Blog
Home » Holidays Australia » Boxing Day

Boxing Day

Boxing Day is public holiday that is celebrated throughout all of Australia (and most other parts of the world too!). It is the day that follows Christmas. Most families use Boxing Day to relax from the holiday festivities. Feeling full from the Christmas meal and just lounging around, enjoy each others' company. Some families use Boxing Day to mark the last day of their Christmas holidays. But, for those who are ready for more fun, there's a bunch of activities that take place on Boxing Day.

Upcoming Dates For Boxing Day

Boxing Day is always December 26th, the day after Christmas. However, that means it can fall on any day of the week! So, here are the upcoming dates to help you plan for your Christmas holidays:

  • Tuesday, December 26, 2017
  • Wednesday, December 26, 2018
  • Thursday, December 26, 2019
  • Saturday, December 26, 2020
  • Sunday, December 26, 2021
  • Monday, December 26, 2022
  • Tuesday, December 26, 2023
  • Thursday, December 26, 2024
  • Friday, December 26, 2025

Where Is Boxing Day Considered A Holiday?

It is considered a public holiday throughout all of Australia. Government buildings and educational facilities will be always closed on Boxing Day. Although there are areas that prefer retail stores are closed, many stores are open on Boxing Day. In fact, those stores often have great sales to get rid of any left over Christmas stock. So if you're not worn out from the holidays, add a day of discount shopping to your list. Public transportation isn't available in many places, so you may have to plan for alternate transportation. It's also a good chance to return the Christmas presents that didn't fit or you don't want. It's better to tackle that task right away! The longer you wait, the more likely you are to forget! You may find something you can't pass up during the Boxing Day sales at your local retail store. There are other stores, like financial institutions that aren't going to be open. So, no business can be taken care of on Boxing Day, that's for sure!

Festivities & Events During Boxing Day

There are many sporting events that take place on Boxing Day. For instance, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race starts on Boxing Day. The race can take up to a week to complete. The shortest finish time in history was a mere 2 days. It all depends on who is racing and the weather conditions. There is also a cricket match that takes places in Boxing Day. It's on the Melbourne Cricket Ground, observed by many. Many people spend Boxing Day traveling home from their Christmas holiday.

A Brief History Of Boxing Day

Boxing Day is an important part of every holiday calendar. It was originally to celebrates the people. Employers would give food to their employees. Rich folk would give old clothing away. It was a time of giving to the less fortunate. Often, these gifts were left in boxes, which is how it started being called Boxing Day. Although that is simply speculation. No one really knows why it's called Boxing Day.