Boxing Day in New Zealand

The day after Christmas Day is Boxing Day, on December 26. It is a public holiday in New Zealand.

A family spending quality time together on a holiday.

©iStockphoto.com/Arne Trautmann

What do people do?

Many people spend Boxing Day relaxing, going to the beach, being with family and friends, and enjoying the rest. It is a time to unwind and enjoy the summer break before heading back to work. Many people take time off between Christmas and New Year's Day. This time of the year is also the school holidays so some families travel abroad.

Public life

Boxing Day is a statutory public holiday in New Zealand, so schools, government offices, and many private businesses are closed. New Year’s Day is also in the middle of the school summer holidays in New Zealand.

Background

Boxing Day is a holiday in many countries in the Commonwealth of Nations, including New Zealand. It was traditionally a day for employers in England to give bonuses of money, leftover food or old clothing to their employees, or for lords to give agricultural tools and seeds for the coming year to their tenants. These gifts were presented in a box. Some people believe that this is the reason that December 26 is known as Boxing Day. Others think that the origin of the name is related to the box into which parishioners put church donations. In some areas, this box was opened on Boxing Day and the contents were distributed to the poor people of the parish.

Boxing Day Observances

Other holidays in December 2013 in New Zealand

• Christmas Day ―Wednesday, December 25, 2013