Boxing Day Explained: Commonwealth Holiday for Gifts, Not Sport
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Boxing Day is a public holiday celebrated in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries on December 26.
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Theories on the origin of the name include boxes of employer gifts for workers and church alms boxes, not the sport.
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December 26 is also St. Stephen's Day.
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The U.S. does not observe Boxing Day as a national public holiday.
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Typical Boxing Day activities include family gatherings, meals, sports events, horse racing, and shopping.