| Americans and other citizens beyond the | | | | (or in some cases, giving them a "box" of |
| Commonwealth of Nations usually wonder much | | | | whatever leftover food remained from the |
| about the customs, cultures and holidays that this | | | | previous day's festivities). |
| rich melting pot of historic Western civilization has | | | | Boxing Day in the 21st century |
| to offer. Aside from the differences in spelling, | | | | In these days that social classes are no longer the |
| word usage and cultural specifics, there are many | | | | norm and there is no more delineation between |
| variations to special calendar days in the | | | | servant and free, Boxing Day is a national holiday |
| commonwealth and especially the UK. | | | | where people of the UK and the commonwealth |
| One of these seemingly mysterious holidays is | | | | get a day off to rest from the merry making |
| known as Boxing Day, also known as St. | | | | brought upon them by the greatest day in the |
| Stephen's Day. Considered to fall upon the 26th | | | | year. Countries around the world may celebrate |
| of December (or the nearest weekday should | | | | Boxing day as well, leading to a variety of post |
| Christmas day fall upon a weekend), Boxing Day | | | | holiday cheer activity the world over. |
| is one of those UK holidays that many people just | | | | Australians celebrate Boxing Day much like the |
| don't seem to understand at face value. | | | | Americans celebrate the Friday after |
| What exactly is Boxing Day? | | | | Thanksgiving: there are tons of sales happening |
| Boxing Day is a public holiday that, historically, was | | | | around the country, huge discounts and clearance |
| meant to be for employees and citizens of a | | | | items where both young and old alike get to |
| lower social class. In olden times, a box made out | | | | spend whatever Christmas cash they received. |
| of clay was played in shops where people visiting | | | | Christmas shopping is definitely the grand |
| them would put in their coins. Come the day after | | | | worldwide tradition, but post-Christmas shopping |
| Christmas, this "Christmas box" would then be | | | | has its place in the sun as well! |
| broken to retrieve all the money that's inside, just | | | | In the UK and in some other parts of the world, |
| like a modern day ceramic piggy bank. Whatever's | | | | Boxing Day becomes a fantastic opportunity for |
| inside is split amongst all the workers for them to | | | | being active in sports and even just watching. |
| take home as an augmentation to their month's | | | | Various cricket, football, rugby and boxing |
| salary (something like a Christmas bonus). | | | | matches are held on this day, as well as a series |
| There are many variations to the tradition of | | | | of horse races that's sure to attract high rollers |
| Boxing Day across Europe, but the common | | | | who just can't get enough holiday cheer. |
| denominator is that this holiday was meant to | | | | The next time you come across the words |
| give workers and servants some time for rest | | | | Boxing Day, don't think about it as a glorious day |
| and relaxation after a busy holiday season. This | | | | for fisticuffs: it's a tradition that has spanned |
| usually meant giving these individuals the day off | | | | many centuries, and is even probably as old as |
| as well as some form of monetary compensation | | | | Christmas itself! |