Boxing Day

The second day of Christmas…

• Traditionally, Boxing Day is the first day following Christmas, the 26th December.
• Boxing Day is a public holiday in many countries.
• The term ‘boxing’ in the word Boxing Day has no particular history but there are many theories.
• Boxing Day was originally the day when servants and tradesman were given gifts from their masters or employees, also called the Christmas Box.
• On Boxing Day, South Africa and Australia usually start a separate test cricket match.

Test Cricket on Boxing Day

• On Boxing Day there are normally big shop sales, most notably in Britain, Canada New Zealand, and Australia.
• Stampedes, injuries and sometimes deaths have occurred during Boxing Day sales.
• Many other sports matches start on Boxing Day, including a famous yacht race, football (soccer in Australia), and ice hockey tournaments.
• Although fox hunting is banned in the UK, it remains to be a popular sport on boxing day.
• Boxing Day is celebrated in many of the Commonwealth countries, as well as some not part of the Commonwealth.

Bibliography:
Boxing Day 25 December 2012, Wikipedia,
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day>