Boxing Day in Dubai is celebrated with a 12-Hour Mega Sale
More people in the region are becoming familiar with the purpose of this occasion
Dubai: The day after Christmas is observed by many people as Boxing Day. The question, naturally, is, what is Boxing Day?
It has nothing to do with the sport. Boxing Day is typically a western public holiday celebrated on the day straight after Christmas Day. It takes place on December 26 and its antecedents are in traditions from the United Kingdom.
What is Boxing Day?
While no one seems to know for sure how it came to be called Boxing Day, it definitely has nothing to do with the sport of boxing. Perhaps the most widely held understanding of its origins comes from the tradition of wealthier members of society giving servants and tradesmen a so-called Christmas box containing money and gifts on the day after Christmas. This tradition started around 800 years ago.
It was seen as a reward for a year’s worth of service. Other believe it comes from the post-Christmas custom of churches placing boxes outside their doors to collect money for distribution to less-fortunate members of society in need of Christmas cheer. The servants were then allowed to go home and spend the day with their loved ones. They would then bring their Christmas Boxes with them to give to their families.
Where did it originate?
Some trace it to Britain’s proud naval tradition and the days when a sealed box of money was kept on board for lengthy voyages and then given to a priest for distribution to the poor if the voyage was successful.
There are other explanations, but it’s clear the designation has nothing to do with the modern habit of using the holiday for shopping at “big box” stores selling televisions, computers and the like.
It could also stem from church donation boxes. Often times on the day after Christmas, collection boxes for the poor were kept in churches, where people would donate money during Christmas mass, or throughout the season. They were then ‘un boxed’ on the 26 and money was distributed to the poor.
Others trace it back even earlier, to the Roman practice of collecting money in boxes — they say Roman invaders brought this practice to Britain, where it was taken up by the clergy to collect money in boxes for the disadvantaged.
How is Boxing Day celebrated today?
The Boxing Day tradition gained popularity during the Victorian era and has flourished to this day. The British Empire may now be a thing of the past, but Boxing Day is still celebrated in some other parts of the Commonwealth, including Canada, Australia and Kenya.
Boxing Day is meant to be a time to spend with family or friends. Especially if you didn’t get the chance to see those people on Christmas Day.
People also celebrate by eating leftover turkey and watching sports. These days, it is filled with sporting events and it is often a day when people open their homes to family and friends who drop by for turkey.
What are Boxing Day sales?
Boxing Day has turned into a day where retailers slash prices on everything, from clothes to electronics, home ware and handbags. It is common in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
According to the Christmas Day Trading Act, all large shops are banned from trading on Christmas Day in England and Wales, which causes them to see a drop in sales. Moreover, after everyone does their Christmas shopping, the demand goes down, as a result, capitalist countries wanted to rectify a lack of shopping by introducing sales and lowering their prices. For many stores, Boxing Day is one of the days of the year that brings in the greatest revenue.
Boxing Day in the UAE
Boxing Day is not a public holiday in the United Arab Emirates and there were generally no specific Boxing Day sales going on up until a few years ago. Towards the second half of the 2010s the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) strategically took place on December 26. It was a move that combined an annual Dubai event with the western idea of shopping post-Christmas day.
Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment has announced that the shopping sales of the 26th edition of DSF will kick off on Saturday, December 26 featuring a 12-hour sale. This sale will be running from 10am to 10pm, the epic one-day promotion includes mega deals on everything from the latest big brand fashion lines, electronics, childrenswear and much more.
The Dubai Shopping Festival was inaugurated in 1996 by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The first edition of Dubai Shopping Festival was a turning point for the retail sector in the region, as the idea of creating a mega shopping event became a reality, based on the vision to position Dubai as a year-round family tourism destination.
The DSF 12-Hour Sale also marks the first day of the annual DSF with malls and stores around Dubai offering savings of up to 75 per cent.
This DSF will be a 45-day retail and entertainment experience. The extravaganza will paint the streets of Mercato with a festive mood through its unique blend of shopping, shows, great deals and amazing prizes.
Where can I shop the 12-Hour Sale?
On December 26, Majid Al Futtaim Malls across Dubai will invite shoppers to discover super savings on over 100 brands as part of the Dubai Shopping Festival 12-Hour Sale. With prices slashed by as much as 90 per cent and additional offers, residents and visitors who head to Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Deira, City Centre Me’aisem, My City Centre Al Barsha and City Centre Al Shindagha between 10am and 10pm can discover amazing deals. The offers apply to fashion lines, electronics, childrenswear and much more.