What is Boxing Day? Here's what to know about the underrated shopping holiday (2024)

Our readers are probably experts at Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, but what about Boxing Day? The black sheep shopping holiday actually boasts some impressive post-Christmas deals and we have the inside scoop on everything you need to know to bag the best bargains ahead of 2024. Whether you want to spend holiday gift cards or even exchange some Christmas gifts for something more your style, Boxing Day is the day to shop and save before New Year's Eve.

What is Boxing Day?

Boxing Day is a centuries-old holiday with roots dating back as early as 1663. Today, Boxing Day has become a second day to celebrate Christmas in many parts of the world. It has also become a major shopping holiday, with plenty of major retailers offering after-Christmas deals and sales. Boxing Day sales have become so big, in fact, that many discounts are equivalent to those seen on Black Friday—making it a great time to use any gift cards or cash received on Christmas.

5 best Boxing Day sales to shop now

When is Boxing Day 2023?

This year, Boxing Day falls on Tuesday, December 26. The annual holiday is observed on the day immediately after Christmas. In many areas of the world—most notably the United Kingdom and former and current British colonies—Boxing Day, or second Christmas Day, is a public holiday.

Why is it called Boxing Day?

The name originally came about because of the tradition of giving boxes filled with small gifts and food to servants and tradespeople on the day after Christmas. In history, tradespeople would typically work on December 25 and celebrate with their families on December 26 with the boxes and gifts given to them by their employers—thus the day became known as Boxing Day, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. The holiday is also sometimes referred to as St. Stephen's Day, which is the official name of the December 26th holiday in Ireland.

What do people do on Boxing Day?

While Boxing Day started as a day to exchange Christmas boxes, it has now become one of the biggest shopping days in December. People across the globe spend gift cards, shop for after-Christmas deals and even head out to return or exchange gifts on Boxing Day.

What's better: Boxing Day deals or Black Friday deals?

Black Friday may be the most well-known shopping holiday of the year, but Boxing Day deals are very similar. Similar to Black Friday, you'll be able to nab incredible savings on smart TVs, tech, mattresses, kitchen appliances, and more on Boxing Day. Boxing Day is also your best chance to save before the New Year as it's the final shopping event of 2023. Plus, with many retailers preparing to unveil new inventory in early January, prices are often slashed on this year's products—so Boxing Day sales are that much better.

When do Boxing Day sales start?

Boxing Day sales are here! We saw some of the first Boxing Day sales drop just before Christmas and even more deals are expected to go live early on Tuesday, December 26. Most Boxing Day sales last just 24 hours, however some will continue through the week.

How long do Boxing Day sales last?

Most Boxing Day sales typically last just 24 hours starting on Tuesday, December 26. Some, however, will continue through the week with similar end-of-year markdowns expected to start popping up on Sunday, December 31. As always, we suggest shopping early to ensure you get the products you need at the price you want.

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.