Maybe next year will be different. Maybe this gift I received yesterday will change things:
 |
My Blog Plan by Rebecca Scarlata Keliher: Maybe this planner will help me with my blogging time-management skills! |
What I had planned to write about today was Boxing Day.
When I was growing up, my parents referred to the day after Christmas as Boxing Day. For some reason, when I was small I assumed this involved a lot of people watching the sport of boxing.
My dad wasn't a big boxing fan, but I had seen him watch a fight or two on television, so I knew what the sport was. I was familiar with sports-fever of other sorts: my parents were big Calgary Stampeder football fans, and the entire population of Calgary, Alberta (where we lived) would turn out in western wear during the Calgary Stampede week. It just made sense to me that grownups might get excited enough about the sport of boxing to name a day after it.
Of course, at some point I figured out I was wrong.
Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated in Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other British Commonwealth countries. Various explanations exist as to how this holiday came to be:
- It was a day when servants were given boxes of gifts or tips.
- It began as a day when people boxed up their left-over food and took it to the poor.
- The day after Christmas, church coin-collection boxes were opened and the contents distributed to the poor.
But this reminds me. I've been meaning to write a thank you note and send a tip to our newspaper carrier. Our paper has been delivered faithfully every morning before dawn for 12 years, even in weather like today.
 |
| Although not visible in the photo, it has been snowing here off-and-on all morning. |
What are your plans for today?
Note: In the spirit of full disclosure, this post contains an Amazon affiliate link, for which I may receive compensation if any purchases are made. All opinions expressed, however, are entirely my own.
A quiet day here. Boxing Day has been and gone. I will ease my way back into a semblance of normalacy. A little washing, a little cleaning, a little gardening, a LOT of reading.
ReplyDeleteYou are gardening and we are snow shoveling! Enjoy your reading and the rest of the holiday season EC!
DeleteI have never known what Boxing Day was - so thank you for the lesson! I love your new planner, and might order one for myself (through your link, of course :). We are still recovering from yesterday, and might go see a movie. Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteWondering what movie you are planning to see? I tidied up a little - but our plans are pretty low-key here today too! I'll let you know if the planner gets me organized Lana!
DeleteMy stepdad is British and he keeps referring to today as boxing day! I just assumed it was the day you boxed up all the gifts you didn't want and took them back to the store for a refund. The true meaning behind the day sounds much more selfless and generous.
ReplyDeleteYes, I used to assume that as well ... Thanks for commenting Stephanie! If your stepdad is British, has he also told you about sticky pudding and plum pudding?
DeleteI live in the US now but Britain is home to me and I miss Boxing Day. It was always so much fun for us because it was my granddad's birthday also, so it was always a big celebration day at our house :)
ReplyDeleteNice that your Granddad's birthday was celebrated separate from Christmas. My Father-in-law's birthday is just before, and my dad's is just after. Both have commented how when they were small their birthday was sort of just an add-on to Christmas.
Delete