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Boxing Week
DCHP-2 (Sep 2012)
n. — Urban culture
the six-day period between Boxing Day (the day after Christmas), and New Year’s Eve, during which stores hold sales.
Type: 5. Frequency — The term Boxing Week refers to the entire week of sales that begin on Boxing Day and end on New Year's Eve. In the 1990s, Boxing Day sales were more generally extended from one day to an entire week (see the 1990 quotation), though some uses are found earlier. According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, the origin of Boxing Day likely comes from "the traditional opening on that day of Anglican Church poor boxes that had been filled during Advent" or from the old custom of members of the aristocracy giving servants, employees and the like gifts the day after Christmas.
The term Boxing Week is used most frequently in Canada, though it has some currency elsewhere (see Chart 1). Within Canada, the term is used most often in Ontario, followed by New Brunswick. One of the first attestations of the term in written Canadian English appears to be in the early 1970s (see the 1973 quotation). The origin of the term is likely an extension from Boxing Day.
See also COD-2, s.v. "Boxing Week", which is marked "Cdn".
The term Boxing Week is used most frequently in Canada, though it has some currency elsewhere (see Chart 1). Within Canada, the term is used most often in Ontario, followed by New Brunswick. One of the first attestations of the term in written Canadian English appears to be in the early 1970s (see the 1973 quotation). The origin of the term is likely an extension from Boxing Day.
See also COD-2, s.v. "Boxing Week", which is marked "Cdn".
Quotations
1973
Boxing Week Ozite Carpeting Bonanza!!
1980
All for indoor culture at 50% off for Boxing Week
1987
KORRY'S has gift suggestions for every male on your Christmas list; available in every price range, and
in a terrific assortment. To boot, on our Main Floor, you'll find all-men's winter clothing on sale -- at Boxing Week reductions of a full fifty per cent off regular retail prices.
1990
John Bishop, manager of the Woodward's store at the Oakridge Mall in Vancouver, said that "traditionally, a lot of retailers have gone for a Boxing Day sale, but now it's a Boxing Week."
1994
"When that real cold spell hit, people just stopped shopping for anything but their basic needs," said John Torella of John C. Williams Consultants Ltd. of Toronto. "The other thing out there was we had such a strong Boxing Week and good Christmas. That took a lot of sales momentum from January."
2007
It doesn't take long for the enthusiasm that is the hallmark of a new year to run its course. The Boxing Week blowouts turn into January clearance sales; the credit card and other Christmas bills begin to roll in; what to do with the discarded Christmas tree weighs on you; the long, cold night that is January looms.
2013
Yorkdale spokesman Anthony Casalanguida said the mall will open at 7 am, with an all-day, live, television broadcast.
"We're expecting a lot more customers over last year," he said, adding that some discounts will be bigger than Boxing week sales, which have traditionally been strong in Canada.
According to their own research, 94 per cent of customers plan to take advantage of Black Friday sales in Canada, compared to 37 per cent last year, said Casalanguida.
References
- COD-2
Images
Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 1 Oct. 2013
