Boxing Day

As if Christmas weren't enough, the day after is a celebration in and of itself, depending on where you live.  You've probably heard of Boxing Day, but maybe you didn't know what it was.  In some countries, it's a practice whereby workers in the service industries are given boxes of gifts from those they've served.  But some churches also honor Boxing Day by taking donations from parishioners and then breaking open the box of cash on December 26 and doling it out to the poor.  In South Africa, the day was officially named Day of Goodwill a couple of decades ago.  In Ireland, the day is known as Day of the Wren and many Catholics celebrate the day as St. Stephen's Day.  Get out your old book of Christmas carols and sing along to Good King Wenceslas to get a better idea of that one.  In many European countries, the day is called Second Christmas Day and seems to refer to all the sales and gift returns/exchanges that happen on the day after Christmas.

And just in case that's not enough celebration for you, the day marks the beginning of Kwanzaa.

And I thought we were done!

Being in a state of relief that I survived another Christmas, I was unsure what to fall in love with today.  But Boxing Day seems to have the right idea.  After all the excesses of Christmas, beginning on the Thanksgiving Shopping Day and its twin, Black Friday, we could use a day which is dedicated to those less fortunate.  I think I will use this day to write out my annual checks to selected non-profits and organizations that do good work.

So Happy Boxing Day to you!