Boxing Day

Boxing Day History

Boxing Day is characterized by the exchange of Christmas gifts, donations to charity, and a special focus on giving aid to the less fortunate. The holiday is often associated with a variety of customs and activities, such as sports events, shopping, and spending time with friends and family.

The origins of Boxing Day are often linked to the tradition of wealthy British landowners giving out boxes filled with food, money, or other useful items to their servants and workers as a token of appreciation for their service during the year. It is important to note that in Sweden, the concept of a Boxing Day sale is not as widespread as in the United Kingdom, but Swedes have embraced some aspects of the holiday.

St. Stephen's Day, or Annandag Jul, is observed annually on December 26th. On this day, Swedes spend time with their loved ones and continue to enjoy the festive atmosphere, often visiting friends and family members. In recent years, some retailers in Sweden have adopted Boxing Day sales, so shopping may be an activity for some people. However, the main focus for most Swedes remains to be relaxation and quality time spent with family and friends, appreciating and extending the joyful spirit of the Christmas season.

Top facts about Boxing Day

• 26 December is also St Stephen’s Day; commemorating the first Christian martyr Saint Stephen. According to the Acts of the Apostles Stephen was a deacon accused of blasphemy for his teachings. He was stoned to death and is now venerated as a saint in the Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox churches.
• Boxing Day is one of the 6 bank holidays in the UK. The others are Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter, Whit Monday and the August Bank Holiday.
• In Sweden, it is typical for people to use Boxing Day to engage in outdoor activities, such as skiing, ice skating, and enjoying the winter scenery.
• Boxing Day became a public holiday in Sweden in the early 20th century. It is a day off for most people, and many businesses and stores remain closed or have reduced hours.

In the News and Trending in Sweden for Boxing Day

Boxing Day Top Things to Do

• Watch some sport! There is top-tier football and rugby throughout the weekend and in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa cricket Test matches begin. The King George VI Chase, a horse race at Kempton Park also runs; it is known as the 2nd most prestigious race in the calendar.
• In the UK, it is tradition to take a walk in the crisp winter air and enjoy the outdoors. If you happen to be in the UK try the Snowdonia range (Wales), the Lake District (northern England), the Peak District (the English Midlands) or just round the local streets. You’ve probably eaten a lot over the last few days, so maybe go easy.
• Consider taking a walk through national parks, forest trails, or around frozen lakes.
• If you are in or near the mountains in the north, skiing or snowboarding could be a fun activity for the day.