Boxing Day is an interesting day. The day-after-Christmas holiday is celebrated by most countries in the Commonwealth, but none of them are really sure what they're celebrating, when it started or why. So here are some ideas presented for your pleasure about this holiday best spent lounging around in brightly coloured sweaters, wondering, lazily and lethargically, what to do next.
Back in the Age of Exploration, when majestic ships embarked on daring voyages to unknown lands, a quaint tradition flourished. The Christmas Box, a vessel of good fortune, was placed on each ship by a priest before setting sail. Crew members seeking a safe return would drop coins into the box, sealing their wishes and hopes for a successful voyage.
Upon the ship's safe return, the box was surrendered to the priest, who, in gratitude, would conduct a Mass to give thanks for the triumphant journey. On Christmas, the box was finally opened, and its contents were shared with the less fortunate, a beautiful gesture of spreading joy and blessings.
In my youth, Boxing Day was a day to reconnect with long-lost relatives and friends whom we couldn't meet on Christmas Day. My parents would don their finest attire, and off we went for an afternoon of visitations. For me, it meant mingling with unknown children, venturing into uncharted territories of friendship.
My wife and her family had a similar but different experience each Boxing Day. For them, Boxing Day was a day to visit with cousins and relatives who had not made it to their big Christmas Day celebrations.
As newly married couples do, we sought to find a way to deal with both families around Christmas. What I realized looking back is that we came from two different cultures around Christmas and Boxing Day. I found it hard, not in a bad way, to get used to the culture my wife and her family held dear at Christmas.
Boxing Day has been a national holiday in England, Wales, Ireland, and Canada since 1871. For years in which the holiday falls on a weekend, the celebration is moved to make sure workers still get a day off (except in Canada, where it remains Dec. 26), but since visits to Grandma and other family obligations are fulfilled on Christmas, there isn't anything left to do on Boxing Day except eat leftovers, drink and watch TV.
In addition, of course, there is shopping. England and Canada's Boxing Day evolved into a major shopping event in the 1980s —over time the shopping frenzy started earlier and today instead of Boxing Day Sales we have the Thanksgiving Black Friday.
Boxing Day has evolved to an extended Christmas afternoon. It is a holiday with presents that have already been opened and a dinner that has been eaten and another day to visit with friends and relatives.
My next post will be about New Year's Day and how our celebrations around the evening have changed over time.
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