Boxing Day

Ret's Word of the Day: Boxing Day
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Boxing Day

/ˈbɒksɪŋ deɪ/

(Pronounced: bok-sing day)
UK pronunciation   US pronunciation

Meaning: A public holiday celebrated on December 26 (the day after Christmas) in the UK and many Commonwealth countries, traditionally associated with giving gifts or money to servants, tradespeople, and the poor — now often marked by shopping sales, sports events, and family time.

Dialogue

  • Olivia: "What are you doing tomorrow? It's a holiday here."
  • James: "Yeah, Boxing Day! I'm heading to the sales for some bargains."
  • Olivia: "And watching the football match in the afternoon?"
  • James: "Of course — it's tradition!"

Etymology

"Boxing Day" refers to the Victorian-era custom of giving "Christmas boxes" — gifts of money, food, or goods — to servants, tradespeople, and the poor on December 26, as they often worked on Christmas Day. Another theory links it to church alms boxes opened and distributed to the needy on this date (also St. Stephen's Day). The name first appeared in print in the 1830s, with roots possibly tracing back further.

Audience

When to use: Commonly used to refer to the holiday itself in British English and Commonwealth countries. In conversation, it might describe post-Christmas sales ("Boxing Day deals") or traditions like sports. It's cultural rather than idiomatic, but widely recognized in international English, especially around Christmas.

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