Countdown to Boxing Day

Boxing Day falls on 26 December, the day after Christmas Day, and the countdown above shows exactly how long is left until it arrives. It is a public holiday across the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and much of the Commonwealth, though it is not observed in the United States.

For most people it now means two things at once: the largest sales day of the retail year, and a full calendar of sport. The quiet, leftover-eating version of the day and the queue-outside-at-six version coexist quite happily.

When is Boxing Day?

Boxing Day is always 26 December. When it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the UK and several other countries move the public holiday to the following weekday, so the bank holiday and the date itself can differ. See also the Christmas countdown and the Christmas Eve countdown, or measure any other interval with the time until calculator.

Where the name comes from

The most widely accepted explanation is the Christmas box: a gift of money, food or leftovers given to servants, tradespeople and the poor on the day after Christmas, once they had finished working through the holiday itself. Churches also kept alms boxes that were opened and distributed at this time of year. The connection to the sport of boxing is a coincidence of language, not of origin.

Sales and sport

• Retail: Boxing Day sales rival or exceed Black Friday in the UK, Canada and Australia, and now usually begin online on Christmas Day itself.
• Football: a full Premier League programme on or around 26 December is a fixture of the English season.
• Cricket: the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of the sport's biggest annual events.
• Racing: the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park in England.
• Ice hockey: the World Junior Championship traditionally opens on 26 December.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Boxing Day?

Boxing Day is always 26 December, the day after Christmas Day.

Why is it called Boxing Day?

It most likely comes from the Christmas box, a gift of money or food given to servants and tradespeople on the day after Christmas. It has nothing to do with the sport.

Which countries observe Boxing Day?

It is a public holiday in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa (as the Day of Goodwill) and much of the Commonwealth. The United States does not observe it.

What happens if Boxing Day falls on a weekend?

In the UK and several other countries the public holiday moves to the next available weekday, so the date and the bank holiday can fall apart.

Are Boxing Day sales bigger than Black Friday?

In the UK, Canada and Australia, Boxing Day has traditionally been the larger retail event, although Black Friday has closed much of the gap in recent years.