Boxing Day takes center stage in England today
The day after Christmas, known as Boxing Day in England, is a time for gift-giving. For most people worldwide, however, Boxing Day is synonymous with English Premier League action.
What is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, is traditionally when gifts are unwrapped. The origins of this holiday are steeped in several legends and myths.
One story traces back to Victorian England when churches collected donations throughout the year, opened the collection on Christmas, and distributed the money in "boxes" to the poor the next day.
Another tale involves servants of the upper class who worked on Christmas Day and returned home to their families on Boxing Day, often carrying gift boxes from their employers. Historian Neil Armstrong suggests that the tradition of Boxing Day dates back to the 17th century, when employers handed out gratuities in small boxes to their workers.
What does Boxing Day mean for the Premier League?
Boxing Day became more significant for the Premier League and English sports in 1871 when it was declared a public holiday.
In the 1870s, the formation of the sports calendar coincided with this new holiday, prompting event organizers to use the day off to draw people to stadiums rather than staying home.
The first recorded Boxing Day match predates this by a decade, played in 1860 between Sheffield and Hallam.
Until the 1950s, matches were played on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with clubs and the Football Association trying to maximize profits during the festive week. Eventually, Christmas Day matches were scrapped after players pushed for the holiday to spend with their families. The last Christmas Day game was held in 1965.
The most iconic Boxing Day in history was in 1963, when an astonishing 66 goals were scored across ten games. Since then, December 26 has become a revered date in English football. So much so that when the 2022 World Cup was scheduled for winter, the Football Association ensured no matches conflicted with Boxing Day.
Boxing Day fixtures in 2024
In 2024, Boxing Day will feature eight matches instead of the usual ten. Kickoff times are listed in Central European Time (CET):
- 13:30 Manchester City vs. Everton
- 16:00 Bournemouth vs. Crystal Palace
- 16:00 Chelsea vs. Fulham
- 16:00 Newcastle vs. Aston Villa
- 16:00 Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham
- 16:00 Southampton vs. West Ham
- 18:30 Wolverhampton vs. Manchester United
- 21:00 Liverpool vs. Leicester
Lars Foster
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
