Boxing Day history, why we celebrate it and whether the rest of the world celebrates it too

Boxing Day is a day of traditions in the UK. The day after Christmas is a day for leftover sandwiches, shopping the sales and football fixtures.

Funnily enough, the history of Boxing Day has nothing to do with the sport of boxing and actually goes back to the Victorians. The day reportedly originated from when people who were servants would receive a day off and be able to go home to their relatives.

On these days - starting back in the 18th century - the servants would give Christmas boxes to their families. The servants themselves would also receive special Christmas boxes from their masters.

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Then there is the religious reasons for the days name too. Throughout the year, the church would collect money from their churchgoers in an alms box - also known as poor box.

These boxes would be opened up at Christmas and the collections handed out on the next day to the poor. By distributing the contents from the box the moniker of Boxing Day is also alleged to have derived.

Do other countries celebrate Boxing Day?

The day started in the UK and is not that popular around the world. However, there are many British Commonwealth countries that celebrate Boxing Day like Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

In many European countries, December 26, is Saint Stephen's Day and is celebrated as a second day of Christmas instead of Boxing Day.