What do Americans call the day after Christmas day?
The day after Christmas (December 26th) doesn't have a universally recognized special name in America, but it's often just called the "day after Christmas," a travel day, or the start of post-holiday sales, though some people familiar with British traditions might call it Boxing Day, which involves shopping and leftover feasts, but it's not a public holiday there.
What do they call the day after Christmas in America?
In Massachusetts, US, Governor William F. Weld declared in 1996 that every 26 December is Boxing Day, in response to the efforts of a coalition of British citizens to "transport the English tradition to the United States", but not an employee holiday. The holiday is otherwise not widely celebrated in the United States.
Boxing Day is celebrated in the U.K. on Dec. 26, the day after Christmas every year. Despite the name, the holiday has nothing to do with the sport of boxing or returning boxes or presents.
Americans may finally get a day off on Dec. 26, but it's not for celebrating Boxing Day. Shoppers in the UK and Canada treat the day after Christmas like a holiday of its own, full of sales, sports and celebrations that have not quite crossed over to Alabama.
For 2024, Boxing Day falls on Thursday, Dec. 26. The holiday always falls on the day after Christmas Day unless the 26th happens to be a Saturday or Sunday. In that case, the holiday is observed on the following Monday.
No, Boxing Day isn't only British; it's a holiday in many Commonwealth nations like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, stemming from British tradition, but many European countries celebrate December 26th as St. Stephen's Day with different customs, while the U.S. generally doesn't observe it, though some know it from UK/Canadian culture.
Instead, Germans simply talk about der zweite Weihnachtstag or der 26. Dezember, and they mean something much quieter and more reflective than the British Boxing Day.
What countries call the day after Christmas Boxing Day?
Every year on December 26th, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries celebrate Boxing Day. This annual custom began in the United Kingdom in the 19th century under Queen Victoria. South Africa renamed the holiday to Day of Goodwill in 1994.
Boxing Day, December 26th, gets its name from Victorian Britain's tradition of wealthy employers giving servants "Christmas boxes" of gifts, money, or leftover food as thanks for their year-round service, as servants worked Christmas Day and got the 26th off to visit their own families. Another theory links it to church alms boxes, which collected donations during Advent and were opened on December 26th (St. Stephen's Day) to distribute to the poor.
How is Boxing Day celebrated today? Modern Boxing Day celebrations blend old customs with contemporary habits. In countries where the holiday is observed, it often includes gift exchanges, shopping trips, charitable acts, and enjoying Christmas leftovers with family and friends. Sports play a major role as well.
While Dec. 26, the day after Christmas, has been declared a federal holiday in 2025, it is not a permanent addition to the holiday schedule. To designate a day as a federal holiday in perpetuity, legislation must pass through Congress and be signed into law by the president.
What do they call the day after Christmas in Canada?
December 26 = Boxing Day in Canada. "Celebrated a day after Christmas, Boxing day, despite what the name suggests has nothing to do with the sport. The holiday which began as a day to give gifts to the poor is now celebrated as a 'shopping holiday'.
Why do Canadians call the day after Christmas Boxing Day?
The origins of Boxing Day are rooted in historical gift-giving and charity traditions dating back centuries. The “boxing” refers to Christmas boxes, which are containers filled with money, leftover food, or other gifts that were traditionally given to servants, tradespeople, and those in need.
The answer to both these questions is yes, but “holiday season” is a North American term that refers to the period of time from Thanksgiving until the New Year.
December 26. The feast of Saint Stephen, also known as boxing day. And a day of mummery. December 26, the day after Christmas, is the Feast of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
What do Australians call the day after Christmas day?
The day after Christmas is often referred to as Boxing Day in many parts of the world, particularly in countries like Britain, Australia, and Canada. This unique holiday has a rich history that intertwines tradition with generosity.
🎁 After Christmas Day festivities, Germans observe Zweiter Weihnachtstag (or Boxing Day), the 2nd Christmas Day. It's a quiet, business-closed day for rest, reflection, connecting with family, and enjoying leftovers.
In parts of Europe, such as Catalonia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Romania, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, and the Republic of Ireland, 26 December is Saint Stephen's Day, which is considered the second day of Christmas.
What do they call the day after Christmas in England?
Boxing Day is celebrated in the U.K. on Dec. 26, the day after Christmas every year. Despite the name, the holiday has nothing to do with the sport of boxing or returning boxes or presents.
Frohe Weihnachten is the classic for Merry Christmas in German. It is short, spot on and easy to learn — even for beginners. Frohe means joyful and Weihnachten of course translates to Christmas. Nothing could describe this magical time of the year with all its treats, decorations and stories better.
Candlemas is celebrated 40 days after Christmas. According to Leviticus 12, women should be purified 40 days after a son's birth (33 days after the boy's circumcision) and 80 days after a daughter's birth.
In England the day is known as Boxing Day. The boxes refer to those in which alms were given to charity in medieval times. In Ireland, it is also known as Wren Day due to an association between Christ and the wren.
Boxing Day food in the UK is all about using Christmas leftovers creatively, featuring hearty dishes like turkey curry, bubble & squeak, leftover pies, and gammon, alongside grazing options like cheese boards with pickles, sausage rolls, and festive brunches (Kedgeree, hash browns), with an emphasis on effortless, crowd-pleasing buffets and comfort food.
The 26 December also has religious connections and is celebrated as Saint Stephen's Day in Ireland and the Catalonia region of Spain. In some European countries - such as Hungary, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands - Boxing Day is celebrated as a second Christmas Day.
