Boxing day. What is it?

My mom always has a calender in her kitchen with tons of holidays printed on it, and most I either know or are self explanatory(E.g, The Emperor's Birthday, Japan) But every year, there's "boxing day" for Australia, New Zealand, and Britain. What's it about and what does it mean to you?

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edited 11th Dec '11 8:50:13 AM by Joesolo

It's when people box up their Christmas decorations, instead of leaving them up until February like lazy Americans.

Its St Stephens Day IIRC and it was the traditional day the hired help got their presents

Oh, alright then.

These days, the day is the start of the January sales period and the last bank holiday of the year

I know, when I first saw it on the calendar when I was little, I thought it was more interesting, too...

These days it's mostly the day for the big post-Christmas sales in the shops (It's the Australian equivalent to Black Friday, basically - which is a name that has always baffled me for the record, since in Oz Black Friday refers to the day of some major bushfires), and for those who aren't at the shops to laze around home, attempt to digest Christmas dinner, and eat leftovers.

Also, a public holiday.

When I was little I though it was about fighting. When I got a little older I though about kangaroos wearing boxing gloves. Now I know I was only slightly off with the first one.

Huh, for some reason I thought the United States has Boxing Day as well. Does Canada?

Yeah, we do; never understood exactly what we were supposed to be celebrating, but who am I to turn down a good deal?

Nope. Maybe some people really close to canada, but In N.J. I havn't even heard of it besides on the calendar.

I thought this was going to be about the Boxer Rebellion in China, actually.

I always thought Boxing Day had to do with the sport when I was little.

Well, Boxing Day is listed on our calenders, but as a British and/or Canadian holiday. I'm kind of oddly hoping that someday people take the name literally and have a special holiday boxing match on that day.

No Joesolo, the fighting holiday is wrestling day. Bob and Doug MacKenzie celebrate it.

with their respective animals!

Kangaroos Vs Grizzlies Vs...(something from New Zealand)Vs Lions!

edited 11th Dec '11 8:11:43 PM by Joesolo

I thought Boxing Day was Canadian! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME, TVTROPES?

It's a day to go and see whatever fantasy movie got released before Christmas in America.

Lousy Australia, we never get anything at the right time...

I had always thought that boxing day was the day you open up the "boxes" containing your Christmas gifts.

I know of two different theories on the name.

Back in Ye Olde England times, servants would get the day after Christmas off to see their families. Their employers would give them boxes of food and gifts for the family as a sort of Christmas bonus. Alternatively, Churches would lay out collection boxes for the poor on Christmas Day and these boxes would be opened the day after.

Maybe both stories are linked, I don't know.

I was told that Boxing Day was when you went to the store to exchange all the gifts you didn't want.

edited 12th Dec '11 8:54:46 PM by DrunkGirlfriend

It's a buffer between Christmas and New Year's Eve, in effect. That makes it a great opportunity to eat some more food, drink some more alcohol, maybe see a few of those relatives who aren't quite important enough for Christmas... Some people watch the cricket.

It's when Canada gets Black F Irday scale sales.

It's so boring! The country of Phaic Tan has Kick Boxing Day instead, that'd be awesome.

I wish I were here sooner. I wanted to make a fake backstory about how it was about Australians beating the shit out of each other.

Basically, it's just a day for cricket and Christmas leftovers. I think i'd prefer the beating, cricket sucks.