Name: Boxing Day in International
Start: 20241226T00:00:00+00:00
End: 20241226T23:59:59+00:00
Location: PLACE

How long until Boxing Day?
Boxing Day
Dates of Boxing Day around the world
2026 Various Dec 26 AnguillaSat, Dec 26National Holiday Antigua and BarbudaSat, Dec 26National Holiday ArubaSat, Dec 26National Holiday Australia Dec 26 ACTSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday New South WalesSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday Northern TerritorySat, Dec 26Regional Holiday QueenslandSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday TasmaniaSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday VictoriaSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday Western AustraliaSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday BahamasSat, Dec 26National Holiday BarbadosSat, Dec 26National Holiday BelizeSat, Dec 26National Holiday BermudaSat, Dec 26National Holiday Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaSat, Dec 26National Holiday BotswanaSat, Dec 26National Holiday British Virgin IslandsSat, Dec 26National Holiday Canada Dec 26 AlbertaSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday AlbertaSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday New BrunswickSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday Newfoundland and LabradorSat, Dec 26Government Holiday Nova ScotiaSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday OntarioSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday Cayman IslandsSat, Dec 26National Holiday Cook IslandsSat, Dec 26National Holiday CyprusSat, Dec 26National Holiday DominicaSat, Dec 26National Holiday EstoniaSat, Dec 26National Holiday EswatiniSat, Dec 26National Holiday Falkland IslandsSat, Dec 26National Holiday FijiSat, Dec 26National Holiday GhanaSat, Dec 26National Holiday GibraltarSat, Dec 26National Holiday GrenadaSat, Dec 26National Holiday GuernseySat, Dec 26National Holiday GuyanaSat, Dec 26National Holiday IndiaSat, Dec 26Regional Holiday Isle of ManSat, Dec 26National Holiday JamaicaSat, Dec 26National Holiday JerseySat, Dec 26National Holiday (additional day) KenyaSat, Dec 26National Holiday KiribatiSat, Dec 26National Holiday MalawiSat, Dec 26National Holiday MontserratSat, Dec 26National Holiday NamibiaSat, Dec 26National Holiday New ZealandSat, Dec 26National Holiday NigeriaSat, Dec 26National Holiday Papua New GuineaSat, Dec 26National Holiday RwandaSat, Dec 26National Holiday Saint Kitts and NevisSat, Dec 26National Holiday Saint LuciaSat, Dec 26National Holiday Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSat, Dec 26National Holiday SamoaSat, Dec 26National Holiday Sierra LeoneSat, Dec 26National Holiday Solomon IslandsSat, Dec 26National Holiday South AfricaSat, Dec 26National Holiday TanzaniaSat, Dec 26National Holiday TongaSat, Dec 26National Holiday Trinidad and TobagoSat, Dec 26National Holiday Turks and Caicos IslandsSat, Dec 26National Holiday TuvaluSat, Dec 26National Holiday UgandaSat, Dec 26National Holiday United KingdomSat, Dec 26National Holiday VanuatuSat, Dec 26National Holiday ZimbabweSat, Dec 26National Holiday 2025 Various Dec 26 AnguillaFri, Dec 26National Holiday Antigua and BarbudaFri, Dec 26National Holiday ArubaFri, Dec 26National Holiday Australia Dec 26 ACTFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday New South WalesFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday Northern TerritoryFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday QueenslandFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday TasmaniaFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday VictoriaFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday Western AustraliaFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday BahamasFri, Dec 26National Holiday BarbadosFri, Dec 26National Holiday BelizeFri, Dec 26National Holiday BermudaFri, Dec 26National Holiday Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaFri, Dec 26National Holiday BotswanaFri, Dec 26National Holiday British Virgin IslandsFri, Dec 26National Holiday Canada Dec 26 AlbertaFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday AlbertaFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday New BrunswickFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday Newfoundland and LabradorFri, Dec 26Government Holiday Nova ScotiaFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday OntarioFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday Cayman IslandsFri, Dec 26National Holiday Cook IslandsFri, Dec 26National Holiday CyprusFri, Dec 26National Holiday DominicaFri, Dec 26National Holiday EstoniaFri, Dec 26National Holiday EswatiniFri, Dec 26National Holiday Falkland IslandsFri, Dec 26National Holiday FijiFri, Dec 26National Holiday GhanaFri, Dec 26National Holiday GibraltarFri, Dec 26National Holiday GrenadaFri, Dec 26National Holiday GuernseyFri, Dec 26National Holiday GuyanaFri, Dec 26National Holiday IndiaFri, Dec 26Regional Holiday Isle of ManFri, Dec 26National Holiday JamaicaFri, Dec 26National Holiday JerseyFri, Dec 26National Holiday (additional day) KenyaFri, Dec 26National Holiday KiribatiFri, Dec 26National Holiday MalawiFri, Dec 26National Holiday MontserratFri, Dec 26National Holiday NamibiaFri, Dec 26National Holiday New ZealandFri, Dec 26National Holiday NigeriaFri, Dec 26National Holiday Papua New GuineaFri, Dec 26National Holiday RwandaFri, Dec 26National Holiday Saint Kitts and NevisFri, Dec 26National Holiday Saint LuciaFri, Dec 26National Holiday Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesFri, Dec 26National Holiday SamoaFri, Dec 26National Holiday Sierra LeoneFri, Dec 26National Holiday Solomon IslandsFri, Dec 26National Holiday South AfricaFri, Dec 26National Holiday TanzaniaFri, Dec 26National Holiday TongaFri, Dec 26National Holiday Trinidad and TobagoFri, Dec 26National Holiday Turks and Caicos IslandsFri, Dec 26National Holiday TuvaluFri, Dec 26National Holiday UgandaFri, Dec 26National Holiday United KingdomFri, Dec 26National Holiday VanuatuFri, Dec 26National Holiday ZimbabweFri, Dec 26National Holiday 2024 Various Dec 26 AnguillaThu, Dec 26National Holiday Antigua and BarbudaThu, Dec 26National Holiday ArubaThu, Dec 26National Holiday Australia Dec 26 ACTThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday New South WalesThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday Northern TerritoryThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday QueenslandThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday TasmaniaThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday VictoriaThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday Western AustraliaThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday BahamasThu, Dec 26National Holiday BarbadosThu, Dec 26National Holiday BelizeThu, Dec 26National Holiday BermudaThu, Dec 26National Holiday Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaThu, Dec 26National Holiday BotswanaThu, Dec 26National Holiday British Virgin IslandsThu, Dec 26National Holiday Canada Dec 26 AlbertaThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday AlbertaThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday New BrunswickThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday Newfoundland and LabradorThu, Dec 26Government Holiday Nova ScotiaThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday OntarioThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday Cayman IslandsThu, Dec 26National Holiday Cook IslandsThu, Dec 26National Holiday CyprusThu, Dec 26National Holiday DominicaThu, Dec 26National Holiday EstoniaThu, Dec 26National Holiday EswatiniThu, Dec 26National Holiday Falkland IslandsThu, Dec 26National Holiday FijiThu, Dec 26National Holiday GhanaThu, Dec 26National Holiday GibraltarThu, Dec 26National Holiday GrenadaThu, Dec 26National Holiday GuernseyThu, Dec 26National Holiday GuyanaThu, Dec 26National Holiday IndiaThu, Dec 26Regional Holiday Isle of ManThu, Dec 26National Holiday JamaicaThu, Dec 26National Holiday JerseyThu, Dec 26National Holiday (additional day) KenyaThu, Dec 26National Holiday KiribatiThu, Dec 26National Holiday MalawiThu, Dec 26National Holiday MontserratThu, Dec 26National Holiday NamibiaThu, Dec 26National Holiday New ZealandThu, Dec 26National Holiday NigeriaThu, Dec 26National Holiday Papua New GuineaThu, Dec 26National Holiday RwandaThu, Dec 26National Holiday Saint Kitts and NevisThu, Dec 26National Holiday Saint LuciaThu, Dec 26National Holiday Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesThu, Dec 26National Holiday SamoaThu, Dec 26National Holiday Sierra LeoneThu, Dec 26National Holiday Solomon IslandsThu, Dec 26National Holiday South AfricaThu, Dec 26National Holiday TanzaniaThu, Dec 26National Holiday TongaThu, Dec 26National Holiday Trinidad and TobagoThu, Dec 26National Holiday Turks and Caicos IslandsThu, Dec 26National Holiday TuvaluThu, Dec 26National Holiday UgandaThu, Dec 26National Holiday United KingdomThu, Dec 26National Holiday VanuatuThu, Dec 26National Holiday ZimbabweThu, Dec 26National Holiday 2023 Various Dec 26 AnguillaTue, Dec 26National Holiday Antigua and BarbudaTue, Dec 26National Holiday ArubaTue, Dec 26National Holiday Australia Dec 26 ACTTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday New South WalesTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday Northern TerritoryTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday QueenslandTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday TasmaniaTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday VictoriaTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday Western AustraliaTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday BahamasTue, Dec 26National Holiday BarbadosTue, Dec 26National Holiday BelizeTue, Dec 26National Holiday BermudaTue, Dec 26National Holiday Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaTue, Dec 26National Holiday BotswanaTue, Dec 26National Holiday British Virgin IslandsTue, Dec 26National Holiday Canada Dec 26 AlbertaTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday AlbertaTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday New BrunswickTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday Newfoundland and LabradorTue, Dec 26Government Holiday Nova ScotiaTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday OntarioTue, Dec 26Regional Holiday Cayman IslandsTue, Dec 26National Holiday Cook IslandsTue, Dec 26National Holiday CyprusTue, Dec 26National Holiday DominicaTue, Dec 26National Holiday EstoniaTue, Dec 26National Holiday EswatiniTue, Dec 26National Holiday Falkland IslandsTue, Dec 26National Holiday FijiTue, Dec 26National Holiday GhanaTue, Dec 26National Holiday GibraltarTue, Dec 26National Holiday GrenadaTue, Dec 26National Holiday GuernseyTue, Dec 26National Holiday GuyanaTue, Dec 26National Holiday Isle of ManTue, Dec 26National Holiday JamaicaTue, Dec 26National Holiday JerseyTue, Dec 26National Holiday (additional day) KenyaTue, Dec 26National Holiday KiribatiTue, Dec 26National Holiday MalawiTue, Dec 26National Holiday MontserratTue, Dec 26National Holiday NamibiaTue, Dec 26National Holiday New ZealandTue, Dec 26National Holiday NigeriaTue, Dec 26National Holiday Papua New GuineaTue, Dec 26National Holiday RwandaTue, Dec 26National Holiday Saint Kitts and NevisTue, Dec 26National Holiday Saint LuciaTue, Dec 26National Holiday Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesTue, Dec 26National Holiday SamoaTue, Dec 26National Holiday Sierra LeoneTue, Dec 26National Holiday Solomon IslandsTue, Dec 26National Holiday South AfricaTue, Dec 26National Holiday TanzaniaTue, Dec 26National Holiday TongaTue, Dec 26National Holiday Trinidad and TobagoTue, Dec 26National Holiday Turks and Caicos IslandsTue, Dec 26National Holiday TuvaluTue, Dec 26National Holiday UgandaTue, Dec 26National Holiday United KingdomTue, Dec 26National Holiday VanuatuTue, Dec 26National Holiday ZimbabweTue, Dec 26National Holiday 2022 Various Dec 26, Dec 27 AnguillaMon, Dec 26National Holiday Antigua and BarbudaMon, Dec 26National Holiday ArubaMon, Dec 26National Holiday Australia Dec 26 ACTMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday New South WalesMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday Northern TerritoryMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday QueenslandMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday TasmaniaMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday VictoriaMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday Western AustraliaMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday BahamasTue, Dec 27National Holiday (additional day) BarbadosMon, Dec 26National Holiday BelizeMon, Dec 26National Holiday BermudaTue, Dec 27National Holiday Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaMon, Dec 26National Holiday BotswanaMon, Dec 26National Holiday British Virgin IslandsMon, Dec 26National Holiday Canada Dec 26 AlbertaMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday Newfoundland and LabradorMon, Dec 26Government Holiday NunavutMon, Dec 26Government Holiday OntarioMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday Cayman IslandsTue, Dec 27National Holiday (in lieu) Cook IslandsMon, Dec 26National Holiday CyprusMon, Dec 26National Holiday DominicaTue, Dec 27National Holiday (in lieu) EstoniaMon, Dec 26National Holiday EswatiniMon, Dec 26National Holiday Falkland IslandsTue, Dec 27National Holiday FijiTue, Dec 27National Holiday (in lieu) GhanaMon, Dec 26National Holiday GibraltarTue, Dec 27National Holiday (in lieu) GrenadaMon, Dec 26National Holiday GuernseyMon, Dec 26National Holiday GuyanaMon, Dec 26National Holiday IndiaMon, Dec 26Regional Holiday Isle of ManMon, Dec 26National Holiday JamaicaTue, Dec 27National Holiday (in lieu) JerseyMon, Dec 26National Holiday KenyaMon, Dec 26National Holiday KiribatiTue, Dec 27National Holiday LesothoMon, Dec 26National Holiday MalawiTue, Dec 27National Holiday (in lieu) MontserratMon, Dec 26National Holiday NamibiaMon, Dec 26National Holiday New ZealandMon, Dec 26National Holiday NigeriaMon, Dec 26National Holiday (additional day) Papua New GuineaMon, Dec 26National Holiday RwandaMon, Dec 26National Holiday Saint Kitts and Nevis Dec 26, Dec 27 Saint Kitts and NevisTue, Dec 27National Holiday (in lieu) Saint Kitts and NevisMon, Dec 26National Holiday Saint LuciaTue, Dec 27National Holiday (in lieu) Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesMon, Dec 26National Holiday SamoaMon, Dec 26National Holiday Sierra LeoneMon, Dec 26National Holiday Solomon IslandsTue, Dec 27National Holiday South AfricaMon, Dec 26National Holiday TanzaniaMon, Dec 26National Holiday TongaMon, Dec 26National Holiday Trinidad and TobagoTue, Dec 27National Holiday (in lieu) Turks and Caicos IslandsTue, Dec 27National Holiday (in lieu) TuvaluMon, Dec 26National Holiday UgandaMon, Dec 26National Holiday United KingdomMon, Dec 26National Holiday VanuatuMon, Dec 26National Holiday ZimbabweMon, Dec 26National Holiday
Summary
The second day of Christmas is known as Boxing Day or St. Stephens Day. St Stephen was the first Christian martyr.
Which countries observe Boxing Day in 2024?

Related holidays
St. Stephen's Day

When is Boxing Day?

This public holiday is celebrated on December 26th in several countries as part of the Christmas holidays.

Typically it will be moved and celebrated on the next working day if December 26th is a Saturday or Sunday.

Traditions of Boxing Day

It has been said that the name of Boxing Day comes from people getting rid of empty boxes from presents after Christmas day. While a beguiling notion, the tradition dates back to England in the middle ages, though the exact origin is debatable.

The name certainly has stronger ties to the Victorian era: it was first included in the Oxford English Dictionary in the 1830s and became a bank holiday in 1871.

One theory is that it comes from the fact that servants were given their presents in boxes on this day, the 26th being the first working day after Christmas day. This tradition of giving gifts for service extended beyond servants to tradesmen, such as milkmen, butchers, etc.

Samuel Pepys mentions the practice in a diary entry from December 19th 1663: "Thence by coach to my shoemaker’s and paid all there, and gave something to the boys’ box against Christmas."

Another popular theory is that it is named after the custom of priests opening alms boxes in churches after Christmas. These held money that had been donated to the poor and needy in the run-up to Christmas. Some churches still open these boxes on Boxing Day.

Boxing day is not a tradition in the United States, so that indicates that December 26th didn't become observed as such until the late 18th century, otherwise, it would have been imported to the Americas by settlers from England.

United Kingdom

Boxing Day has been a Bank Holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland since 1871. Having this status during the height of the British Empire explains why this holiday is still celebrated in many Commonwealth countries.

Hunts were a Boxing Day tradition but the 2004 ban on foxhunting put an end to all that. However, many people still regularly turn out to support hunting. Certain modified forms of hunting foxes with hounds are still within the law and several Boxing Day meets take place every year.

Boxing Day is also a time when the British show their eccentricity by taking part in all kinds of silly activities. These include bizarre traditions such as swimming the icy cold English Channel, fun runs and charity events.

St. Stephen's Day

In non-Commonwealth countries, the day is more commonly referred to as St Stephen's Day or the Feast of Stephen as mentioned in the carol 'Good King Wenceslas'.

Boxing Day around the world in 2024

When is Boxing Day?

Traditions of Boxing Day

United Kingdom

St. Stephen's Day

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