Today many sovereign states, formerly of the British Empire, celebrate Boxing Day, which falls annually on St. Stephen's day, December 26th.
The origins of Boxing Day are cloudy, although the traditions of Boxing Day tend to lead back to the common theme of class delineation.
One of the explanations for the name include the obligation of the lord of a manor being required to supply his serfs with certain durable goods; cloth, kitchenware and leather, etc. because they worked for him. The goods were gathered in boxes and distributed the day after Christmas because everyone had conveniently come to the manor house for the Christmas celebration.
Another theory suggests that the servants in the large houses were required to work on Christmas Day, and the next day they would receive gifts from the gentry and be allowed to visit their families with gifts. The gifts were also packaged in boxes and called Christmas boxes.
Other proposals for the origin of the name are connected to the alms box at the church which would be opened and distributed to the poor on the day after Christmas, or to a box of money sent with a merchant vessel. If the voyage was profitable, the money in the box was given to the poor.
Gifts were given to those of lesser status on Boxing Day, and whether they were obligatory or bonuses or distributions from the poor box, the recipients were not to make the offer of a gift in return, to do so would imply that the two persons were social equals.
The song "Good King Wenseslas" tells of the King giving gifts to the poor man gathering fuel on St. Stephen's feast day.
Boxing Day has evolved; the 26th of December is a legal holiday in Australia and some parts of Canada, as well as other parts of the Commonwealth. It is now celebrated with sporting events and "casual" feasting on the remains of Christmas dinner.
Recently, shopping excursions similar to Black Friday events in the U.S., and the day when merchants process most of their returns for Christmas gifts that are not quite right seems to be growing in popularity. Additionally, it is known as a good day to swim the English Channel (brrrr) or other "creative" sporting events.
What do you have planned for the day after Christmas?