This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 24.102.188.108 (talk) at 03:17, 22 April 2003 (Added comment that boxing day is observed in Canada). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 03:17, 22 April 2003 by 24.102.188.108 (talk) (Added comment that boxing day is observed in Canada)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Boxing Day is a holiday observed in the United Kingdom and much of the Commonwealth of Nations on December 26. Traditionally, servants used to receive Christmas gifts from their employers on December 26, after the family celebrations. These were generally called their Christmas boxes.
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, though Boxing Day itself remains on the 26th. In Canada, Boxing Day is also observed as a public holiday.
In Ireland the 26th is known as St Stephen's Day or Wren's Day.