Every year, I help my parents put up their Christmas tree, which is special because it has ornaments from all over the world. We listen to an old set of Christmas records my mom has had since the '60s, and we build a fire, and I make this wonderful eggnog recipe that's so rich, you have to eat it with a spoon. :-) Julie
Every Christmas Eve, we go to my husband's cousin's house where we indulge in homemade risotto, lasagna, and an Italian pastry called Chiacchiere di Carnevale. We also have a small gift exchange and have a bumper pool tournament. It is one of our favorite times of the year! Deena
After enjoying a hectic Christmas Day, it's nice to take Boxing Day to relax, and appreciate the day, visit with friends and family, eat leftovers and enjoy a glass or two.
I looked up Boxing Day and this is what I found: Like Christmas Day, Boxing Day is a public holiday. This means it is typically a non working day in the whole of Britain. When Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday the following Monday is the public holiday.
Why is 26 December called Boxing Day?
Traditionally, 26 December was the day to open the Christmas Box to share the contents with the poor.
What is a Christmas Box?
The Christmas box was a wooden or clay container where people placed gifts.
History of Boxing Day - Boxing Day origins
Through research for this page, we have discovered that Christmas Boxes were used in different ways:
To protect ships
Image: Exploration shipDuring the Age of Exploration, when great sailing ships were setting off to discover new land, A Christmas Box was used as a good luck device. It was a small container placed on each ship while it was still in port. It was put there by a priest, and those crewmen who wanted to ensure a safe return would drop money into the box. It was then sealed up and kept on board for the entire voyage.
If the ship came home safely, the box was handed over to the priest in the exchange for the saying of a Mass of thanks for the success of the voyage. The Priest would keep the box sealed until Christmas when he would open it to share the contents with the poor.
Church To help the poor
An 'Alms Box' was placed in every church on Christmas Day, into which worshippers placed a gift for the poor of the parish. These boxes were always opened the day after Christmas, which is why that day became know as Boxing Day.
A present for the workers
Many poorly paid workers were required to work on Christmas Day and took the following day off to visit their families. As they prepared to leave, their employers would present them with Christmas boxes.
During the late 18th century, Lords and Ladies of the manor would "box up" their leftover food, or sometimes gifts and distribute them the day after Christmas to tenants who lived and worked on their lands.
And the tradition still continues today ......
Christmas boxes The tradition of giving money to workers still continues today. It is customary for householders to give small gifts or monetary tips to regular visiting trades people (the milkman, dustman, coalman, paper boy etc.) and, in some work places, for employers to give a Christmas bonus to employees.
Schools across the country gather together gifts to be put in Christmas Boxes that are sent to poorer countries. Jenny
In addition to celebrating Christmas, each year, someone in my family chooses at least one day of Kwanzaa to celebrate. We bring fruits and other small gifts. We light the menorah and talk about the principles of the chosen Kwanzaa day, our appreciation of the past and hopes for the future. It is a very bonding experience that reaffirms the importance of our families, good friends and well as our communities!
Every year, I help my parents put up their Christmas tree, which is special because it has ornaments from all over the world. We listen to an old set of Christmas records my mom has had since the '60s, and we build a fire, and I make this wonderful eggnog recipe that's so rich, you have to eat it with a spoon. :-) Julie
ReplyDeleteEvery Christmas Eve, we go to my husband's cousin's house where we indulge in homemade risotto, lasagna, and an Italian pastry called Chiacchiere di Carnevale. We also have a small gift exchange and have a bumper pool tournament. It is one of our favorite times of the year! Deena
ReplyDeleteYou need to share the Chiacchiere di Carnevale
DeleteIt is also called Italian Crostoli. Here is a link to the recipe http://www.happystove.com/recipe/170/Italian+Crostoli+%28Chiacchiere%29/.
DeleteWe head up to my family's house in Chicago for Christmas. Christmas Eve we have king crablegs and a bouche de noel.
ReplyDeleteOK, after reading yours and Deena's comments you also need to share the bouche de noel.
DeleteAfter enjoying a hectic Christmas Day, it's nice to take Boxing Day to relax, and appreciate the day, visit with friends and family, eat leftovers and enjoy a glass or two.
ReplyDeleteI looked up Boxing Day and this is what I found:
Like Christmas Day, Boxing Day is a public holiday. This means it is typically a non working day in the whole of Britain. When Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday the following Monday is the public holiday.
Why is 26 December called Boxing Day?
Traditionally, 26 December was the day to open the Christmas Box to share the contents with the poor.
What is a Christmas Box?
The Christmas box was a wooden or clay container where people placed gifts.
History of Boxing Day - Boxing Day origins
Through research for this page, we have discovered that Christmas Boxes were used in different ways:
To protect ships
Image: Exploration shipDuring the Age of Exploration, when great sailing ships were setting off to discover new land, A Christmas Box was used as a good luck device. It was a small container placed on each ship while it was still in port. It was put there by a priest, and those crewmen who wanted to ensure a safe return would drop money into the box. It was then sealed up and kept on board for the entire voyage.
If the ship came home safely, the box was handed over to the priest in the exchange for the saying of a Mass of thanks for the success of the voyage. The Priest would keep the box sealed until Christmas when he would open it to share the contents with the poor.
Church To help the poor
An 'Alms Box' was placed in every church on Christmas Day, into which worshippers placed a gift for the poor of the parish. These boxes were always opened the day after Christmas, which is why that day became know as Boxing Day.
A present for the workers
Many poorly paid workers were required to work on Christmas Day and took the following day off to visit their families. As they prepared to leave, their employers would present them with Christmas boxes.
During the late 18th century, Lords and Ladies of the manor would "box up" their leftover food, or sometimes gifts and distribute them the day after Christmas to tenants who lived and worked on their lands.
And the tradition still continues today ......
Christmas boxes
The tradition of giving money to workers still continues today. It is customary for householders to give small gifts or monetary tips to regular visiting trades people (the milkman, dustman, coalman, paper boy etc.) and, in some work places, for employers to give a Christmas bonus to employees.
Schools across the country gather together gifts to be put in Christmas Boxes that are sent to poorer countries. Jenny
http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/xmas/boxingday.html
In addition to celebrating Christmas, each year, someone in my family chooses at least one day of Kwanzaa to celebrate. We bring fruits and other small gifts. We light the menorah and talk about the principles of the chosen Kwanzaa day, our appreciation of the past and hopes for the future. It is a very bonding experience that reaffirms the importance of our families, good friends and well as our communities!
ReplyDelete