We know Boxing Day as that day after Christmas when you get really good bargains. It’s now famous now for jam‑packed shopping centres, online deals and “add to cart” marathons, but it started out as something far gentler. The name “Boxing Day” comes from the tradition of giving “Christmas boxes” – food, coins and small gifts – usually to servants, tradespeople and families in need on the day after Christmas. A Christmas box was a way of saying thank you to those people who smooth the wheels and keep things running for the rest of us throughout the year.
From little boxes big thanks grow
The tradition began in Britain, where 26 December was also all about church “alms boxes”. These were sealed boxes filled with donations during Advent that were opened and shared with people doing it tough. Some historians also link the day to the Christian St Stephen’s Day, a feast that’s all about charity and caring for others. So Boxing Day has nothing to do with boxing gloves, rather about gifting from an invisible box of kindness!
Boxing Day Down Under
As with so many British traditions that have travelled the world, Boxing Day set sail and landed in Australia’s port too. By the late 19th century, it was officially a public holiday here – a sort of “permission granted” for a slow, sleepy summer day after the big Christmas hoorah. Swap snow for sun and Boxing Day in Australia became leftover pav and prawns, kids running through sprinklers and grown‑ups jostling over the comfy couch spot for an extended arvo nap in front of the telly.
Aussie Boxing Day inspo
Over time, some unique Aussie sparkle was added to the day. The Sydney to Hobart, the yacht race which first set sail in 1945, turned into an iconic Boxing Day event, where families gathered to watch the boats glide out of Sydney Harbour between mouthfuls of leftovers. Then came the Boxing Day Test at the MCG – now an unofficial background soundtrack in many an Aussie loungeroom. For a lot of households, the formula is simple: fridge full of yummy Christmas goodies – check. Sport on the telly – check. Kids raising happy mayhem with their new toys – check. Sneaky sales scrolling in between the festivities – check. What a win!
When did the sales set off?
Boxing Day in Australia was typically more about resting than racing to the shops, and many stores stayed shut. But after World War II, as big department stores grew and Aussies started spending more on “nice‑to‑haves” (not just “must‑haves”), retailers realised 26 December was the prime time to clear out post‑Christmas stock. By the 1950s, stores like Myer were running “pre‑stocktake” and post‑Christmas sales around Boxing Day, luring people back into the city with promises of bargains almost as tempting as leftover Chrissie trifle.
From quiet day off to retail hero
Fast‑forward to the 1980s and 1990s and the game really changed. Longer trading hours plus a growing love for big, buzzy promotions turned Boxing Day into one of the biggest shopping days of the year. TV cameras loved the queues outside major stores, and shots of people lining up before dawn helped turn it into a sunny, sandal‑wearing cousin of Black Friday – especially in Sydney and Melbourne. Now, it’s not just about bricks‑and‑mortar stores: online sales kick off early, run for days, and families mix beach trips, cricket and tapping “checkout” on their phones while the kids play with their new gear.
Where are we now?
In Australia, Boxing Day now sits at a fun crossroads between old and new traditions. The heart of it – mateship, gratitude, giving to others – is still there, just joined by things like shared experiences, little thank‑you gifts and, yes, some cleverly timed deals on stuff kids actually need. For plenty of parents, it has become a sneaky-sweet way to get a head start on back‑to‑school essentials: with the kids in present playing mode, you can tick off the school list and still feel like you’re on holiday.
Spencil’s Christmas Box
At Spencil, Boxing Day is the perfect way to turn that feel‑good history and Aussie summer energy into something bright, useful and totally parent and kid‑approved. So, we’re keeping that Boxing Day kindness going and gifting you:
- 20% off sitewide – pick anything from school essentials, lunch boxes, bags and bottles, outdoor and adventure gear to creative play goodies or sweet and small treasures.
- Free gift – beautiful note card set and multicolour pen when you spend over $100.
Our Boxing Day sale runs on Friday, 26 and Saturday, 27 December 2025 only, and the free gift is automatically applied at checkout on orders over $100.
From old school thank‑you boxes to brand new lunch boxes, pencil cases, drink bottles and notebooks, we invite you to grab that little something extra that will keep giving throughout the year!