When is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day is 26 December every year, immediately after Christmas Day.
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Boxing Day is 26 December every year, immediately after Christmas Day.
Quick, clear answers
Boxing Day date and countdown
Calendar days and live time
The Boxing Day page shows the calendar-day gap as well as a live countdown to midnight at the start of the date.
It follows your local time
Everything is calculated in your browser using your device date and time zone. No personal date is sent to the server.
Date versus substitute bank holiday
If 26 December falls at a weekend, a substitute bank holiday may occur later; this page always counts to Boxing Day itself.
History and UK traditions
Boxing Day traditions in the UK
Sport, walks, leftovers, visiting and sales give the second Christmas holiday its own identity.
The name is linked with Christmas boxes
Older explanations connect the day with gifts or gratuities given to servants, workers and people in need.
Football fixtures are a major tradition
League matches draw large crowds and television audiences on 26 December.
Walks and family visits are popular
Many households use the quieter day for fresh air after Christmas dinner.
Sales became highly visible
Post-Christmas retail promotions are common, though online sales may begin earlier.
Plan without the rush
Planning for Boxing Day
1
A month or more ahead
Set a realistic budget and note the bookings or purchases needed for Boxing Day.
2
A couple of weeks ahead
Confirm travel, deliveries and plans with the people involved.
3
In the final days
Keep only essential tasks and leave room to enjoy the occasion.
Frequently asked
Boxing Day: questions and answers
Yes.
The date remains 26 December, while the bank holiday may be substituted.
It counts directly to midnight at the start of 26 December.
It uses the local time zone configured on your device and shows it alongside the result.
Yes. The next valid date is calculated automatically, so the same page continues to work in future years.
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