Boxing Day
The day after Christmas, with roots in giving.
Boxing Day falls on December 26 and is observed as a public holiday across the United Kingdom, Ireland, and much of the Commonwealth, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Its name is widely linked to the old custom of giving boxes of gifts or money to servants, tradesmen, and the poor on the day after Christmas. Send warm messages with our Wishes collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Boxing Day and where does the name come from?
Boxing Day is observed on December 26, the day after Christmas, primarily in the UK, Commonwealth nations, and parts of Europe. The name is most commonly traced to the Victorian-era tradition of giving "Christmas boxes" — gifts, money, or leftovers — to servants, tradespeople, and the poor the day after Christmas, with roots possibly reaching back further to alms boxes placed in churches.
Is Boxing Day tied to any religious observance?
December 26 is also St. Stephen's Day in the Christian calendar, commemorating the first Christian martyr. In some countries, Boxing Day and St. Stephen's Day are effectively observed together as the same public holiday.
How is Boxing Day marked today?
It's a public holiday in the UK, Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries, closely associated with major retail sales, sporting fixtures such as football and cricket matches, and continued time with family. Many send Boxing Day Wishes to friends and relatives.
Is Boxing Day observed in the United States?
No, Boxing Day is not a recognized public holiday in the US. It remains primarily a Commonwealth and European tradition tied to Christmas-period customs.
The day also coincides with the Feast of St. Stephen and, in earlier centuries, was when churches opened their alms boxes to distribute donations to those in need. Today it is better known for major sporting fixtures and post-Christmas sales in many of the countries that mark it. Our Wishes collection has lines for every kind of Boxing Day plan.
