As you’re nursing your post-Christmas hangover, would you believe me if I told you we’re in the midst of another holiday? Happy Boxing Day, Boston! You may be wondering what the hell this secular holiday actually is and rightfully so. Boxing Day is not widely celebrated in the U.S., paling in comparison to the marry-making festivities observed on the 25th.

The origins of Boxing Day date back to England when working class people would receive a Christmas box from their boss. Inside would be monetary bonuses or even food in some cases. It was a charitable gesture that eventually led to an entire day being dedicated to it. Here in the states, though, the day after Christmas has a much different meaning.

December 26 is something of a Black Friday where items are priced down, retailers’ sales soar and the idea of philanthropy isn’t quite as prevalent as it is across the pond.

So seemingly trite is Boxing Day here that in 2013 The New Yorker published a satirical piece painting the picture that Boxing Day is nothing but a time where Americans stay “home with their families and staring glassy-eyed at their empty Christmas-present boxes” and that “today, it is a tradition to eat things that are, of course, boxed. Pizza, candy, and some types of wine are popular, as is boxed food called ‘takeout.'”

It’s unclear why exactly Boxing Day isn’t woven into the fabric of American jubilations. Much of the country was formed under British colonization, as was Canada which has since taken to Boxing Day earlier and earlier. One independent survey found that as many as 40 percent of Canadians would take to the stores mostly for clothes and electronics. Back in 2007, it was estimated that Canadians dropped upwards of $1 billion on Boxing Day alone.

So there you have it, friends. On a day where (if you’re, admittedly, like me) leaving the couch for any reason except to refill your plate and cup, or to hit up the nearest retailer, seems absolutely ludicrous remember that there’s something deeper going on. The season of giving does not end on December 25 or 26, and is not solely about obtaining material goods. Rather it’s about showing your appreciation for one another and being charitable.