Boxing Day

If you happen to glance at your calendar on the day after Christmas, you'll see right along with the start of Kwanzaa, its also Boxing Day (C). That "C" means Boxing Day is a Canadian-observed holiday, but its also a legal day off in the UK, Ireland and other countries.

In case you are wondering, Boxing Day has nothing to do with boxing. The International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, has no events planned for this day. (Though just earlier this month the 2007 inductees were announced.)

Boxing Day goes back in time to when the working class gave boxes of food and fruit to tradespeople and servants the day after Christmas as a token of appreciation of their work over the years. Its similar to the modern day practice of giving tips or gifts to doormen, your delivery service or anyone else that provides a service. Read more from Snopes.com. 

It was also the day the servants had off after working the holiday celebration. Wikipedia lists other believed origins, as well as how it is currently celebrated in European countries.

Boxing Day Test (Test Match cricket)  Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race   English and Scottish Football matches

Junkanoo is celebrated in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas

Boxing Day Dip - in certain UK coastal towns, people wade into the sea on boxing day - often in fancy dress, and usually to raise money for a local charity.

What's more football matches are played in Northern Ireland, almost every retailer holds a Boxing Day Sale, and horseraces are held in Hong Kong.

If you'd like to celebrate Boxing Day, a tip from ehow.com includes seeing a sporting event. Fortunately that shouldn't be too difficult, and you might even find a bit of boxing of sorts. The New York Rangers play the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum tonight at 7:30 pm.

Also, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers have a home game this Boxing Day against the Hershey Bears at 7:30 p.m.

If your cheer is spread thin, maybe you'll get some oomph back by Thursday. Celebrate Boxing Day then with some college basketball. The Sacred Heart women play at home in Fairfield on Thursday at 2:00.