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Boxing Day Ideas
Date: December 26
Believe it or not, Boxing Day has
nothing to do with the pugilist's sport, nor the cardboard containers
that wrapped gifts come in. And while for many years it represented
the day to stand in long lines to return presents, or get the
post-Christmas sales, it has nothing to do with shopping, either.
The history of Boxing Day is somewhat
murky, but seems to center around being a day on which the less
fortunate or privileged, received gifts in one form or another. In
rich houses, where the family celebrated on Christmas Day, the
servants would be given an annual stipend or thank-you gift, often in
boxes, the following day. It was also the day on which churches opened
the alms boxes where people dropped coins in hopes of intervention on
their behalf by the Saints. This was then distributed by the priests
to the poor of the parish.
December 26 is also the feast of St. Stephen, who was one of the
original seven deacons serving the Christian Church. A kind man in
life, and a martyr in death, his generosity is remembered in the
Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas", when the king and his page go
forth to bring meat, wine and pine logs to a poor peasant.
Today, it is generally a time for families to recover from the
excitement of Christmas Day, to visit family or friends, and yes,
sometimes to even go shopping. But savvy retailers are now running
many Boxing Day sales before Dec. 26.
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