A day after Christmas, or more precisely, a weekday after Christmas, is popularly known as Boxing Day. Currently, it is a day when you get the most significant discounts at stores near you if you live in Canada, the United Kingdom or some other commonwealth country. It is not a worldwide celebration but more of a developed commonwealth country celebration, which can afford to give such sales.

In less developed countries, it is still celebrated the way it should be, the way it has been celebrated since the beginning, and the beginning means the early 1500 A.D.

A Day Where You Get The Biggest Discount At The Stores Starting From Morning

The Origin

In the early days,  Christmas was less shopping and more spending time with family kind of festival. Compared to what you see today, Christmas was much calmer back then. So, people used to leave work early or close their shop's midday to reach home early. With such importance given to families, masters often let their servants go off to their families in the evening of 25th December till 27th December with a gift box. This gift box would contain a bonus, some gifts or, at times, some leftover food. This was given to them as gratuity for their work throughout the year. Servants weren't the only ones who got a gift box on the twenty-sixth; post-men and errand boys were also given a gift box.

This day is also known as Saint Stephen's Day. He was the first recorded martyr for Christianity. This day is celebrated with a feast in remembrance.

Earlier, Boxing Day Was Meant To Be Given To Servants By Masters As A Symbol Of Gratuity

What Now?

Well, now the day is celebrated as a holiday where the stores radically reduce the price of many commodities. There is now less gift giving and more gift taking, where people get leaves from their offices instead of a gift box. Doesn't a gift box sound much better?

Bank employees have it even better, as they get other holidays if either Christmas or Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, in which case the following Monday or Monday and Tuesday are bank holidays. Suppose you're one of those bank employees; congratulations on being the lucky one.

Now, The Day Is Celebrated As A Holiday Where The Stores Radically Reduce The Prices Of Different Items.

What About You?

This is a day to give gifts, and that is what it should be. Some people are alone or are working under a Scrooge who will not let them enjoy Christmas and boxing day. You may have a friend in such a predicament, and you can be their hero.

You can buy a few gifts from the sale and give them to someone who needs it. Go to any mall; you'll see people who cannot afford something. Go to them and provide them with a gift. This will make their day and even yours.