Boxing Day – date can vary December 26 holiday. However, if Christmas falls on a Friday or a Saturday, it is held the following Monday.

Boxing Day is celebrated in England, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and other former British commonwealth Countries. Like Christmas, Boxing Day is a day of giving. And, Boxing Day is a day off for servants. The recipients are servants who worked on Christmas Day, and the poor and needy within the community. Boxing Day is a legal holiday in these Countries. This is also St. Stephans Day, where Boxing Day gets some of its roots. On St. Stephans Day, Churches opened their collection boxes to the poor.

Boxing Day was an expression of appreciation and thanks, much like Christmas tips are today.  

The roots of Boxing Day goes back to the Middle Ages. On Boxing Day, members of the merchant class would take boxes, fill them with food and Fruits, and give them to servants, tradespeople, and the less fortunate. In the case of Servants, they would work on Christmas Day, so it was only fitting that immediately after Christmas, the Servants would be given a day off to celebrate.

Usually celebrated the day after Christmas, some would celebrate the following Monday when Christmas fell on a Friday or Saturday.

Today, the giving of boxes includes filling boxes with food and clothing for the needy and performing volunteer work. Monetary gifts to Charity are also common.

How to Celebrate Boxing Day

• If you have servants, give them gifts to show your appreciation for their service to you.
• Go over your list of people who provide a service to you and to who you gave a special tip for the holiday season. Did you forget the newspaper carrier.!? Send a gift to anyone who you missed.
• Donate to the poor and needy in your community.

History and Origin of Boxing Day

The roots of Boxing Day goes back to the Middle Ages. On Boxing Day, members of the merchant class would take boxes, fill them with food and Fruits, and give them to servants, tradespeople and the less fortunate. In the case of Servants, they would work on Christmas Day, so it was only fitting that immediately after Christmas, they would be given a day off to celebrate.

National Candy Cane Day– always observed on December 26th

Today is National Candy Cane Day, s the day after Christmas. Millions of people are on the move, returning Christmas gifts at stores and nowadays by mail. People are also rushing to grab Christmas sales on just about everything, including holiday closeouts. Yes, it is truly a hectic day for many.

Somehow, you need to take a deep breath and enjoy National Candy Cane Day. Candy Canes are a big symbol of the Christmas Season. Candy Canes show up almost everywhere, as indoor and outdoor decorations, alongside ribbons and bows on Christmas gifts, on the Christmas tree, in Stockings, and just about anywhere your imagination can envision them to be.

One may wonder why make the 26th of December National Candy Cane Day!? But, celebrating Candy Canes today makes perfect sense. On the days and weeks leading up to the holidays, we are gleefully decorating with Candy Canes and giving them out to nearly everyone we meet. With Christmas over, there is just one thing left to do with Candy Canes. Eat the Candy Canes!

The goal of today is to enjoy some of the many millions of Candy Canes given out during the Christmas Season. You can simply take the wrapper off a Candy Cane and suck on the Candy Cane until it’s gone. You can slip a Candy Cane into your Hot Chocolate. Or, you can put Candy Canes in any of dozens of recipes and enjoy Candy Canes in this manner.     

After you’ve taken care of all of your holiday returns and bought all of the closeout items your budget will allow, enjoy Candy Canes as a way to celebrate finishing your errands!

Candy Cane History

Candy canes are a hard Candy confection. The vast majority of Candy Canes are made with Peppermint. Look around and you will find other flavors, too. The original Candy Canes were straight sticks, created by a French Priest.

In 1674 a Choirmaster in Germany bent one end of a Candy Cane, making the Candy look like a Shepherd’s pole. This is the traditional Candy Cane shape we recognize today. In the 1800s, Candy Canes migrated to America, and became immediately popular. In the late 1800s, Candy Canes were first hung on Christmas Trees as a decoration. Candy Canes decorate our Christmas Trees to this day. Candy Canes are popular around the world. 

Candy Cane Trivia

• Original Candy Canes were white and did not have a bend.
• Turn a Candy Cane upside down and the Candy Cane forms the letter “J” for Jesus.
• The longest Candy Cane ever made was 97 inches, over 8 feet long.
• The most Candy Canes hung on a single Christmas Tree is 6,425.
• Brasher O. Westerfield invented the automated machine to make Candy Canes in 1921. Previously, each Candy Candy was made by hand. Before this, each Candy Cane was made by hand.
• Candy Canes have no fat or cholesterol but Candy Canes do have carbs.
• 1.76 billion Candy Canes are made each year.
• Candy Canes were first made over 350 years ago.
• Red and White striped Candy Canes were first made in 1900.

How to Celebrate National Candy Cane Day

• Eat Candy Canes.
• Bake with Candy Canes.
• Flavor Hot Chocolate. with Candy Canes
• Give Candy Canes away.
• Got a box of Candy Cane? Donate the box of Candy Canes to food pantries.
• Put a few Candy Canes in the freezer to consume later in the year.
• Crush Candy Canes and put them on top of Ice Cream or Pudding.

History and Origin of National Candy Cane Day

We know a lot about the history and origin of Candy Canes. However, we know little about who created National Candy Cane Day and why this Holiday was created. More intriguing – – why is National Candy Cane Day celebrated on December 26th. The day after Christmas?

We tracked the creation of National Candy Cane Day back to 2010. We have not yet identified who created National Candy Cane Day. But, the National Confectioner’s Association is a sponsor of National Candy Cane Day and maybe the creator(s). As to why National Candy Cane Day is celebrated the day after Christmas, our speculation is to encourage using the many millions of Candy Canes given out over the holidays. There certainly is no shortage of holiday recipes that use leftover Candy Canes. 

We found no congressional records or presidential proclamation making National Candy Cane Day a “true” national holiday or observance.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates