Boxing Day
With the upcoming winter holidays of Christmas, New Years, and Hanukkah, I want to talk about a lesser known winter holiday– boxing day. Boxing day is celebrated concurrently with Christmas on December 26th and is dedicated to donating gifts to those in need, but is mainly associated with shopping. The holiday is primarily celebrated in the UK and other CommonWealth countries (comprising around 53 nations that were formerly a part of the British Empire).
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the day is earliest defined as “the day after Christmas day” and is best associated with the term “Christmas box.” Historically, Boxing Day has been recognized as a day to give gifts to servants and the poor. However, today the holiday is associated with shopping at big stores similar to Black Friday in the United States with people choosing to shop for the holiday deals around Boxing Day. It (ironically) has nothing to do with the sport of boxing.
In the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Boxing Day is known as a shopping holiday with shops having huge price reductions. For many retailers and stores, Boxing Day is one of the days with the greatest revenues. Government buildings and small businesses are closed, but malls are opened and filled with people buying Christmas sale gifts, cards, and decorations. According to SBS, retailers often expect Boxing Day sales to break previous records (SBS News). While the holiday is only 1 day long, many retailers run the sales for several days before or after December 26th up to New Year’s, calling it “Boxing Week.” To keep the historical tradition of Boxing Day alive, many businesses and organizations donate money, goods, and other services to aid Food Banks and other health institutions, helping to provide gifts for those struggling financially.
Although Boxing Day is not celebrated in the United States, it is often compared to Black Friday, the Friday following the Thanksgiving holiday in November. Some key differences other than the timing and region include the sale focus with Boxing Day often having greater discounts on leftover inventory from the Christmas stock, specifically seasonal clothing and household items, while Black Friday is better known for having more deals on electronics and toys.
In conclusion, Boxing Day, while lesser-known compared to other winter holidays, represents a unique historical tradition and shopping culture. Originally dedicated to giving back to those in need, the holiday is presently most associated as a big shopping event. Despite its similarities to Black Friday in the US, the holiday stands out with its focus on post-Christmas sales and its connection to giving back. Boxing Day continues to be a celebrated day of shopping sales and donations.
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