Boxing Day: A Key Date in Sports History

Why in the news?

Boxing Day, celebrated globally, holds significance in sports, especially football and cricket. The Boxing Day Test at MCG and Premier League matches mark key events in the sporting calendar.

Boxing Day: A Key Date in Sports History

About Boxing Day in Football:

  • The first recorded Boxing Day football match was held in 1860 between Sheffield FC and Hallam FC.
  • Boxing Day became a significant date in English football when the Football League formed in 1888.
  • Matches were often held on December 25 and 26 until the 1950s. By 1965, Christmas Day games were discontinued, leaving Boxing Day as the primary festive fixture.
  • The day is known for its marquee English Premier League (EPL) fixtures, often scheduled for high-profile derby games to maximize crowd attendance and revenue.

Boxing Day in Cricket

  • The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is a highlight in the cricketing calendar, especially for Australian fans.
  • Although annual Shield matches between Victoria and New South Wales began in 1865, Boxing Day Tests became a permanent fixture in the 1980s.
  • In 1994, the Boxing Day Ashes Test saw Shane Warne’s iconic hat-trick, cementing the day’s place in cricketing history.
  • Efforts to move the Boxing Day Test to other venues failed as Victoria registered the intellectual property around it, securing the MCG as its home.

Origins of Boxing Day:

  • Boxing Day, celebrated on December 26, has roots in Victorian England, where money collected by churches throughout the year was distributed to the poor in boxes.
  • It was also a day when servants returned home after Christmas with gifts from their employers.
  • By the 17th century, the day was associated with fun, relaxation, and gatherings, particularly among the working class.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times