Today's answer
What is Boxing Day, exactly?
Boxing Day falls on 26 December, the day right after Christmas. The name most likely comes from the tradition of giving a "Christmas box" — a gift of money or goods — to servants, tradespeople and the poor on that day, a practice recorded in the UK as early as the 17th century. Today it's better known for post-Christmas sales, sports fixtures, and a second round of family visits.
Where is Boxing Day an official holiday?
Boxing Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and most Commonwealth countries. In the United States it isn't a federal holiday — 26 December is a normal working day unless an employer chooses to close. In Ireland it's known as St. Stephen's Day, and in South Africa as the Day of Goodwill, but the date is the same everywhere: 26 December.
Boxing Day date, 2024–2035
Because 26 December is fixed, only the weekday changes from year to year. When it lands on a Saturday or Sunday, many countries with Boxing Day as a public holiday shift the day off to the next working day instead.
| Year | Boxing Day (26 Dec) | Falls on a weekend? |
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Frequently asked questions
Is Boxing Day today?
Check the live answer at the top of this page — it updates automatically based on today's date. Boxing Day is always 26 December.
Is Boxing Day only celebrated in the UK?
No. It's a public holiday across most of the Commonwealth — including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland (as St. Stephen's Day) — though not in the United States.
Why is it called Boxing Day?
The most widely accepted explanation is that it comes from "Christmas boxes" — gifts of money or goods traditionally given to servants and tradespeople on the day after Christmas, a practice dating back centuries in Britain.
Does Boxing Day move if it falls on a weekend?
The date itself never moves — it's always 26 December. But in several countries, if the public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the day off is shifted to the following Monday or Tuesday instead.
Where can I check if today is Christmas?
Head back to the homepage of isitchristmastoday.com for the live YES or NO answer, or visit howlonguntilchristmas.com for a full second-by-second countdown.