Today is Boxing Day in Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. It is a day off work for many people in those countries. It is also a day to give to the needy. Boxing Day traces its roots to Britain, where it also is called St. Stephen's Day. The tradition includes giving presents to people who serve others -- for example, mail carriers, doormen and porters.In "days of olde," Boxing Day was a time for the "Lord of the manor" to give his servants gifts and food, since they had to work on Christmas Day. Collection boxes at churches also were open for people to give money to the poor. Boxing Day is another chance to extend the Christmas holiday and be with siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews. Christmas Day was for the immediate family, spent close to home, exchanging gifts and enjoying a fabulous Christmas dinner with all the trimmings; Boxing Day was the day to go visiting friends, neighbors, other family members and exchanging gifts with them. Nowadays, Boxing Day has become commercialized, like many other holidays; it marks the beginning of the after-Christmas sales, which back in the old days used to start on New Year's Day.
No comments:
Post a Comment