boxing day

Know About Boxing Day

Published

13 hours ago

December 26, 2024

admin

Boxing Day, celebrated on December 26, is a holiday which often leaves people scratching their heads, particularly in the United States where it’s met with blank stares and the occasional query about whether it involves actual boxing matches. Know about Boxing Day? Spoiler alert: it doesn’t! Instead, it has its roots in charitable giving and the tradition of opening alms boxes to distribute to the needy, dating back to medieval times.

People often gather at pubs or have get-togethers at home on Boxing Day. While it can be considered a day for social gatherings and enjoying drinks with friends and family, it’s not typically seen as a major “drinking holiday” in the same way as St. Patrick’s Day or New Year’s Eve, particularly in countries where it’s widely celebrated like the UK, Canada, and Australia;people may choose to drink moderately as part of the day’s festivities, but the focus is more on spending time with loved ones and participating in post-Christmas activities like shopping or watching sports.

For Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries it is public holiday. Most offices are closed on this day if it is a weekday and adds to the nice long Christmas break.

The name “Boxing Day” comes from the practice of giving boxes filled with gifts or money to those in need. Traditionally, on this day, wealthy families would prepare boxes for their servants who had to work on Christmas Day. After a long day of serving, these workers were finally given a chance to celebrate and enjoy some leftovers—talk about a well-deserved feast! This practice of generosity was tied to the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, who is celebrated on December 26. So while you might think Boxing Day is just about putting away Christmas decorations or returning unwanted gifts, it’s really about spreading joy and kindness.

Today Boxing Day has morphed into a shopping extravaganza in countries like the UK. Picture this: hordes of shoppers storming stores like it’s Black Friday, all in search of post-Christmas deals. It’s a day when people line up not for charity but for discounted electronics and half-price holiday decorations. Who needs altruism when you can snag a great deal on last year’s Christmas lights?In addition to shopping, many people indulge in sports on Boxing Day. Whether it’s football matches or horse racing, it seems everyone is looking for an excuse to avoid doing laundry or tackling that mountain of dishes from Christmas dinner. And let’s not forget the quintessential British pastime: napping after a hearty meal of leftovers.

So next time someone asks you about Boxing Day, you can enlighten them with tales of charity and shopping frenzies while secretly planning your own post-Christmas nap!

Source link

Bailey's Chocolate

What Is Boxing Day

Published

1 year ago

December 26, 2023

admin

You ask the average person in London what Boxing Day is and you get a variety of answers. It is the day you get drunk with the people you like, or it is the day you recover from family. Or is it a holiday where you can rest after Christmas? What is Boxing Day and how did it start? It is definitely more than another holiday shopping day. But why did come about and do only the Brits get to enjoy it?

For Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries it is public holiday. Most offices are closed on this day if it is a weekday and adds to the nice long Christmas break.

In parts of Europe, such as several regions of Spain,^{^{the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Romania, Hungary, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Slovakia,^[4] Slovenia, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, and in the Republic of Ireland, 26 December is Saint Stephen’s Day, which is considered the second day of Christmas. But is is a different holiday and background than Boxing Day.}}

During the Victorian era, the upper class and aristocracy would box up leftover food, money, gifts and goods and give them to their tradesmen, servants and others who provided reliable service all year.

It is a wonderful sentiment which has been a bit forgotten. Today, Boxing Day in the UK and Commonwealth is more known for leftovers, relaxing and the Boxing Day Sales.

It was more philanthropic and family oriented up until WWII. A gradual shift occurred during the economic boom after the second world war as the British slowly got back on their feet. Retailers realized it was a chance to drive traffic and sales. By the mid-1950, consumer expenditure increased and the competition between retailers intensified. Now it is similar to Black Friday in the US with stores opening early, big markdowns on a few products and big crowds.

So today is a day to either kick back and join the throngs of shoppers. Either way – have fun!

Source link