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Boxing Day is observed on Dec. 26 as a national holiday in Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Boxing Day dates back more than 800 years. Traditionally, it is the day when each church opens its alms box and distributes the contributions to the poor.
In later years, servants were required to work on Christmas Day, but were excused from working on the following day. So employees typically gave their servants Christmas boxes on the 26th -- Boxing Day. Today, it remains customary to present Christmas gratuities on the 26th.
The Woodlands Junior School in Kent, England has more information on the celebration of Boxing Day.
