Boxing Day
| Boxing Day | |
|---|---|
Boxing Day crowds shopping at Toronto Eaton Centre | |
| Also called | Offering Day[1] |
| Observed by | Commonwealth nations |
| Type | Bank holiday, public holiday |
| Date | 26 December |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to |
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Boxing Day, also known as Offering Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December).[1] Boxing Day was once a day to donate gifts to those in need, but it has evolved to become a part of Christmas festivities. It originated in the United Kingdom and is celebrated in several Commonwealth nations. The attached bank holiday or public holiday may take place on 27 or 28 December if necessary to ensure it falls on a weekday. Boxing Day is also concurrent with the Christian festival Saint Stephen's Day.
In parts of Europe, such as east Spain, (Catalonia,Valencia and the Balearic Islands[2][3]), the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Slovakia,[4] Slovenia, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Romania, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Latvia and Ireland, 26 December is Saint Stephen's Day, which is considered the second day of Christmas.[5]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Robb1984was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Sant Esteve, les raons mil·lenàries d'una festa" [St. Stephens day, millenary explanations of a festivity]. vilaweb.cat (in Catalan). 27 December 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ^ "Esteve (sant)". Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana (in Catalan). 1987. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Druhý sviatok vianočný je aj dňom návštev" [The second day of Christmas is also the day of visits]. SME / MY Zvolen (in Slovak). 26 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- ^ Brown, Cameron (2006). Christmas Facts, Figures & Fun: Facts, Figures and Fun. Facts, Figures & Fun. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-904332-27-5.