Boxing Day.
By Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (23405)
United Kingdom
December 26, 2015 7:41am CST
A few words of greetings from the UK on what is known here as boxing day. It is a bank holiday here also known as St. Stephens day.
It is supposed to represent a day off for those who were in domestic service who after serving their masters on Christmas day were given boxes containing gifts or left over food so that they could return home for the day to visit their relatives.
When I was a child Christmas day and Boxing day were sacrosanct. We would spend the day with family on Christmas day but on Boxing day it was open house and others would come to our house to visit eat drink and be merry. Sadly for some people these days there is no holiday as some shops open their doors for the Christmas sales. There are some significant savings in the stores and some people are known to camp outside the shop to nab bargains. I do not support this as I do not feel it is fair on shop workers. I can not see any reason why these shops can not close for two days.
The only day of the year when it is against the law to open a shop in the UK is Easter Sunday.
It is quite a magical time for children opening and playing with their new toys. Sadly yesterday my grandson was still too poorly to even bother with any of his new toys. In fact when we were having Christmas dinner he was not interested in eating at all and crawled under his mothers chair where he slept for around two and a half hours.
This morning he is a bit brighter so I think the antibiotics have started to kick in. He has started to eat something. It is a sad time of the year especially for children when they are sick and poorly.
My thoughts today are for the people in the North of England who are being subjected to flooding due to the high amount of rain they have been having just recently. There are over 300 alerts for flooding in the North of England. Many people have had their home's flooded out especially in Yorkshire, Cumbria and Scotland. In Wales there are problems with flooding too.
In Australia there are dreadful bush fires that have caused damage to homes. Over 100 homes have been destroyed in the fires and it does not appear that the fires are abating yet.
So where ever you are around the world I hope that you are safe and do spare a thought for those who are affected by these horrible disasters. I hope you all had a wonderful time yesterday whether you were with your family or you celebrated it on your own.
17 people like this
16 responses
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
26 Dec 15
Hopefully washed down with some guinness? I don't think it will be a very peaceful once the family arrive in around half an hour but it is nice all being together and watching the kids having fun.
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
26 Dec 15
@garymarsh6 A cup of tea, more likely! 
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
27 Dec 15
@pgntwo Make mine a coffee if you please!
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50317)
• United States
26 Dec 15
We had severe weather here in Mississippi and sadly some lost their homes and some were killed.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
26 Dec 15
I think Boxing Day s a wonderful idea and the stores really should be closed to let people enjoy it. Here in the US we had devastating tornadoes so even in this most holy season, mother nature is wreaking havoc around the world.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
27 Dec 15
I know I saw how devastating the tornadoes have been and 14 people killed too. Oh dear oh dear it is so sad.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
28 Dec 15
Here in Canada it is quiet and warm, your Boxing day reminds of our first learning about Boxing day our first Christmas in Canada. I will write about it, because its a funny story. Unfortunately Boxing day is a big shopping day here now. It was closed when we moved here in the 80's but no longer.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
28 Dec 15
The commercial world has taken over the meaning of Christmas sadly!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
27 Dec 15
Very true. I would much rather be with my family than pamper to often rude shoppers.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
26 Dec 15
We don't have boxing day in the US I have often wondered what that was all about. How interesting to finally know. Thanks.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
26 Dec 15
Most people worked all year and only got time off to go to their homes to celebrate special holidays. For example Mothering Sunday they were permitted to visit their families to visit their mother church usually picking up wild flowers on the way to present to their mothers. ( Usually primroses or bluebells) They are protected species now so no one is allowed to pick the wild ones.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
26 Dec 15
@garymarsh6 Primroses are protected species? Wow here in the US I don't think they are. I have some in a couple of my flower gardens. They come back every year and spread. Very pretty flowers.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112888)
• El Paso, Texas
25 Aug 19
It seems these past few years have had severe weather patterns all over the globe, I hope it'll soon be better all round.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
26 Dec 15
As I am sure you will be told countless times today, we do not have Boxing Day In the US. On a bit of an aside to this subject, I think that our stores should be more like those in the UK. Our stores are open far too long and do not pay heed to religious Holidays for the most part. This is something that has always irked me. Of course all I can do is not shop after a certain hour, or on a certain day. It doesn't hurt their profits too much, either way.
Anyway, It sounds as if Boxing Day has become a lot like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Presidents Day and Veterans Day for us. It's just an excuse for stores to have sales to rake in profits. Of coruse we go for this hype.
Sorry I am going into a bit of a tangent. I hope the little one feels fully better soon. WHat a horrible few days to be sick!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
26 Dec 15
Traditionally the sales never used to start until the New Year but what with the internet now they are starting on Christmas eve once the shops have closed although some have started to mark down their goods on Christmas eve. Shame you do not have Boxing day off too. I know in France they only get Boxing day off in certain parts mainly in Northern France. Anyways have a nice time whatever you are doing.,
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
26 Dec 15
Yes it is quite tragic and there by the grace of God go I.
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
26 Dec 15
Some of the shops have been open since 05:00 this morning. Some people are crazy enough to leave their homes to go to them though! Have a wonderful day today Anna.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
26 Dec 15
I am listening to someone on the radio telling how bad it is Janet. They have had no electricity for three days because of the flooding with bridges washed away. It certainly is tragic even more so at this time of year.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
27 Dec 15
I am so sorry for everyone who has been affected by the flooding and fires. No time is great for this to happen but to happen right before Christmas is just sadder. I hate that your grandson is feeling bad and can't enjoy his Christmas. For a child to willingly lay down and and sleep for so long, he really doesn't feel good.
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
27 Dec 15
send that rain our way - Will it here! I am glad to hear your grandson is feeling better. I had one Christmas when my son developed a 39* Fever and was rushed to hospital - he had Malaria which he got from being in the bush a few weeks earlier with the Scouts, 2 weeks in hospital was stressful - it lingers with him still - every-time it gets hot - he gets sick - So we are having heatwaves and he is struggling - 34 years old - but still my son.
@Marilynda1225 (82840)
• United States
26 Dec 15
thank you for the explanation of boxing day (I was never quite sure what it was). Glad that your grandson is feeling a little better but sad that he wasn't feeling well enough to enjoy all of Christmas. As for this crazy winter weather, we're having severe conditions in some parts of the US as well.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
26 Dec 15
Yes it was bizarre all the drought in California. I love America it is so diverse and large. I would love to visit every state so far I have only visited Pennsylvania, Tennessee, New York, North Carolina, Texas, California, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and New Jersey. So many more to catch up on.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
26 Dec 15
I am impressed that you know the origin of Boxing Day, which is commonly mistaken to be associated with the sport of boxing by many people. It is a long time since that tradition was practised.
As for rain in the North of England, we are quite used to it now.
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
26 Dec 15
Yes,he needs to perks up there.Yes,what can we do with all the horrible weather happening there.
