Thousands queued up since early morning outside department stores to make the most of the post-Christmas Boxing Day sales
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A record 10 million shoppers were expected to spend an estimated
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£3 billion (R26,500 crore)— around
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£4.8 million (R42 crore) a minute — in stores in the UK alone yesterday
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Why ‘Boxing Day’?
The exact etymology of the term “boxing” is unclear. There are several competing theories, none of which is definitive.
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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.
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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
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