CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — On Dec. 26, most Americans are either headed back to work or enjoying what is left of their time off work, but in Great Britain and many other countries around the world, people are celebrating Boxing Day.
In countries that celebrate it, Boxing Day comes from a continuation of the gift-giving tradition of Christmas. Britannica says that the day was when servants, tradespeople and the poor were given their holiday gifts. However, the day's meaning has shifted its focus over the years more toward shopping and sporting events.
There's no concrete origin behind the name "Boxing Day," but some have speculated that the name comes from the boxes of gifts given to servants, who had to work for their employers on Christmas Day. This tradition of giving employees gifts has continued into the modern day but is typically done before Christmas instead of after.
So why don't we celebrate this holiday in the United States? While there's no firm answer to this either, USA Today says the holiday originated during Victorian times—between 1837 and 1901—at least 60 years after the U.S. had declared full independence from Britain. It could mean the U.S. may have just not cared for new British traditions.
In 1996, Massachusetts Governor William F. Weld declared the holiday would be recognized by the state after local "Brits" expressed interest in bringing the tradition stateside. However, it is not an employee holiday.
Countries with closer ties to Britain, like Canada and Australia, more widely celebrate Boxing Day. In addition to shopping, the holiday is frequently marked by special sporting events and devouring the leftovers of Christmas Day — much like Black Friday has become in the U.S.
