Why is the day after Christmas called Boxing Day?

December 26th, is Boxing Day and is a holiday celebrated in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries. Boxing Day originated in England in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria. For years in which the holiday falls on a weekend, the celebration is moved to make sure workers still get a day off (except in Canada, where it remains Dec. 26) In the UK it's classed as a Bank Holiday. Boxing Day is so called because it was the custom on that day for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for good and reliable service throughout the year.

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23 Comments

Michael Kebodeaux

Not totally accurate. Boxing Day takes place on December 26th and is only celebrated in a few countries. It was started in the UK about 800 years ago, during the Middle Ages. It was the day when the alms box, collection boxes for the poor often kept in churches, were traditionally opened so that the contents could be distributed to poor people. Some churches still open these boxes on Boxing Day. The story of the good king Wenceslas was based upon Boxing Day.

jaime alzate

A very interesting question and fact.

DHL

Got it

Albeck1994

James Jeannetti, how can it be it's wrong

Albeck1994

Nothing to do with left over food

sonnybeaudoin

It was for Distributing stuff to the poor that the rich people didn't have any more used for

Barry McMiles

This answer is incorrect. It was the day the Priests opened the alms boxes at the church to distribute the money to the poor.

chris j rillo

I actually thought that it was because the servant children played with boxes that held the gifts. Two Englishmen gave me this account of the term's derivation.

Jack Kircher

They must be joking about the other three choices. I can't believe there are so many who actually fell for them!

Joanne Willis

My boss was from England. It's to give the servents Christmas.

Manuel Juan

I thought it was the first time rudolph knocked out santa

Glenn Carl

According to the explanation of the origin of Boxing DayJ all the choices were wrong.

Linda McBride Young

Overly simplistic and the worst quizclub.com answer I've read. Yes, Boxing Day started in England about 800 years ago. Household staff members had to work on Christmas Day. So their employers began boxing up food, household items, clothing, and money to present them on December 26, Boxing Day, a day off from routine duties. It is still celebrated in the UK and a few US States have adopted the practice of making December 26 a holiday. I'm going to a Boxing Day party this year.

Brenda Wilson

That was kind of a easy one more common sense than anything else.

Dennis Meyer

This was a tough one! After my research I found a number of explanations as to where/how Boxing Day got its name, & only one place that vaguely hinted to the 'correct' answer Quizz Club has posted. Even their own explanation doesn't support their answer. I actually had to take a guess, & guessed correctly.