Thousands queued up since early morning outside department stores to make the most of the post-Christmas Boxing Day sales
hoe stopper: Discounted shoes, a girl's best friend
Ringing in the shoppers: Australian actress Jessica Marais attends the offical âbell ringing' ceremony for the Boxing Day sales at the David Jones Market Street store in Sydney, Australia. u00a0
First come, first serve: Shoppers queue in line at the Myer store on Pitt Street in Sydney, Australia.u00a0
Making a grab for it: Shoppers reach out to grab a bargain at a perfume counter at Selfridges department store in London, England. Pics/Getty images, AFP
One is never enough: A shopper carries a stack of discounted perfumes inside the Selfridges department store in London
A record 10 million shoppers were expected to spend an estimated
u00a0
£3 billion (R26,500 crore) - around
u00a0
£4.8 million (R42 crore) a minute - in stores in the UK alone yesterday
u00a0
Why âBoxing Day'?
The exact etymology of the term "boxing" is unclear. There are several competing theories, none of which is definitive.
u00a0
l It may come from a custom in the late Roman/early Christian era, wherein metal boxes placed outside churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen, which in the Western Church falls on the same day as Boxing Day.
u00a0
l In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year.u00a0