Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries in the British Commonwealth on December 26, the day after Christmas.http://ipl2server-2.ischool.drexel.edu/div/cquest/europe/ukholiday.html Traditionally, the celebration of Boxing Day included giving money or other donations to the needy, charitable organizations, or people employed in service jobs, such as letter carriers.http://ipl2server-2.ischool.drexel.edu/div/cquest/europe/ukholiday.html During the holiday season, individuals may follow the traditional spirit of Boxing Day by donating their time, energy, or money to charitable organizations such as food banks, or provide them to underprivileged children or a needy relative.http://ipl2server-2.ischool.drexel.edu/div/cquest/europe/ukholiday.html

The day is also sometimes referred to as the Feast of St. Stephen. St. Stephen was an early deacon in the Christian church and the first of the disciples of Jesus to be martyred.http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=137

Boxing Day traces its origins to the European Middle Ages, approximately 400-1500 CE. It is thought that the nobility needed their servants to work Christmas Day in order to hold their celebrations, so they gave them the day after Christmas off as a holiday. The nobles would give their servants a box with presents and bonuses in it, hence the holiday's name. This aspect of the holiday continues with people giving gifts and bonuses to people who work in service related jobs.http://harvest.cals.ncsu.edu/diversity/index.cfm?pageID=744&changemonth=&CalendarID=712

Another source of the holiday and its name can be traced to the ninth century CE. At that time, churches in England began opening up their alms boxes on the day after Christmas and distributing the money that was collected in them over the year to the needy.http://harvest.cals.ncsu.edu/diversity/index.cfm?pageID=744&changemonth=&CalendarID=712

Traditionally, Boxing Day is a day for donating time or money to charitable organizations or those in need, including relatives. Banks and government offices are closed on Boxing Day, and traditionally small businesses are closed too. Currently, since the holiday falls on the day after Christmas, many people spend it shopping for after-Christmas bargains or returning unwanted gifts.http://ipl2server-2.ischool.drexel.edu/div/cquest/europe/ukholiday.html Boxing Day has become a shopping day similar to Black Friday in the United States.