Key Difference – Black Friday vs Boxing Day
 

Black Friday and Boxing Day are two holidays at the end of the year. Boxing Day is the day following the Christmas Day, which is celebrated on the 25th of December, whereas Black Friday is the day following the Thanksgiving day, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States of America. This is the key difference between Black Friday and Boxing Day. Therefore, Boxing Day falls on 26th of December while Black Friday falls on the fourth Friday of November.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Black Friday
3. What is Boxing Day
4. Similarities Between Black Friday and Boxing Day
5. Side by Side Comparison – Black Friday vs Boxing Day in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday is the day following the Thanksgiving day. Since, in United States of America, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, the day following it always falls on a Friday. However, it has to be noted that Thanksgiving is celebrated in Canada on the second Monday of October. In the United States, Black Friday is not a federal holiday, but in some states, it is a public holiday. Many people take a day off their annual leave on this day. Many organizations also close for the Thanksgiving weekend.

Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year and is considered as the beginning of the Christmas shopping sale. Many retail stores offer promotional sales on this day. It was originally called Black Friday because so many people went out to shop that it caused traffic accidents and sometimes even violence.

Figure 01: Black Friday Shopping

In the UK, the term Black Friday was used to refer to the Friday before Christmas. But nowadays they have also adopted the American usage of the term.

What is Boxing Day?

Boxing Day is a holiday that falls on the day after Christmas day, i.e., on 26th of December.  This holiday originated in the United Kingdom and is celebrated in some countries that were a part of the British Empire. It’s a national holiday in the UK and Ireland. When 26 December falls on a Saturday, the Boxing Day public holiday is moved to the following Monday. If 26 December falls on a Sunday, the substitute public holiday is considered as the following Tuesday. In some European countries, this day is celebrated as a second Christmas day. However, in the United States, 26th December is not celebrated as a holiday, nor is it known as the Boxing Day.

Boxing Day or 26th December is also the feast day of Saint Stephen. Since Saint Stephen is the patron saint of horses, this day is also known for horse racing and fox hunts.

Figure 02: Boxing Day Hunt (1962)

There are several stories about the origin of the name ‘Boxing Day.’ Some say this name comes from boxes placed at churches on Christmas day to collect money for the poor. These were traditionally opened on the day after Christmas. It’s also said that this day is named after Christmas boxes (presents) the rich people gave their servants. Although Boxing Day is considered as a secular holiday, it is increasingly known as a shopping holiday since many shops offer discount rates on this day.

What are the Similarities Between Black Friday and Boxing Day?

• Both these days are at the end of the year.
• Shops offer many discounts on both Black Friday and Boxing Day; thus, they are known as shopping holidays.

What is the Difference Between Black Friday and Boxing Day?

Summary – Black Friday vs Boxing Day

Both Black Friday and Boxing Day are holidays at the end of the year – Black Friday on November and Boxing Day in December. Boxing Day is the day after the Christmas Day while Black Friday is the day after the Thanksgiving. This is the basic difference between Black Friday and Boxing Day.

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Reference:

1.Amadeo, Kimberly. “How Black Friday Got Its Name.” The Balance. Available here  
2.“Ever Wondered What Boxing Day is and Where it Gets its Name?” The Spruce. Available here 

Image Courtesy:

1.’Ala Moana Centerstage during Black Friday’ by Daniel Ramirez (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2.’Keswick Boxing Day hunt 1962′ By Phillip Capper from Wellington (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia  

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