Happy Boxing Day!
Memories of a Holiday from Across the Pond
“You will arrive in …. on Boxing Day. Everything will be shut but you can wait in the bus station for us to pick you up.”
This was my introduction to a British holiday I wish Americans would transport. Instead of stores opening the day after Christmas in hopes of selling off their Christmas-related stock, the stores in Coventry were shut for the day. As a fervent after-Christmas-sales devotee, this came as a surprise.
I had flown from St Louis to London on Christmas Day, arriving early in the morning and navigating to the bus station. I realized I could catch an earlier bus than the ticket I had bought and I hoped on the bus hoping I could figure out how to contact my friends when I got there. With a little help from the locals, I managed to do so and arrived at my friend’s in time for lunch.
Looking back, I am rather amazed at how well I navigated all that. It is certainly not something I would attempt today. Age and the impact of trauma have increasingly taken their toll since my 50’s but going to visit my friends in England is certainly on the top of my favorite life memories. As I rode across the countryside viewing the landscape from my seat on the bus, I had to get used to drivers on the “wrong” side of cars. The bus made stops in several villages and my anticipation for when I could spend time exploring grew with every stop. But first, Boxing Day.
“The name comes from a time during Queen Victoria's reign when the rich used to box up gifts to give to the poor. Boxing Day was traditionally a day off for servants—a day when they received a special Christmas box from their masters. The servants would also go home on Boxing Day to give Christmas boxes to their families.” (Source)
There are also traditions in which money was collected by churches—in boxes—and given out to the poor the day after Christmas.
“Today, those boxes aren't as popular. However some people leave out extra money for people like paper boys and girls in the weeks before Christmas, and call it a Christmas box.” (Source)
While researching, I found another interesting tradition:
“The national holiday also refers to a nautical tradition. Ships that were setting sail would have a sealed box containing money on board as a sign of good luck. If their voyage was a success, their box would be given to a priest, opened on Christmas and then given to the poor.” (Source)
Boxing Day also became a traditional day for sporting events. I had not investigated any of this when I arrived at my friend’s house to discover a table covered with festive-looking boxes filled with homemade goodies being prepared for our evening adventure.
Since every holiday seems to involve the day after leftovers, Boxing Day is certainly that. I was to learn that the boxes on the table were being prepared to take along to the homes of friends where we would spend the evening. Other stops were made along the way and boxes were exchanged. Eventually, we would arrive home with a whole new set of boxes filled with delicious baked goods.
Not even jet lag could dampen the enjoyment of this unexpected day. It kept me awake, I slept well and woke up the next day feeling like I was in the correct time zone. The stores were open and I was ready to shop.
What ever your day holds today—Happy Boxing Day!
Note: I was disappointed to read that, “Boxing Day has become more commercialised over the years. As well as eating Christmas leftovers, Boxing Day is a chance to shop the sales — and snap up some great bargains. Sales in-store and online offer big discounts to lure shoppers. Some retailers reduce their prices on Christmas Eve, sometimes as early as 23rd December.” (Source) Alas, I will hold onto my memory of the day instead!
Boxing Day is definitely more commercialized than it was even when I moved to Canada 25 years ago. For us, for a long while it became a day of travelling to family. Since Advent and Christmas Eve were full of responsibilities, we made sure Christmas Day was a day reserved just for us and our little family, sometimes adding a few others who didn't have a place to go. Then over the river and through the woods to Grandma's farm and time with aunts, uncles and cousins. It is a federal holiday in Canada. As a part of the Commonwealth we do a lot of "British" things!