Boxing Day is a holiday traditionally celebrated the day following Christmas Day, when servants and tradesmen would receive gifts, known as a "Christmas box", from their masters, employers or customers pretty much everywhere but the U.S.
Traditionally, in the house I grew up in it was the time to start actually punching people who offended you the day before when you were too drunk to properly clonk them.
Today, for my household anyway, it is a bit different. Having spent the holiday season buying meals, clothes and gifts for the less fortunate, gifting those who made our year easier and then, finally treating each other we have created a new tradition for the day.
We go around the house and 'Box Up' gently used clothing, toys, special items, stuffed animals and kitchen gadgets that are still in their original packaging and wrap them in the wrapping paper still clogging up the "wrapping room" (our hall closet) and deliver them to the women's shelter or local clothing bank. The tops are removable without unwrapping so the contents can be easily discerned - but it makes giving a bit more special for all involved.
Then we 'box up' all of the broken, unusable, ugly, etc. stuff and cart it off to the dumps. A gift for me!
To tell the truth it actually takes about a week, but by the new year I am feeling accomplished and ready to jump in and seek out new goals, focused less on 'stuff' and more on the 'Right' stuff.
Happy Boxing Day to all y'all!
RSS Feed
