What holiday is celebrated on December 26 in the UK and many Commonwealth countries? Boxing Day.
Boxing Day falls on the day after Christmas and originated in Britain. The name is generally linked to “Christmas boxes”—gifts, money, or gratuities traditionally given to servants, tradespeople, and other workers. Another proposed source is church alms boxes that were opened and distributed to people in need.
The Oxford English Dictionary records the British term from 1743, although gift-giving customs associated with the date are much older. In the UK, December 26 is also a bank holiday, with substitute weekdays used when the date falls on a weekend.
A common mix-up is St. Stephen’s Day, which is also observed on December 26 in several predominantly Christian countries. The two holidays share the date, but the British and Commonwealth holiday described here is Boxing Day. Modern celebrations often include shopping sales, sporting events, family visits, and leftovers from Christmas dinner.