SARASOTA – Boxing Day is celebrated the day after Christmas, and there’s not a punch thrown.
It’s not clear where the name comes from, but Historians believe Boxing day originated in the Victorian days. Churches and wealthy individuals would box up toys and money to distribute to the poor.
And, back in the day, servants weren’t able to take Christmas off, so the next day would be their holiday.
In countries like the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Boxing Day is a public and bank holiday. So, if it falls on a weekend, the following Monday and Tuesday are observed.
Since it’s a holiday, some British spots on the Suncoast are closed, but 4&20 Pasty Company remain open.
“We’re open for boxing day because a lot of people may need,” Andrew Lee said. “Or are still looking for Christmas stuff. And well, we just kind of want to give it to them.”
Today, people celebrate by shopping the post-Christmas sales, watching sports, and winding down with the family after Christmas.
Owner of Champions Pub, Tony Middlemiss, reminisces how he celebrated with his family in England.
“Going back to when even I was a child,” Tony Middlemiss said. “People who had extra toys used to box them up and give them to charities the next day.”
For SNN sales manager from England, James Maslen, the holiday is mainly just a memory.
“Boxing day was sort of a day you just unwound after Christmas,” James Maslen said. “And we’d just spent a great time together, my brothers, my grandparents, and it was just great family time.”
But for others, it’s ultimately a day for the men to watch their sports team. At Champions Pub, Boxing Day is celebrated by watching soccer.
“In England, it’s a big sports day,” Middlemiss said.
“It’s a tradition in England where we just go out,” Craig Kobierski said. “All the lads, we get a pub, we watch the football, and we all – as we say in England – we get smashed, but in America it means we get drunk.”
“Today is just a big soccer day in England,” Middlemiss said. “And we are a big soccer bar, so people just come in to watch soccer. And that’s my team scoring!”
