By-Tor.com

Having survived an excellent Christmas Day I'd like to wish us Brits a 'Happy Boxing Day' for tomorrow. We get to do it all over again bar the mess of present unwrapping !

I have just realised that this is my third (yes, three!) xmas as a member of By-Tor. I guess that like my previous two Boxing Day posts the holiday will have to be explained...unless some of you actually remember? .

Ogg wrote: I guess that like my previous two Boxing Day posts the holiday will have to be explained...unless some of you actually remember? .

Rushlight doesn't, so maybe you could explain it for her?



(I would do so myself, but since you obviously have a couple of years' practice..... )

I must admit that, sometimes, I prefer Boxing Day to Xmas Day (especially now I don't have to work). The pressure is off and it so much more laid back.

Well, I don't know what Boxing Day is, but it sounds like a lot of fun. So you all have a great day.

Devil's Advocate wrote: Rushlight doesn't, so maybe you could explain it for her?



(I would do so myself, but since you obviously have a couple of years' practice..... )

Nah. You're just too lazy to explain. Just teasing silly devil. Since D.A. and I are going to live together, I would like to get familiar with some U.K holidays. I like Guy Fawlkes night. So what is Boxing Day and what do you do?

Here you go

"Boxing Day
In England a long time ago?

Servants were required to work on Christmas. They were responsible for making the holiday run smoothly for wealthy landowners. They were allowed to take leave on December 26th and visit their families. The employers gave each servant a box containing gifts and bonuses. In addition, around the 800s' churches opened their alms boxes (boxes where people place monetary donations) and distributed the contents to poor.

In England today?

Few people have servants but the custom of giving gifts or money to those who provide service continues. It is also popular to visit grandparents and shop (the after Christmas discounts begin). Many people get the day off from work. Watching sports especially horse races is also a popular activity. Boxing Day is also celebrated in places where the English have settled or have influence like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Scotland. Some places observe Boxing Day on December 26th and some celebrate it on the first weekday following Christmas, so, if Christmas falls on Friday or Saturday Boxing Day would be on the following Monday.

Now, the actual origin of this holiday is debatable and has been debated, one idea being more popular than the other at a given time.

St. Stephen's Day is also celebrated on December 26th. Stephen one of Jesus' disciples. Shortly after Jesus' crucifixion he was accused of preaching blasphemy and he was stoned to death becoming the first Christian martyr. The Song "Good King Wenceslas" speaks of Stephen.

"...when Good King Wenceslas looked out,
on the Feast of Stephen...."

So what do you do in the US on this day?

..pray that the relatives don't make it home safe?

carolynn

happy the day after Boxing Day

Happy Day After Boxing Day!!!

I know in Ireland they celebrate St. Stephen's Day. A few years ago I went to a wedding in Ireland on Dec. 26th and part of the reception was a "party and dance" for St. Stephens Day. It was a HOOT!!

I was "boxing" yesterday. I was boxing up the mess.

Thanks for the info Ogg. D.A. and I hope to meet you and Slaine and the rest of our UK friends when I go back to Wales next year. I had a lot of fun during Halloween and we hope to celebrate Boxing Day and Guy Fawlkes night with you guys.

rushlight wrote:Thanks for the info Ogg. D.A. and I hope to meet you and Slaine and the rest of our UK friends when I go back to Wales next year. I had a lot of fun during Halloween and we hope to celebrate Boxing Day and Guy Fawlkes night with you guys.

I'm sure that with advance notice us 'Uk'ers could arrange a meet. Wouldnt that be cool?

Is it still cool to say 'cool'?

Ogg wrote:

rushlight wrote:Thanks for the info Ogg. D.A. and I hope to meet you and Slaine and the rest of our UK friends when I go back to Wales next year. I had a lot of fun during Halloween and we hope to celebrate Boxing Day and Guy Fawlkes night with you guys.

I'm sure that with advance notice us 'Uk'ers could arrange a meet. Wouldnt that be cool?

Is it still cool to say 'cool'?

I certainly like the idea - its a chance to meet the UK By-Toyers as well.

And Ogg, you're allowed to say 'cool' without wondering if its cool when you're over 35 so we're both cool to say cool.

is that cool?

I would love to be involved in the meet but I'd have no where to stay and I'd have the kids ....still if anyone knows of cheap bed and breakfast in the area of the meet then I could try and arrange something