Celebrate Boxing Day! No Gloves Necessary Chris Caggiano December 23, 2022 Australia, Europe, Holiday Travel, India, London Originally a British celebration, Boxing Day has spread across the globe and picked up more than a few traditions along the way. From Africa to Australia, the day after Christmas is marked by charity, festivity, and retail therapy. The origins of Boxing Day aren’t clear. It’s been suggested that it dates back to the Middle Ages, perhaps because of late Roman customs where ministers put out alms boxes the day after Christmas. Another potential origin is a British tradition where servants, errand boys, and other working class citizens were given boxed leftovers the day after Christmas feasts. Some cultures consider it the second day of Christmas. This is usually by countries that recognize December 26th as Saint Stephen’s Day, a holiday for the first Christian martyr. Ultimately, no matter how you celebrate it, Boxing Day is a worldwide tradition with centuries of history. If you’re looking to pop a cracker for the occasion, here are just a few travel destinations where you’ll be in good company. The U.K. Shopping is probably the first thing that comes to mind for many celebrants of Boxing Day. As on Black Friday in the U.S., throngs of U.K. residents line up on December 26th to get good deals from their favorite retailers. Other Boxing Day traditions in the U.K. are more sentimental. Family time is common, especially since it’s a that most people have off. They’ll eat leftovers, play board games, and watch a sports on TV. Many football and rugby leagues have Boxing Day matches. Last but not least, it’s traditional for Britons to go foxhunting on Boxing Day. The actual practice of hunting foxes has become controversial, so some modern hunting parties are only playacting. However, they’ll still dress up in the red-and-white uniforms and take out the hounds. Australia / New Zealand December is summertime for those down under, so Boxing Day celebrations involve a lot of sun. Families might head to the beach, fire up the grill for backyard barbecues, or check out the sales at local shopping malls. Sports are also quite big in Australia and New Zealand on Boxing Day. The annual Boxing Day Test is an international cricket match that takes place on December 26th and draws more than 100,000 fans every year. Another big spectator event is the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, which starts on December 26th and is televised for Australians and Kiwis alike. Canada If you enjoy a good holiday ham, Canada is the place to travel! Food is an essential part of both Christmas and Boxing Day traditions. It’s common for Canadian families to have lengthy brunches, lunches, and dinners on both days. Singles and friend groups might hit up the pub and have a pint. As with other countries, athletic events are also a popular Canadian Boxing Day pastime, though hockey is the sport of choice for Canadians. If you’d like to get off the couch yourself, consider signing up for something like the Boxing Day One Century Run, a marathon that’s been going strong for 100 years. India Boxing Day isn’t a huge holiday in India, but those who celebrate it follow many of the same traditions as other Commonwealth countries. There’s shopping, eating, watching sports, and spending time with loved ones. Cricket is the preferred sport of India, so many people will follow Australia’s Boxing Day Test, especially if their home team is playing in the match-ups. The Caribbean Boxing Day celebrations in the Caribbean aren’t like the ones found in Europe. Rather than being cozy winter holidays, they’re bright, loud, and colorful occasions more in line with New Orleans’s Mardi Gras or Rio’s Carnival. The biggest Boxing Day event is Junkanoo, a massive street parade held in the Bahamas. It takes place on December 26th and begins at midnight. Expect to see floats, musicians, marching bands, cultural performers, and more. Many participants will be in costume in hopes of winning prizes for the biggest and boldest looks, but if you’re just visiting, feel free to show up in a t-shirt. Other Boxing Day events in the Caribbean include the horse races of Barbados, the Gombey dance troupes of Bermuda, and the Maskanoo street festival of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Do you have any Boxing Day traditions? Tell us about them in the comments below!
