ashleigh Patterson |accessdate =17 December 2009}}</ref> Because of the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, many choose to stay at home and avoid the hectic shopping experience. The local media often cover the event, mentioning how early the shoppers began queuing up, and showing video of shoppers queuing and later leaving with their purchased items.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20071226/Boxing_Day_071226/ |title=Boxing Day begins with early rush of bargain hunters |author=toronto.ctv.ca |date=26 December 2007 |accessdate=17 December 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106173035/http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20071226/Boxing_Day_071226/ |archivedate=6 January 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> Many retailers have implemented practices aimed at managing large numbers of shoppers. They may limit entrances, restrict the number of patrons in a store at a time, provide tickets to people at the head of the queue to guarantee them a hot ticket item or canvass queued-up shoppers to inform them of inventory limitations.<ref name="toronto.ctv.ca" /> | |||
| In recent years, retailers have expanded deals to "]". While Boxing Day is 26 December, many retailers will run the sales for several days before or after 26 December, often up to New Year's Eve. Notably, in ], a record number of retailers were holding early promotions due to a weak economy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20081221/Shopping_Deals_081222/ |title=Boxing Day comes early as shoppers search for deals |author=CTV.ca News Staff |date=21 December 2008 |accessdate=17 December 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106141332/http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20081221/Shopping_Deals_081222/ |archivedate=6 January 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> Canada's Boxing Day has often been compared with the American ] (the Saturday before Christmas) and ]. From 2009 onward Black Friday deals become more prominent among Canadian retailers to discourage shoppers from crossing the border to the USA when the Canadian and USA dollars was close to parity, and this has lessened the appeal of Boxing Day in Canada somewhat as it was overtaken by Black Friday in terms of sales in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/inside-the-shopping-extravaganza-that-black-friday-has-become-in-canada|title=Inside the shopping extravaganza that Black Friday has become in Canada|publisher=}}</ref> Boxing Day is not and has never been a shopping holiday in the USA. | |||
| In some areas of Canada, particularly in ] and parts of ], most retailers are prohibited from opening on Boxing Day, either by provincial law or by municipal ], or instead by informal agreement among major retailers to provide a day of relaxation following Christmas Day. In these areas, sales otherwise scheduled for 26 December are moved to the 27th.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geschenkhexe.ch/media/archive/Boxing-Day-The-Debate-Continues.html |title=Boxing Day, The Debate Continues |author=soonews.ca |date=22 December 2007 |accessdate=26 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hAtdtyDSIeYttaUmCcZLT_bGhGzg |title=Boxing Day madness: shoppers descend on stores looking for deals |author=The Canadian Press |date=26 December 2009 |accessdate=26 December 2009}}{{dead link|date=December 2011}}</ref> The city council of ], ], which was the largest city in Canada to maintain this restriction as of the early 2010s, formally repealed its store hours bylaw on 9 December 2014.<ref>. '']'', 10 December 2014.</ref> | |||
| In 2009, many retailers with both online and ] stores launched their online sales on Christmas Eve and their High Street sales on Boxing Day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geschenkhexe.ch/media/archive/IMRG-Press-Release-120m-to-be-spent-Online-on-Christmas-Day-2009.html |title = Many retailers' sales to start on Christmas Eve |date = 22 December 2009 |author = IMRG |accessdate =22 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/6858609/Boxing-Day-sales-start-on-Christmas-Eve.html |title = Boxing Day sales start on Christmas Eve |date = 22 December 2009 |author = Telegraph |accessdate =22 December 2009 | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> | |||
| == Sport == | |||
| ] at the ], 2006]] | |||
| ] | |||
| In the United Kingdom, it is traditional for both top-tier ] leagues in ], ] and ], and the lower ones, as well as the ] leagues, to hold a full programme of ] and ] matches on Boxing Day. Originally, matches on Boxing Day were played against ] to avoid teams and their fans having to travel a long distance to an away game on the day after Christmas Day. Prior to the formation of leagues, a number of rugby fixtures took place on Boxing Day each year, notably ] v ] and ] v ]. | |||
| In Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, ] matches are played on Boxing Day: for more details see ]. | |||
| In Australia, the first day of the ] in ] and the start of the ] are on Boxing Day. | |||
| In horse racing, there is the ] at ] in Surrey, England. It is the second most prestigious ] in Britain, after the ]. In addition to the prestigious race at Kempton, in Britain it is usually the day with the highest number of racing meetings of the year, with eight in 2016, in addition to three more in Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|title=Racecards – 26th December 2016|url=http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/home.sd?r_date=2016-12-26|website=Racing Post}}</ref> | |||
| Boxing Day is one of the main days in the hunting calendar for ] in the UK and US, with most hunts (both mounted foxhound or harrier packs and foot packs of beagles or bassets) holding meets, often in town or village centres.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/countryside/10538429/Hundreds-of-thousands-turn-out-for-Boxing-Day-hunts.html |title=Hundreds of thousands turn out for Boxing Day hunts|date=26 December 2013 |work=] |location=London |accessdate=21 December 2014}}</ref> | |||
| Several ] contests are associated with the day. The ] typically begins on 26 December, while the ] also begins on 26 December in ], Switzerland; the Spengler Cup competition includes ], ], and other top European Hockey teams. The ] traditionally had close to a full slate of games (10 were played in 2011<ref>{{cite web|title=NHL Hockey Schedule for December 26, 2011|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/schedulebyday.htm?date=12/26/2011|accessdate=27 August 2014}}</ref>), following the league-wide days off given for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. However, the 2013 collective bargaining agreement (which followed ]) extended the league mandate of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off to include Boxing Day, except when it falls on a Saturday, in which case the league can choose to make 23 December a league-wide off day instead for that year.<ref name="NHL CBA">{{cite web|title=National Hockey League CBA|url=http://www.nhl.com/nhl/en/v3/ext/CBA2012/NHL_NHLPA_2013_CBA.pdf |page=101—not digital page 101 but the printed 101 |publisher=] |accessdate=27 August 2014}}</ref> In some African ] nations, particularly Ghana, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania, prize fighting contests are held on Boxing Day. This practice has also been followed for decades in Guyana and Italy.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126179017496705483.html | title = Season's Beatings: 'Boxing Day' Takes a Pugilistic Turn | accessdate =14 November 2011 | last = Millman | first = Joel | date = 28 December 2009 | newspaper = ] |edition=Asia}}</ref> | |||
| A notable tradition in Sweden is '']'', which formerly marked the start of the ] season and always draws large crowds. Games traditionally begin at 1:15 pm.<ref name="annandagsbandy">{{cite news |first= Berndt |last= Rosqvist |title= Festligt och fullsatt på stora bandydagen |url=http://www.dn.se/sport/festligt-och-fullsatt-pa-stora-bandydagen |work=Dagens Nyheter |date=22 December 2003 |accessdate=4 February 2010 |language=Swedish |trans_title=Festive and packed with great bandy day}}</ref> | |||
| {{clear}} | |||
| == References == | |||
| {{Reflist|30em}} | |||
| == External links == | |||
| {{Commons category}} | |||
| * | |||
| {{Christmas}} | |||
| {{Navboxes|list1= | |||
| {{Australia Holidays}} | |||
| {{Canada Holidays}} | |||
| {{Hong Kong Holidays}} | |||
| {{New Zealand Holidays}} | |||
| {{South Africa Holidays}} | |||
| {{UK Holidays}} | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Portal bar|Christmas|Australia|Canada|Hong Kong|New Zealand|South Africa|United Kingdom}} | |||
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Revision as of 19:00, 9 January 2017
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"Christmas box" redirects here. For the genus of shrubs, see Sarcococca. For other uses, see Boxing Day (disambiguation). Categories: