The History of , Boxing Day .br Relatively unknown in the U.S., br Boxing Day is a bank holiday in the U.K. br and countries throughout the British br Commonwealth, including Canada and Australia.br The day has evolved into one br popularly devoted to post-Christmas br shopping, but its origins remain a bit blurry.br The term Boxing Day first appearedbr in print in 1833. Four years later,br Charles Dickens would make referencebr to it in 'The Pickwick Papers.'.br The day and its name could have arisenbr from the "Christmas boxes" often given to br servants by their lords, the day after the holiday. .br These boxes were essentially br holiday bonuses, including leftovers br from Christmas dinner or small br gifts and money.br Boxing Day may have alsobr originated from the Dec. 26 distribution br of donations collected in church alms boxes.