MAIN Home Life Holidays Boxing Day

Boxing Day, also known as St. Stephen's Day or Wren's Day, began as one of the nicest traditions of the holiday season.

This ancient celebration was modernized when the Victorian gentry set aside a day for servants to return home to their families, and to give gifts and money to the poor. This spirit of sharing continues today... with some sporting events and shopping added!

Today, Boxing Day sales are the highlight of the day, and a great way to catch some great bargains at after Christmas sales as shops clear out excess merchandise that remain from the Christmas rush.

If you live in Canada, the UK, Australia...or any of the Commonwealth countries, leave the boxing gloves home and be prepared for crowds of crazed shoppers. In the UK, by some accounts, one out of every twenty people in Great Britain will be in a store waiting in a queue with you.

London, of course, is a prime spot for Boxing Day bargains with sales at Fortnum and Mason, Selfridges, and Harrods leading the way. Not to be outdone, the online version of Boxing Day has been referred to as Cyber Boxing Day, and in the UK especially, Boxing Day remains one of the busiest online shopping days of the year ...

More about Boxiing Day sales & traditions around the Web:

Happy Boxing Day - A little history mixed with current information from Elaine - who shares her own family traditions.

Boxing Day - The complete story from Wkipedia including background history, modern customs and the annual shopping frenzy with related references and resources.

Myths or Facts on Boxing Day - A charming and complete coverage of the mix of tales that make up the history of Boxing Day from an island near Belize... visit the rest of the site if you are in need of some warm weather thoughts!.

Info Please - Boxing Day - Nicely formatted information with links to British bank holidays - because Boxing Day is one!

Kidz World Explains Boxing Day - A bit busy and with sound effects that are hopefully not meant to sound like whoopi cushions, the article on Boxing Day is good... and you'll be chuckling at the rest.

How to Celebrate Boxing Day - From eHow.com, with visitor suggestions for keeping it relaxed and low-key...except for the shopping, of course.

Boxing Day E-Cards - Surprise your friends with a special card for boxing day in their e-mail inbox.

also see in Holidays -> Junkanoo