Happy Boxing Day! Dec 26, 2021

December 26 isn"t just a day for Santa to put his feet up and sleep off all those mince pies. In many British Commonwealth countries, today is known as Boxing Day, a holiday that originated in the United Kingdom. There are a few conflicting theories about its origins, but it"s generally accepted that the name derives from the giving of "boxes" to lower classes on the day after Christmas. One thing is certain—it has nothing to do with pugilism, although it has primarily become a day dedicated to sporting events and shopping, much like the Friday after Thanksgiving in the US.

© Chris Gorman/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Dec 26, 2018Boxing Day—a shopper’s delight
Dec 26, 2019It s Slovenia s Independence and Unity Day
Dec 26, 2020Happy Boxing Day!
Dec 26, 2022Boxing Day in East Yorkshire, England
Dec 26, 2023Happy Boxing Day!
Dec 26, 2024Boxing Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep 9, 2024Iguazu Falls at the border of Argentina and Brazil
Dec 17, 2018We have liftoff!
Feb 12, 2022Darwin s Arch
May 11, 2021 The Crown of the Continent
Aug 5, 2025Tide pools in La Jolla, California
Sep 20, 2021Birds of a feather flocking together
Oct 24, 2023Füzér Castle in the Zemplén Mountains, Hungary
Jul 2, 2022Halfway Day
Nov 27, 2022Cecropia leaf and lobster claw petals in Mexico
Nov 26, 2019Staring down winter
Jul 8, 2022Preveli Gorge
Dec 15, 2020A bridge that rocks
Jan 9, 2022Rice processing in Bangladesh
Dec 28, 2018A species no longer at risk
Jan 13, 2019On the hunt
Sep 8, 2021Enter the magical world of Livraria Lello
May 30, 2023Playa del Amor, Marietas Islands, Mexico
Aug 25, 2022National Park Service Founders Day
Jan 11, 2025Heri es-Swani in Meknes, Morocco
Jul 27, 2025Barracudas at Shark Reef, Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
Dec 4, 2024Wildlife Conservation Day
Sep 20, 2019Fall comes to Pando
Dec 7, 2020In memory of those lost
Oct 28, 2019A night on the (ghost) town
Mar 23, 2022World Meteorological Day
Aug 21, 2023Discovery Day in Yukon, Canada
Sep 15, 2022Hispanic Heritage Month
Sep 4, 2018What the hay?
Aug 30, 2019It s fair season
Aug 22, 2023Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia