Every year, Boxing Day arrives with familiar rituals — leftovers in the fridge, sport on the TV, and a slower pace after Christmas Day. Yet the name itself often raises a question: why is it called Boxing Day? It’s not about the sport, and it’s not a modern invention either. The answer sits in a mix of history, religion, and everyday working life, shaped long before Boxing Day became a public holiday. Understanding where the name comes from helps make sense of why the day still carries themes of giving, rest, and community.
Why Is It Called Boxing Day: The Origin
Boxing Day is on 26 December, the day after Christmas. Yet the name often raises questions. Why is Boxing Day called Boxing Day? There’s no one document that settles it. Still, the most reliable explanations point to the same thing: Christmas boxes filled with money or small gifts. They had nothing to do with the sport of boxing.
Victorian servants and the Christmas box tradition
The most accepted explanation of Boxing Day meaning comes from Victorian Britain. In wealthy households, servants worked hard on Christmas Day itself. They cooked, served meals, and kept the house running while the family celebrated.
The next day, on 26 December, servants were often given time off to visit their own families. Before they left, their employer would give them a Christmas box. This could include money, food, or small gifts as thanks for their work during the year.
The idea was not limited to servants. Other workers, such as delivery drivers or tradespeople, could also receive a box at Christmas. Over time, this practice of gratitude became closely tied to the day after Christmas, and the name stuck.
Church alms boxes and charity
Another strong explanation comes from church traditions. Many churches kept alms boxes, which were used to collect money for people in need. These collections often took place during Advent.
On or just after Christmas Day, the boxes could be opened and the money shared with the poor. In many places, this happened on 26 December. That timing helped connect the idea of “boxes” with Boxing Day.
This tradition fits the wider meaning of Christmas as a season of giving. The feast came first. The practical help followed.
Sailors’ money boxes
You may also hear a story linked to sailors. Some ships kept a sealed money box on board during a voyage. The money was meant for charity. If the ship returned safely, the box would be opened and distributed on December 26.
While this story matches the theme of boxed money and giving, it is less well supported by evidence. Most historians see it as a secondary explanation, not the main source of the name.
It still supports the same idea, though: a “box” as a container for money given to others.
The Religious Connection: Boxing Day and St Stephen
Boxing Day is not only steeped in traditions of giving but also has a significant religious connection. In many Christian communities, December 26 is observed as St Stephen’s Day, commemorating the life of St Stephen, who is recognized as the first Christian martyr.
St Stephen is celebrated for his dedication to helping the poor and advocating for justice, which aligns closely with the charitable roots of Boxing Day. In Ireland, parts of Spain such as Catalonia, and several other European countries, St Stephen’s Day is marked with religious services, feasts, and acts of charity.
The association between Boxing Day and St Stephen highlights the holiday’s enduring focus on compassion and generosity, emphasizing that the day is more than just post-Christmas relaxation but a moment to reflect on giving back and supporting those in need.
How Boxing Day Is Celebrated in Modern Times
Now, what about Boxing Day nowadays? Well, Boxing Day today usually feels more relaxed than Christmas Day. There is less pressure. Plans are simpler. The day often falls into a few familiar patterns: sport, rest, giving, and shopping.
Sporting events
Sport plays a big role for many households. Football is the most common focus. Matches are traditionally scheduled around the festive period, and Boxing Day fixtures have long been part of the season.
The exact schedule can change, but the habit remains. For many people, watching football is as much a part of Boxing Day as leftovers and tea.
Horse racing is another key tradition. The King George VI Chase at Kempton Park takes place on 26 December and is one of the most important jump races of the year.
Turkey sandwiches and relaxed family time
Boxing Day food is usually simple. The big meal has already happened. What’s left gets reused.
Turkey often turns into sandwiches, pies, or quick meals. The cooking is lighter. The pace is slower. People snack, tidy up, play games, and spend quality time together without a full schedule.
For many families, this relaxed feeling is the main appeal of the day.
Charity and giving back
Despite modern habits, Boxing Day still carries a clear theme of giving. Many people donate money. Others volunteer or check in on neighbours who may be alone.
These actions reflect older traditions, whether you trace them back to Christmas boxes for workers or church collections for the poor. You don’t need a big gesture. A small, practical act often fits the day best.
Boxing Day sales and shopping
Boxing Day sale is also known for post-Christmas sales, with many retailers discounting stock and a lot of people browsing for deals. That “shopping day” identity is a more modern layer, but it’s now a major part of how the day is marketed and experienced.
If you like using Boxing Day to tick off practical buys, it’s a good time to look for bigger-ticket home tech at a lower price.
At eufy, we run great deals right through the festive period. Our Advent Calendar gifts and Christmas discounts run from 8–25 December, followed by Boxing Day sales from 26 December to 4 January. Across selected products, savings can reach up to 56%. Here’s a closer look at what’s worth picking up.
eufy Robot Vacuum E25
If Christmas has left you with crumbs, pet hair, and sticky patches, the eufy Robot Vacuum E25 is built to handle all three. It delivers strong 20,000 Pa suction for carpets and hard floors, while its HydroJet™ mopping system scrubs rather than just wipes, applying pressure and constantly washing the mop in real time.
When it reaches carpet, the mops lift automatically to avoid dampening rugs. The CornerRover™ Arm improves edge cleaning, and DuoSpiral™ brushes help prevent hair tangles. Its station washes pads, dries them with heated air, and empties debris into a 3L dust bag, which can last around 75 days before replacement.
eufy Indoor Camera S350
The eufy Indoor Camera S350 is designed to cover large indoor spaces clearly without needing multiple cameras. It combines a 4K wide-angle lens with a 2K telephoto lens, giving 8× hybrid zoom so you can check details across a room.
The camera pans and tilts 360°, tracks movement, and handles low light using an f/1.6 aperture and adaptive infrared night vision, with visibility up to 10m.
Smart AI detection features include humans, pets, and crying, and it supports dual-band Wi-Fi 6. With HomeBase™ S380 compatibility, you can keep recordings stored locally instead of relying on cloud subscriptions.
eufy Video Doorbell E340
The eufy Video Doorbell E340 focuses on one common blind spot: parcels left on the ground. It uses two cameras: one for visitors and one angled downwards, recording in 2K so faces and packages are both visible.
At night, a dual-light system enables colour night vision up to 5 m, helping you see details rather than silhouettes. You can power it wired or by battery, with a removable battery rated for up to six months per charge.
It supports two-way talk, quick replies, and Alexa and Google Assistant, with IP65 weather protection and local storage.
eufyCam S4
If you want wide outdoor coverage without installing multiple cameras, eufyCam S4 is built around range and flexibility. It combines triple cameras in a 2-in-1 bullet and PTZ design, offering 360° coverage with 4K and dual 2K capture.
Power comes from a detachable solar panel backed by a 10,000mAh replaceable battery, reducing the need for manual charging. Detection uses radar and PIR, as well as smart on-device AI to identify people, vehicles, and pets, while LED spotlights improve visibility at night.
Footage can be stored locally using 32GB built-in memory, expanded via microSD up to 256GB, or through HomeBase™ S380, with no mandatory monthly fees.
Practical Boxing Day Information
Boxing Day isn’t just about festivities. It’s also helpful to know the practical details so you can plan your day smoothly.
Is Boxing Day a bank holiday?
Yes, Boxing Day is a public bank holiday in the UK, falling on 26 December each year. This means most offices, banks, and government services are closed. If 26 December lands on a weekend, the bank holiday may be moved to the following Monday or Tuesday, giving many people an extra day off work.
Is public transport running on Boxing Day?
This is one of the most common questions each year: do trains run on Boxing Day, and are buses running on Boxing Day? The short answer is that services are very limited.
Across most of the UK, trains usually do not run on Boxing Day. Many rail operators plan engineering works for 26 December, and only a small number of routes may operate a reduced or local service. Even when trains are scheduled, timetables can change close to the date, so checking in advance is essential.
Bus services are more likely to run, but they are still reduced compared to a normal day. In many towns and cities, buses follow a special Boxing Day timetable, with fewer routes and longer gaps between services. Some areas may have no bus service at all.
Are supermarkets open on Boxing Day?
It depends. Some open with reduced hours, some stay shut, and it varies by location. The most reliable way to check is the supermarket’s own store finder or holiday-hours page (because one branch can differ from the next).
Also, don’t assume every chain opens. For example, ALDI UK lists Boxing Day (26 December) as “Closed” for Christmas 2025 opening hours.
Conclusion
Boxing Day offers a unique blend of history, relaxation, and festive cheer, from its origins with Victorian Christmas boxes to modern-day traditions like sports, charity, and post-Christmas shopping. Understanding why is it called Boxing Day adds an extra layer of appreciation to this distinctive holiday, letting you enjoy the day fully while embracing both its heritage and contemporary celebrations.
FAQs
Is Boxing Day only celebrated in the UK?
No. Boxing Day began in the UK and is a bank holiday on 26 December, but it’s also officially observed in several other Commonwealth countries and territories, including places such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand. In many European countries, 26 December is marked instead as Saint Stephen’s Day (the second day of Christmas), so people may celebrate the date without calling it “Boxing Day.”
What does Boxing Day actually stand for?
“Boxing Day” doesn’t refer to the sport. The name is generally linked to the idea of a “Christmas box”: a gift or gratuity traditionally given to servants, tradespeople, and others who worked over Christmas, or to donations collected for people in need. In other words, it’s associated with giving, tips, and charitable “boxes,” rather than a single official “acronym-style” meaning.
What is the origin behind Boxing Day?
There isn’t one universally agreed origin, but historians trace Boxing Day to older British and Christian traditions of giving. Common explanations include churches opening alms boxes to distribute donations to the poor, and Victorian households or employers giving boxed gifts or money to servants and workers on the day after Christmas. The term is recorded in Britain by the 18th century, but its exact starting point remains debated.
What do Catholics call Boxing Day?
In Catholic and other Western Christian traditions, 26 December is the Feast of Saint Stephen (Saint Stephen’s Day), commemorating Stephen as the first Christian martyr. Because the date overlaps with Boxing Day in the UK and other places, many Catholics will refer to the day by its liturgical name, even if the wider culture calls it Boxing Day and treats it as part of the Christmas holiday period.
What do people traditionally do on Boxing Day?
Traditionally, Boxing Day was linked to acts of giving—handing out “Christmas boxes,” tips, or charitable donations—and, historically, it was also a day off for many servants and workers after Christmas. Today in the UK it’s often spent relaxing with family, eating leftovers, watching sport, going for winter walks, or heading to Boxing Day sales, as many retailers run major post-Christmas discounts.
