Every year, December 26 marks the famous Boxing Day. Much more than a bargain hunt for the avid shopper, Boxing Day is a statutory holiday by labor standards. 

While for many people, December 26 conjures up images of spectacular discounts and endless queues in front of stores, its origins go much deeper and are linked to social and humanitarian traditions. How times have changed!

There are many theories as to the origins of Boxing Day, but the one that comes up most often is that the name comes from the tradition of the “Christmas box”.

In Victorian England in the 19th century, members of British high society celebrated Christmas in style, surrounded by their servants, who worked tirelessly to keep their employers comfortable. The following day, December 26, was a well-deserved day of rest for these servants.

On this day, their employers would present them with boxes containing gifts, food and sometimes money, as a token of appreciation for their year-long service. These boxes were also given to shopkeepers and the poor, perpetuating a tradition of sharing and generosity.

Some believe that Boxing Day has its origins in a post-Christmas religious custom, when churches placed boxes outside their doors to collect money for the needy.

This theory stems from the fact that December 26 was the feast of St. Stephen, an important day for Christians. Considered the first Christian martyr, Saint Stephen is often associated with charity. This symbolism would therefore have reinforced the idea of giving to the less fortunate on this particular day.

An evolution towards consumerism
With industrialization and the rise of commerce in the 20th century, Boxing Day gradually lost its humanitarian side to become a commercial event.

In the 1950s, stores began to use the day to clear their end-of-year stocks, attracting bargain-hungry consumers.

Today, Boxing Day has become synonymous with monster sales and frenzied shopping in many countries, including Canada, Australia and England. While some regret this transformation, others see it as a continuation of sharing, but this time between retailers and consumers.

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