What is Boxing Day? Inside the meaning of the controversial holiday
- Boxing Day is known for its recycled leftovers, huge sales and sports, but not many people know the origins of the holiday
- The holiday falls on December 26 and the story varies, but the most popular theory is that it started in the time of Queen Victoria
- Servants worked on Christmas Day and got the next day off to celebrate with their families, just as the rich used to box presents to give to the poor
Christmas is over, but the celebration continues the next day in Britain, the former British colonies and other European countries in the form of Boxing Day.
It's known for its recycled leftovers, huge sales and sports, but not many people know the historical significance of the holiday.
Boxing Day falls on December 26 and the story varies, but the most popular theory is that it originated during the time of Queen Victoria.
White-collar workers used to work on Christmas Day and get the next day off to celebrate with their families, just as the rich used to box presents to give to the poor.
The holiday – largely ignored in the US – also has ties to Christianity, as the occasion is celebrated as St. Stephen's Day in Ireland and Catalonia, while Hungary, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands consider it a second Christmas.
Christmas is over, but the celebration continues the next day in Britain, the former British colonies and other European countries in the form of Boxing Day.
Boxing Day falls on December 26 and the story varies, but the most popular theory is that it originated during the time of Queen Victoria
Boxing Day is mainly associated with the custom of Victorian-era aristocrats giving gifts to their servants on the day after Christmas.
The employees were supposed to work on Christmas Day, but they were allowed to spend December 26 with their own families.
Another theory is that Boxing Day grew out of the popular tradition of making charitable donations during the Christmas season.
People handed out boxes of food and other necessities to the less fortunate and churches left donation boxes for the poor.
Servants worked on Christmas Day and got the next day off to celebrate with their families, and the rich wrapped up gifts to give to the poor
Boxing Day is known for its recycled leftovers, huge sales and sports, but not many people know where the holiday comes from
A third suggestion is that the tradition began after an interaction the 10th century Duke of Bohemia once experienced. According to one story, the day after Christmas he was surveying his land and saw a man trying to gather wood for a fire during a snowstorm.
The Duke then decided to go to the man's house and gave him a box full of food, wine and other items.
Modern Boxing Day has many traditions, such as eating leftovers from Christmas Day.
Many people prepare too much food for the festive occasion and eat turkey in the form of curry, pies and sandwiches the following week.
There are also the traditional Boxing Day sales, where companies drastically reduce their prices and people can pick up post-Christmas bargains.
The day is also heavily dominated by sports, including horse racing and many football matches.