India, Dec. 26 -- The day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day. For millions outside the United States, December 26 is celebrated with elaborate traditions. In the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth countries, it is a public holiday, with most offices and banks remaining closed.

With time, several theories about the origin of Boxing Day and how its name came to be have been floated around, with the most popular suggesting that the name comes from a tradition of "gifting boxed gifts to the poor," according to the BBC.

The holiday's origin dates back centuries, when servants who worked on Christmas would celebrate the day after, exchanging gifts with their friends and family on December 26 instead of ...