What it is
Boxing Day is observed on 26 December, the day after Christmas, as a bank holiday in the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth countries. The name is usually linked to old customs of giving boxes of gifts or money to servants and tradespeople, though the exact origin is debated.
Today it is best known as the start of post-Christmas sales, a day for sport, family walks and leftovers. For ecommerce and local shops it is one of the busiest shopping days of the winter.
Symbols: Sale tags, shopping bags, a gift box, leftover turkey sandwiches, a winter walk
Emoji: 🎁 🛍️ 🏷️ ❄️ 🥾 📦
Colours: Red, dark green, silver
Hashtags: #BoxingDay #BoxingDaySale #PostChristmasSale #ShopSmall #WinterSale
What to aim for
- Drive sales with a clear, honest post-Christmas offer
- Convert gift cards and returns into new purchases
- Clear seasonal stock without hurting the brand
Post ideas by format
Post
- An announcement of the sale with what is included and until when, so shoppers can plan
- A “how to use your gift card” post with three product ideas for different budgets
Carousel
- “Best picks of the sale”: one product per slide with its use case and the price shown only if you decided it
- “Boxing Day shopping guide”: how to choose, how to return, how to get delivery
Reel / short video
- Hook: “The best thing about 26 December: it is shopping day.” Quick unboxing cuts of the products on offer
- A behind-the-scenes clip of the team packing orders at speed with a countdown to the end of the sale
Stories
- A countdown sticker to the end of the sale
- A poll: “Gift card or exchange: what are you doing today?”
Ready-made post examples
Layouts we wrote as examples. Replace the details with your own business before you publish.
Boxing Day is here and our post-Christmas sale is open. Swipe to see the products our team likes the most, from cosy winter items to gifts you might have forgotten to buy for yourself. Got a gift card? This is the perfect day to use it. The sale runs until the end of the week or while stock lasts. Link is in the bio.
Day after Christmas plan: take a long walk, take a break from cooking and come in for a proper coffee and a slice of cake. We are open today with our normal menu plus a seasonal special while it lasts. Bring a friend, bring the leftover sweaters, and tell us in the comments which dessert you are planning to order.
Boxing Day idea: if you received a gift card, you can add to it today to buy something bigger. We have a short selection of the items most people choose in this period in the catalogue. Open the menu button, pick a product and write to us if you need help with the size or delivery. We are online until the evening.
Meme and trend formats that fit
- Expectation vs reality. Left: “I will not shop today”. Right: a person carrying five bags. Keep it self-ironic and tie it to your sale.
- Two buttons. A two-button choice: “Stay home with leftovers” vs “Go for the sale”. The joke works if your offer is easy to reach with one tap.
What to avoid
- Do not invent fake “original prices” or fake “last chance” deadlines; use only offers you actually run
- Do not forget non-UK followers: explain what Boxing Day is in one sentence if your audience is international
- Do not ignore delivery limits and holiday returns policy; state them clearly to avoid angry messages
When to post
- Prepare offers and product shots before Christmas so the team can rest
- Publish early on 26 December, when shoppers are looking for deals, with a reminder in the afternoon
- On 27 December, post a recap with what is left and when the sale ends
What to check afterwards
- Sales and gift card usage compared with a normal day
- Clicks to the sale page and the most-saved products
- Customer questions about delivery and returns, to improve next year’s posts
Add one line about your business: the free generator gives three captions with hashtags for the network you choose. No sign-up.