If you live in Canada, as Lee and I do, or in another Commonwealth country, the day after Christmas is called Boxing Day. When I was very young, I briefly thought that Boxing Day had something to do with men wearing gloves and sparring in a ring. This notion likely stemmed from the Friday night boxing matches my father used to watch on TV.
There are a few theories about the origin of the Boxing Day holiday, the most common being that wealthy estate owners in Britain boxed up provisions and small gifts to hand out to their tenants. Sometime in the mid 1800s, this practice was officially recognized and given holiday status. Another explanation relates to the medieval custom of doling out money to the poor from church donation boxes, which were opened up the day after Christmas.
Although Boxing Day is a statutory holiday here in Canada, the stores are wide open. Call it Canada's version of Black Friday! Businesses can't get enough of us customers. I grew up in an era before store were allowed to open, so the day after Christmas meant a chance to try out those new skates or toboggan, get into the Meccano set or cut out my new paper dolls. Yes, those presents are really dating me, aren't they? But the day was also an opportunity to visit distant relatives, nibble on leftovers or best of all, settle onto the couch with a new book.
These days I'm fortunate to share Christmas Day with my extended family and many of us enjoy going to a movie on Boxing Day. Of course, the movie has to be one appropriate to all the generations. I remember one year when someone didn't read the reviews. A fairly explicit sex scene (for the times!) ensued. Sitting beside my husband's eighty-five year old grandmother, I was privy to her constant 'tsk-ing' throughout.
Since I'm not a shopper, the idea of returning to those same stores I'd dragged myself through mere days before is definitely not an option for December 26. Until I have to meet everyone for this year's blockbuster matinee, I'm all too happy to nibble a bit, get to the couch before my husband does, and dive into my new magazines or books. The best part? Staying in my pj's till lunchtime.
How do you like to spend Boxing Day, Lee?
Thank you for the Boxing Day background, Janice! I love this holiday almost as much as Christmas, just for different reasons.
I love to decorate the house for the holidays and every year we host a Christmas Eve buffet supper, a post-gift-opening Christmas morning brunch and Christmas dinner. While the turkey is in the overn on Christmas day, some of us work on a new jigsaw puzzle while others play checkers, scrabble and gin rummy.
My family jokes about the amount of food I prepare and the general consensus is there's enough to feed a large village or maybe even a small town. While that may be true, there is a method to my...Okay, let's not call it madness. Let's call it thinking ahead. And on Boxing Day, here's where you'll find me.
Curled up in front of the fire with a couple of cats, a good book....and a plate of leftovers!
Wishing a very happy and heartwarming New Year! warmest, Lee
Oh Lee, if we weren't so far apart I'd join you in front of that fireplace. All the best in 2018!
Janice
How do you like to spend the day after Christmas?
There are a few theories about the origin of the Boxing Day holiday, the most common being that wealthy estate owners in Britain boxed up provisions and small gifts to hand out to their tenants. Sometime in the mid 1800s, this practice was officially recognized and given holiday status. Another explanation relates to the medieval custom of doling out money to the poor from church donation boxes, which were opened up the day after Christmas.
Although Boxing Day is a statutory holiday here in Canada, the stores are wide open. Call it Canada's version of Black Friday! Businesses can't get enough of us customers. I grew up in an era before store were allowed to open, so the day after Christmas meant a chance to try out those new skates or toboggan, get into the Meccano set or cut out my new paper dolls. Yes, those presents are really dating me, aren't they? But the day was also an opportunity to visit distant relatives, nibble on leftovers or best of all, settle onto the couch with a new book.
These days I'm fortunate to share Christmas Day with my extended family and many of us enjoy going to a movie on Boxing Day. Of course, the movie has to be one appropriate to all the generations. I remember one year when someone didn't read the reviews. A fairly explicit sex scene (for the times!) ensued. Sitting beside my husband's eighty-five year old grandmother, I was privy to her constant 'tsk-ing' throughout.
Since I'm not a shopper, the idea of returning to those same stores I'd dragged myself through mere days before is definitely not an option for December 26. Until I have to meet everyone for this year's blockbuster matinee, I'm all too happy to nibble a bit, get to the couch before my husband does, and dive into my new magazines or books. The best part? Staying in my pj's till lunchtime.
How do you like to spend Boxing Day, Lee?
Thank you for the Boxing Day background, Janice! I love this holiday almost as much as Christmas, just for different reasons.
I love to decorate the house for the holidays and every year we host a Christmas Eve buffet supper, a post-gift-opening Christmas morning brunch and Christmas dinner. While the turkey is in the overn on Christmas day, some of us work on a new jigsaw puzzle while others play checkers, scrabble and gin rummy.
My family jokes about the amount of food I prepare and the general consensus is there's enough to feed a large village or maybe even a small town. While that may be true, there is a method to my...Okay, let's not call it madness. Let's call it thinking ahead. And on Boxing Day, here's where you'll find me.
Wishing a very happy and heartwarming New Year! warmest, Lee
Oh Lee, if we weren't so far apart I'd join you in front of that fireplace. All the best in 2018!
Janice
How do you like to spend the day after Christmas?
I loved your post! I kind of get back to normalcy on the day after, but retired normalcy has a holiday-ness to it all the time. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about retired normalcy, Liz - for some reason I still look forward to weekends. And holidays spent with family will always be special. All the best in 2018!
DeleteI doubt that my life will ever resemble anything even remotely close to normal. I love all the holiday hustle and bustle, and I'm also grateful that Boxing Day is one of the most restful days of the year.
DeleteI had no idea of the history behind Boxing Day. Thanks for sharing. I think we have our own version here in our house - boxing up the leftover food!
ReplyDeleteHahaha Cathy - yes, we have that one too. Tupperware boxes! Happy New Year!
DeleteGood one, Cathy! I love leftovers, too!
DeleteI've long heard about boxing day, but thought maybe it was when you gathered up all of your Christmas gifts and set them under the tree all unwrapped, but in their boxes. Of course retailers would find a way to get people to stores. Like the idea of the church giving out money to needy folks much better. Have a happy New Year all.
ReplyDeleteYour comment struck a chord, Roz, because it brought back a memory of Christmas Day when I was little and we did display our presents under the tree for that day! Funny how that came back! I guess we did it to show off the pressies for the company that came for dinner. All the best in 2018!
DeleteThanks, Roz! I love the idea of displaying the opened gifts under the tree!
DeleteI wonder if there's a name for a 12-26 holiday on the order of "Company Gone Day." Had a nice gathering at my house for a couple of days--inflatable beds, lots of blankets warding off the deep freeze here, and all manner of food to satisfy various tastes. As much fun as that is, my solitude is back and the quiet is lovely. And my thoughts are turning to 2018--on a personal level, it's been a wonderful year, but oh, it went fast.
ReplyDeleteVirginia, I love the idea of ‘Company Gone Day’ and felt it last night as I finally crawled under the covers with a couple of my new magazines. 2017 was a good year for me, too - debut of my first Heartwarming - but it did go too fast. Happy New Year!
DeleteLOL, Virginia! Love it! And congrats, Janice, on your first Heartwarming! Such a wonderful story.
DeleteCompany Gone Day reminds me of a saying I quote often: Love to see the headlights, but the tail lights look good, too. Sometimes I think Canada has more holidays than we do! :-)
ReplyDeleteI love that saying, Patricia! It’s a keeper! Maybe we do have more holidays. A few years ago we got an official Family Day holiday in mid Feb. Guess the government thought we all needed another break in the long cold winter. We used to have a long holiday at Easter (for schools) but now it’s just the regular long weekend.
DeletePatricia, that saying cracked me up! And yes, we Canadians do love our holidays!
Deletethat's a funny saying...I'll have to remember it!
DeleteI, too, loved the history of this day. I didn't know what Boxing Day was, but either the giving to the poor in money or food is what Christmas is all about. Since this year, I AM the company...I'll be gone tomorrow. Today is clean up day and going to a movie and the last shared times for many months to come. It's somewhat sad on my end, but it's been a blessingh to spend time with my family! Oh, and I'm looking forward to salads again!
ReplyDeleteCatherine, I’m looking forward to salads too, but have to deal with the chocolate I got this year! Maybe re-gifting? I’m sure that’s not too inappropriate! I’ve just made my turkey soup and am waiting to head to the movie, too. Here’s to 2018!
DeleteCatherine, how lovely that you've been able to spend time with your loved ones. That makes the holidays so much more special. We eat a lot of salads at my house. I love them so much that I've started making them in mason jars and taking them to work. I put salad dressing in the bottom of the jar, than layer in the veggies starting with the firm ones on the bottom and the more delicate ones higher up. To serve, I invert the jar and give it a few gentle shakes, then dump the contents on a plate. The best part is that I can make several days' worth at a time and keep them in the fridge. Yum!
DeleteHappy boxing day. Leftovers and a book by the fire sound just perfect.
ReplyDeleteHappy Boxing Day to you, Beth, and Happy New Year, too!
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