| Revision as of 09:36, 6 December 2004 editPne (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Rollbackers8,315 edits Zweiter Weihnachtstag --> Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag (more common name IMO)← Previous edit | Revision as of 13:51, 7 December 2004 edit undoNjh@bandsman.co.uk (talk | contribs)437 editsNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| '''Boxing Day''' is a holiday observed in many ]an and ] countries, usually on ]. | '''Boxing Day''' is a holiday observed in many ]an and ] countries, usually on ]. | ||
| There is much dispute over the true origins of Boxing Day, but one common story of the holiday's origins is that servants used to receive Christmas gifts from their employers on ], after the family celebrations. These were generally called their ] boxes. Another story is that this is the day that priests broke open the collection boxes and distributed the money to the poor. | There is much dispute over the true origins of Boxing Day, but one common story of the holiday's origins is that servants used to receive Christmas gifts from their employers on the first weekday after Christmas, usually ], after the family celebrations. These were generally called their ] boxes. Another story is that this is the day that priests broke open the collection boxes and distributed the money to the poor. | ||
| Boxing Day is now a public holiday in the UK, and traditionally a day of sport. Like other public holidays which may occur on a non-working day, the "day off" will occur on the first day after the public holiday that would otherwise be a working day. Boxing Day itself remains on the 26th if that is a Saturday, but if ] falls on a Saturday then the 26th is referred to as ] and ] moves to ], also followed by a public holiday on ] to account for Christmas and Boxing Day falling on 2 non-working days. | Boxing Day is now a public holiday in the UK, and traditionally a day of sport. Like other public holidays which may occur on a non-working day, the "day off" will occur on the first day after the public holiday that would otherwise be a working day. Boxing Day itself remains on the 26th if that is a Saturday, but if ] falls on a Saturday then the 26th is referred to as ] and ] moves to ], also followed by a public holiday on ] to account for Christmas and Boxing Day falling on 2 non-working days. | ||
Revision as of 13:51, 7 December 2004
Boxing Day is a holiday observed in many European and Commonwealth countries, usually on 26 December.
There is much dispute over the true origins of Boxing Day, but one common story of the holiday's origins is that servants used to receive Christmas gifts from their employers on the first weekday after Christmas, usually December 26, after the family celebrations. These were generally called their Christmas boxes. Another story is that this is the day that priests broke open the collection boxes and distributed the money to the poor.
Boxing Day is now a public holiday in the UK, and traditionally a day of sport. Like other public holidays which may occur on a non-working day, the "day off" will occur on the first day after the public holiday that would otherwise be a working day. Boxing Day itself remains on the 26th if that is a Saturday, but if Christmas Day falls on a Saturday then the 26th is referred to as Christmas Sunday and Boxing Day moves to 27 December, also followed by a public holiday on 28 December to account for Christmas and Boxing Day falling on 2 non-working days.
In Canada, Boxing Day is also observed as a public holiday, and is a day when stores sell their excess Christmas inventory at significantly reduced prices. Boxing Day has become so important for retailers that they often extend it into a Boxing Week.
In Ireland, the 26th is known as St Stephen's Day or Wren's Day.
In Australia, Test match (cricket) starting on December 26 is called the Boxing Day Test Match, and is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before the largest, rowdiest crowd of the summer. In Sydney, the annual Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race, one of the biggest and most prestigious ocean racing events in the world, begins on this day, as the yachts depart Sydney Harbour before many thousands of spectators around the harbour and in spectator boats.
In Germany, the 26th is known as the second day of Christmas ("der zweite Weihnachtsfeiertag") and also a public holiday.
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