People are only just realising what Boxing Day actually means

With all of the chaos and fun of the festive season, we're often all so focused on the build-up to Christmas Day that we don't really think about what comes after.

For many of us, Boxing Day is a day of staying in your pyjamas and picking at leftovers, eating cake, and drinking Baileys, now you've slept off the Christmas food coma.

Some people love a cold swim or raiding the sales for bargains.

But have you ever stopped to think what the name 'Boxing Day' actually means, and where it originated from?

Everyone knows how Christmas came to be, but probably hasn't given a second thought about the day after, apart from what filling should go into your epic sandwich made of leftovers.

Boxing Day's origins come from giving to the poor (Getty Stock Image)

That's even after you've tackled all the picky bits you have been banned from touching in the fridge for the last couple of weeks.

What does Boxing Day mean?

While Boxing Day is often closely linked with sport, it's not actually anything to do with boxing in the ring.

The name originates from Queen Victoria's reign, where wealthy people would 'box' up any unwanted or unneeded items to donate to the poor.

Servants were also given the day off and were rewarded with a 'special box' of goodies as a token of thanks for their hard work.

They would then head home to their families on the 26th to celebrate Christmas and to share the box of gifts they had been given.

There is also a nautical root to the phrase.

Ships would have a sealed box of money and valuables on board as an icon of good luck.

If the token worked and their journey was completed successfully, the box would be passed to a priest, who would distribute it to the poor to open on Christmas Day.

It's also a day of leftovers such as bubble and squeak and pigs in blankets (Getty Stock Image)

Despite the name becoming popularised in the Victorian era, the action of it was thought to date all the way back to the Middle Ages.

It was noted that parishioners would collect money for the poor and needy, to honour St Stephen.

He was the first Christian martyr, and the day to celebrate him was 26 December, when it was marked with a feast.

Also in Victorian times, churches would leave a collection box outside to raise money for those in need.

The day became an official bank holiday in England and Wales in 1871, and in Scotland in 1974.

In countries such as Hungary, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands, 26 December is seen as a second Christmas Day.

Now you know!