Boxing Day is a holiday that is traditionally observed immediately following Christmas Day, know its meaning, sports significance and history
Even though it is the holiday season, and it is sometimes stated that footballers need a rest, watching football after Christmas Day is a British tradition.
During this period, which includes Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, Premier League teams play twice a week. During the Christmas season, most European top-flights are suspended, but this is not the case in England.
Christmas is a time when you’re encouraged to eat more, spend more time with family, and watch more football, and Boxing Day was formed out of that idea and still runs to this day.
Why Is It Called Boxing Day And Meaning Of The Holiday
The name stems from the custom of wealthy families wrapping and distributing gifts to their staff the day after Christmas. Those boxes would then be given to the servants’ families as a Christmas present. Although it began as a day when masters would give away gifts to the impoverished, it has since evolved into a popular shopping day in the United Kingdom.
In the past, British football teams would compete on Christmas Day, but this trend changed in the 1950s, when December 25 was designated as a family holiday. As a result, the only ever Christmas Day football game was played in 1957, and Boxing Day football became a tradition in the United Kingdom.
Premier League Football On Boxing Day And Boxing Day Test In Cricket
It’s a celebration, as the custom says. Sports were played on holiday occasions in the days before professional football, and this is maybe where the tradition of playing football on Boxing Day originated.
Only in 1863 did professional football become a thing. Football was played on special occasions and on days off during the Victorian era, and for the working class, two games played in two days during the holiday season were sometimes the only games they saw.
Because these days were bank holidays, football clubs chose to take advantage of them, knowing that they could easily push attendance up when everyone is off, and as a result, the bank holiday legislation act played a significant role in the development of the Boxing Day football custom.
Cricket is the same with countries often preferring to hold test matches on the day.
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