Boxing Day

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On the 26th of December, St Stephen’s Day in the Christian calendar, people in America go back to work. But in Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, they don’t. In these countries the 26th of December is a public holiday. It is called Boxing Day. This name has two possible origins. Some say it has this name because in the past English masters gave their servants a box with small presents or money on the 26th of December. Others say it has this name because churches had boxes for the poor. People put money in these boxes, and the churches opened them on the 26th of December and gave the money to the poor.