The day after Christmas, on December 26, Canadians observe Boxing Day. Canada, the United Kingdom, and other British Commonwealth countries have the highest rates of Boxing Day celebrations.
What is Boxing Day?
Every year on December 26th, people worldwide celebrate Boxing Day. The history of why December 26 is a holiday for the working class and in the humble professions is unclear. Affluent business owners would hand their employees and crew out Christmas leftovers and other gifts. The term "box holiday" comes from the custom of presenting food and presents in a box on this special occasion.
The original purpose of the celebration was to raise money for the poor. Despite the uncertainty surrounding its beginnings, the holiday is widely celebrated worldwide as a time for loved ones to reunite with one another and revel in the season once more.
What is the History of Boxing Day?
The United Kingdom and several other countries (including Canada), formerly part of the British Empire, celebrate Boxing Day as a national holiday. This holiday's name has a murky past that may or may not have any connection to the event itself. The lord of the manor in feudal Britain would give his tenants a box of necessities like food and clothing each year as "payment" for their labor on his land the previous year.
The day following Christmas was a common time for the food and clothes distribution. In modern times, the day after Christmas is when bosses traditionally give their employees a small box with money or food inside. Some Canadians still present gratuities to service providers.
There are also tales of churchgoers giving alms out of the collection boxes on Christmas Day and slaves being given a box of leftovers to carry home to their families. This custom eventually gave rise to the Christmas baskets now given out by some companies to their staff at the end of the year.
How Do Canadians Celebrate Boxing Day?
Shopping
Canada's Boxing Day has become its country's equivalent of the United States' Black Friday. In addition to the stores opening early on Boxing Day, there are various sales and discounts. If you've been eyeing that new refrigerator or flat-screen TV, Boxing Day is the day to go out and get it.
Christmas foods
In Canada, eating Christmas dinner leftovers is a highlight of the Boxing Day holiday. Boxing Day Brunch is a popular tradition where people gather to consume the leftovers from Christmas Day.
Mumming
Mumming is a practice that has been around for a while in several parts of the world but is still widely practiced in Canada, especially in Newfoundland. Sometimes performed as part of the Twelve Days of Christmas, it takes the form of a folk play or a farce. People in Canada are known to dress up in outrageous costumes and pull pranks on their neighbors.
Sports
On Boxing Day, a lot of significant sporting events take place, and it's common for people to watch them on television. The global junior hockey championships of the International Ice Hockey Federation frequently begin on December 26. In this competition, the Canadian national team frequently does well. Major sports television networks also broadcast the Spengler Cup ice hockey competition in Davos, Switzerland.