Boxing Day

Boxing Day is a British Christmas custom that has interested me ever
since I first came to Scotland in 2003. I was first exposed to Boxing
Day in 1998 when I was studying in Vancouver, Canada. The Brits
have developed a rich tradition of Boxing Day. It is usually celebrated
on 26 December, the day after Christmas. But if the day after Christ-
mas falls on the weekend, it can be observed on the following Monday.
This year, however, it was observed on Saturday, the day after Christ-
mas.

In Britain Boxing Day is a public holiday, just like Christmas. Therefore
it is considered another day off from work. But in recent times Boxing
Day has been a time for stores to offer clearance sales. I heard about
people lining up several hours before store doors opened in order to be
the first people to take advantage of Boxing Day sales. When the doors
were opened people made a mad rush to get to the items on sale.

But Boxing Day has also been a special time for families to do fun things
together. They watch sports, play board games, go on walks in the coun-
try, and eat leftovers from the Christmas dinner. It is also customary for
business owners to give Christmas bonuses to their workers and home-
owners to give tips to the people who deliver the paper or mow the lawn.
It is also a day to find ways to help the poor. In Britain Boxing Day is a
very special day.

Meanwhile Fife, the region in which I live, continues to be Britain's scene
of an Arctic deep freeze. There were snow flurries again today and more
are expected before New Year's Day. The last time I saw so much snow
and experienced so much cold was a wonderful time in South Dakota in
2002 and 2003. But that seems a whole world away.

New Year's Blessings to you and yours,