[Steve_Seattle]

I thought Boxing Day was a British thing, not something recognized in "the whole world."

[dead]

It's a holiday in most current and former British Commonwealth countries, like Australia.

I would imagine it's also celebrated in any country that caters to Australian and other English speaking tourists.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

I thought Boxing Day was a British thing, not something recognized in "the whole world."

And *I* thought it was a Canadian thing.

[sully777]

I thought Boxing Day was a British thing, not something recognized in "the whole world."

---

Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Seychelles, Maldives, Kenya, Singapore, an so forth (all British commonwealth members or possessions until after WWII) celebrate Boxing Day on December 26th. Boxing Day is an official day off for people that serve on Christmas. Early tradition had alms put in boxes at church services to be dispensed the next day (box-ing). Later, the tradition expanded to employers giving large bonuses and gifts to all employees.

The December 26th tsunami hit as hundreds of thousands gathered to the traditional celebrations of setting off fireworks and celebrating on the beaches throughout former or current British commonwealth nations.

As to your comment "the whole world" Once upon a time the British dominated the world. If they did not have a direct stake, they certainly controlled some aspect of trade or diplomacy. Britains ruled the oceans and almost all viable trade routes. Thus the British way of life was accepted as standard. Only three countries overthrew British dominion at their empire's height, the USA, the Republic of South Africa, and the Sully ancestral home in the Republic of Ireland.

[Ashamed Canadian]

We call it Boxing day in Canada and the rest of the British Commonwealth.

[Diddle E. Squat]

"The sun never sets on the British Empire."

History books are our friends.

[MD_Willington_1976]

The British Empire was actually quite large, refereed to as the Commonwealth, so you run into a lot of British holidays etc around the world. There are 53 countries of the Commonwealth, of which 44 are currently Commonwealth Foundation members.

Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belize
Botswana
Brunei Darussalam
Cameroon
Canada
Cyprus
Dominica
Fiji Islands
The Gambia
Ghana
Grenada
Guyana
India
Jamaica
Kenya
Kiribati
Lesotho
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Nauru
New Zealand
Nigeria
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Swaziland
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Uganda
United Kingdom
United Republic of Tanzania
Vanuatu
Zambia