by Anna
As you return to your boring old daily routine, following the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, are you left with a feeling of exhaustion and relief that it’s all over? Or are you thinking, “More! More! MORE!”
If you are like me, you could use one extra day of fun in there with Hanukkah, my birthday, Christmas Eve, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve, boys and girls, there’s an answer: December 26th, Boxing Day. (Yes, Kwanzaa also begins on the 26th, but no one gets the day off for Kwanzaa. I’m talking closed post offices here- the works.)
We don’t celebrate it for the same reason that we don’t drive on the left side of the road: we think the British are silly. But is a free holiday silly? Are we fine putting in a full day’s work on a day that Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Brits are dancing around and partying with their friends? Boxing Day has nothing to do with religion or the Queen, so everyone gets a go.
The holiday originated in England a long time ago when people had servants, and the servants had to work on Christmas. But the rich people would give the servants the day after Christmas off to go be with their families. Supposedly, their employers sent the servants on their way with some boxed gifts (possibly some of the rich family’s reject presents, like that sweater from Aunt Gertrude). . . Or it might have something to do with alms boxes and giving money to the poor. Whichever is fine with me.
If Christmas is on a Friday, everyone gets the following Monday off. It’s brilliant. The British have recognized it as a bank holiday since 1871. Do you see what we’re missing? This year, Friday December 26, 2003, don’t go to work. They can keep Boxing Day from us no longer!
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