Box social is a term with varying definitions in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

American usage

In the U.S. state of Vermont

Vermont

Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...

the tradition is that women decorate a cardboard box and fill it with a lunch or dinner for two. The men bid on the women's boxes anticipating a meal with the woman whose box it is. The bidding involves teasing, joking, and competition. The event frequently takes place in a town hall, school gymnasium, or church hall. The practice had fallen out of favor with young people in the 1970s–1990s, but has seen some resurgence in recent years. The rules today have become less rigid. Men now provide boxes as well, but the goal remains the same: raising money for a school, church, or civic project.

British usage

In Victorian Britain, middle class young people had few acceptable ways to socialize and meet new people. A solution emerged of "box socials" held at various people's houses, organized by the parents, where youths could mix in a risk-free non-alcoholic environment. Within the university environment, a box social can be an annual social gathering for a sports club.