The day might otherwise be pretty mysterious to most people in the U.S., where the holiday is not widely observed, and where its origin and significance are not well known. Not every place where they have a TV deal celebrates Christmas – and hardly any of those countries play matches on Boxing Day, so 27 December seems an easier fit. To some fans, it was sacrilege to see the staple of the festive period removed from the calendar, another slice taken out of the English game and the holiday season. Instead, a full round of matches was listed for the following day – though the Premier League confirmed games can be brought forward to 26 December to be shown on television. Wrexham’s first home match comes the following weekend when West Bromwich Albion make the journey to the Racecourse Ground.
Still, another theory looks to the song “Good King Wenceslas” for the moniker’s origin. According to TIME, the classic Christmas carol tells the story of Wenceslas, Duke of Bohemia, in the early 10th century. The Duke was surveying his land on St. Stephen’s Day when he saw a poor man laboring in the middle of a snowstorm. Moved by the pitiful sight, the Duke gathered his extra food and wine, trekked through the storm, and delivered it to the man’s door. The second idea is that Boxing Day comes from the church practice of putting out Alms boxes during the Advent season.
In South Africa, the Day of Goodwill, which falls on 26 December, is a public holiday. In Scotland, Boxing Day has been specified as an additional bank holiday since 1974 23 by royal proclamation under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971. However, Boxing Day was not always about great deals and large sporting events.
The Championship season will consist of 33 weekend rounds, nine midweek rounds and four bank holiday rounds, finishing on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Boxing Day highlights include Birmingham at home to Derby, Leicester entertaining Watford and Norwich hosting Charlton. Leicester travel to Sheffield United on New Year’s Day, with Southampton at home to Millwall and Swansea greeting West Brom.
Traditional Boxing Day food includes baked ham, pease pudding, and mince pies. Dating back centuries, Boxing Day had to do with the “Christmas Box.” Tradesmen such as milkman, paper boys, postal workers, etc, would walk their route the day after Christmas and collect Christmas Boxes. The Christmas Boxes that were given to these workers were presents from their customers to show their thanks for their service. Boxing Day has evolved throughout history and is now very similar to Black Friday in America. However, when I began to research Christmas Eve and Christmas and the history behind it, I noticed that Boxing Day kept coming up, so I decided to look into it.
It is usually marked by gift-giving, celebrations and sporting events. McLean said other theories about the name include bare-knuckle boxing matches that occurred the day after Christmas, or that many people return their boxes of unwanted gifts that day. Stores run shopping deals, similar to Black Friday, and fans cheer on sporting events such as soccer, cricket, rugby, horse racing and hunting. These days, Boxing Day is regarded as a time to spend with family and friends, particularly those who you weren’t able to see on Christmas. This can include gathering for meals, drinking at pubs, or simply relaxing at home and enjoying the day off.
The 26 also coincides with St. Stephen’s Day, a holiday celebrated in parts of Europe and named after the first Christian martyr who was known for helping the poor, according to Farmer’s Almanac. When December 26 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the bank holiday is officially celebrated the following Monday. Across the pond and in other Commonwealth countries, however, Dec. 26 is yet a continuation of the Christmas holiday called Boxing Day. Observed in Britain, Canada, and beyond, the celebration is believed to have originated in Victorian times.
Late heartbreak at the hands of Sunderland mean they must try again for a return to the Premier League in 2025–26, this time under new manager Rubén Sellés. Boxing Day is recognized on December 26, but if that day falls on a Saturday, the holiday moves to the following Monday. In Hong Kong, despite the transfer of sovereignty from the UK to China in 1997, Boxing Day is a general holiday as the first weekday after Christmas. But it’s really recognized in Great Britain and former British colonies, like Canada, Australia and New Zealand. When I grew up in UK in the 40s and 50s, on Boxing day we gave a Christmas Box to delivery men etc.
Parishioners would make monetary contributions that the Church would then give out on December 26, which is also the feast of St. Stephen. I always thought Boxing Day was the day (that would happen in January) that we get all our Christmas decorations boxed up and put away until we need them again next year. It’s typical for families to invite others over to enjoy a casual lunch made from Christmas Day leftovers. Many will also head out to stores to shop post-Christmas sales or make exchanges and returns. However, people can celebrate anywhere, as demonstrated by the McLeans’ party. Even though some of their American friends work on the 26th, people gather at their house in the evening for a spirited pub quiz, yummy leftovers and mulled wine.
One suggests that lords of manors would hand out “Christmas Boxes” to their household servants and give them the day off on December 26 because they were required to oleksandr usyk vs daniel dubois work on Christmas Day. The lords would box up money, gifts, and Christmas leftovers (basically holiday bonuses) to recognize their employee’s service during the year. Some believe that Boxing Day began with churches collecting alms boxes of parishioners’ donated money, according to Britannica. The church would give these boxes of donations to the poor the day after Christmas. Boxing Day, the traditionally British holiday recognized the day after Christmas, offers an extension of the festivities. And South Africa spend an extra day with friends, shopping or watching sports.
The money box at the churches is more likely from the early 20th century. In the United Kingdom, Boxing Day could not fall on Sunday 26 December. Instead, Boxing Day would be celebrated on Monday 27 December, with the preceding Sunday called Christmas Sunday. This rule was independent of the rule of bank holidays being taken in lieu. Over time Sunday 26 December increasingly became referred to as Boxing Day. Another theory says it derives from the opening of alms boxes provided by the church as opposed to gifts given by employers, according to Encylopedia Britannica.
Families will gather together for meals, relax at home, attend sporting events and/or go shopping. Some believe it comes from the alms boxes churches put out to collect donations for the less fortunate. Others, however, attribute it to the old practice of giving boxes of gifts to servants on the day after Christmas as they were required to work on Christmas Day. Boxing Day is also a day of sporting events, including horse racing, foxhunting and rugby. Some say it stems from when the wealthy would give boxes filled with small gifts, money and Christmas leftovers to their employees to recognize their service. Another theory is that churches put out boxes for people to give money to the poor, and the money was distributed the day after Christmas.