In many countries around the world, today is Boxing Day. We don’t celebrate Boxing Day here in the United States, but it does sound like we have some similarities as the day after Christmas is a big day for returns here. We have several Daily Digi team members who live in Canada and Australia so I asked them to tell us a little bit more about this holiday.
Trina
Traditionally, it was the day you ‘Boxed up’ everything you didn’t like and took it back to the stores to exchange it for stuff you wanted instead. Then because of the sales it became so that pretty much nowhere will take an exchange or return on Dec. 26 (or 27) because they are just too busy. There are huge blowouts on all the leftover Christmas stuff – we got our tree one year insanely cheap (like 80% off), we just had to wait a year to use it. People start lining up Christmas Eve after supper at some stores (mainly electronics ones) because they have the door-crasher specials and limited time offers. I can’t stand it and never, ever go – we did once, 2 years ago, because my in-laws really wanted to go and ended up spending 3 hours in line in one store with a cranky 10 month old. Not fun lol. But if you’re into deals, it’s a great time to shop and stock up.
Melissa S.
Aahh, boxing day… Sitting in front of the tele watching the Boxing Day Test (cricket). My family celebrates it with our cousins – a laid back barbeque with ice cream sandwiches and Christmas treats for dessert. It’s a relaxed and casual day for us, before everyone goes back to work for those couple of days before New Years Day.
Heddy
In Canada, Boxing Day is our big sale day, much like America’s Black Friday. People line up at 5am, there are doorbusters, etc. However, just like Black Friday, it goes on longer than just the one designated day. You can find Boxing “Week” sales that are quite good.
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Here are a few more fun links to explore for Boxing Day:
Happy Boxing Day!
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nice bloog
Hahaha, I always thought Boxing Day was when people from those British countries watched boxing on TV!!! Or went to boxing matches!!! To be honest, I never gave it more than a moment or two of thought, but I just figured that was what it was ahahahaha!!! Now I am going to start celebrating Boxing Day despite being a plain ol’ American, and do something nice or give away stuff – maybe box up the junk (umm, precious gifts) we received last year but never really used and give to charity or something. I’m so glad I read this!
Here in the UK, Boxing day is not about sales as most of the shops are shut. The shops have reopened today (Monday) but yesterday was still a holiday.
I’ve heard many different stories about the meaning of the term, but they are relate to it being the day the servants get off work, as they have to work on Christmas Day.
We spent the day with family, we had a buffet and some party games, it’s a much more relaxed day than Christmas. Lots of people go for a walk and locally we have a tradition where some people go in the sea, http://www.nsvl.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=360:boxing-day-swim-2010&catid=1
I don’t do that, but I have been known to watch!
Boxing day is not a tradition originally related to returning gifts, though that is what it has become. It was the day in the Victorian era when the servants got the day off and the family would wait on the servants. There is also an association of alms-giving (boxing up food gifts and other small gifts are both possible sources of the term).