Is Boxing Day about the sport?

As far as we know, Boxing Day doesn't have anything to do with the sport of boxing. Although there are many explanations as to the origin of the name, one point that most agree on is that on the day after Christmas, members of the higher class gave gifts to tradespeople, employees, servants or serfs, and others considered socially inferior. The gifts were often packed in a box, which the recipients would collect and cart home with them. Today, Boxing Day in many countries is similar to the US's Black Friday — one of the year's busiest shopping days. Because this year Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, in the UK Monday, December 28, has been declared a bank or public holiday. Happy Boxing Day to our friends in British Commonwealth countries.

By Geethalakshmi, On - 2009-12-26

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