Boxing Day sports: A day of tradition

Boxing Day, apart from being a day of great bargains and shopping, has a very special meaning in Australia: it is a day of tradition. Although it is not far from the significance that the day has in Great Britain and in all the colonies that have been British. Most of the stores in the country take advantage of the moment to make sales of up to 80% on their products. Some consider it to be an event as big or bigger than Black Friday. What do people do? Many important sporting events take place on Boxing Day.

Cricket game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

The game is between Australia's national cricket team and other national teams traveling around Australia. The match starts on Boxing Day and can last up to five days. Between 1999 and 2007, the Australian cricket team won every Boxing Day Test match, marking a major victory for the nation. With a capacity of 100,000 spectators, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is the largest stadium in Australia, as well as the largest cricket stadium in the world. It is located approximately one kilometer from the center of Melbourne. In the winter the ground hosts Australian soccer matches, while in the summer it is used for cricket. Cricket is extremely popular in Australia during the summer. The MCG is the home of the Melbourne Cricket Club and there are few events in the Australian sporting calendar that attract as much interest as the Boxing Day Test match, which is played between the Australian team and a visiting team, such as England, South Africa or India.

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

The race covers a distance of 630 nautical miles between Sydney Harbour and Hobart on the island of Tasmania. Traditionally, yachts took about six days to reach Hobart, but now the fastest yacht does it in less than two days. Media interest in these sporting highlights means that television programs are dominated by sporting events on Boxing Day. People also spend the day traveling home from relatives or to a planned summer vacation destination, which usually coincides with the school vacation period. What started as a cruise among friends has become one of the most important regattas in the world. The current record was set by Wild Oats XI in 2005, which crossed the finish line in 1 day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds.

Shopping and sports

Be sure to arrive early on Boxing Day to get the best deals or enjoy additional discounts on the second sales in mid-January. Remember that department stores are always a safe bet for savvy bargain hunters, because you can find everything in one building. And if you are a sports fan, it will also be a great day for you. Buy tickets to watch your favorite team or just sit back and relax in front of the TV.

My Deals 365 brings you all the discount catalogs of your favorite stores in Australia. Enjoy this Boxing Day!