BOXING DAY-TIME TO BREATHE AND EAT LEFTOVERS

Many people are already dressed and headed to the Malls for those Boxing Day bargains. Actually they have been happening for over a couple of weeks.

For me after all the cleaning and cooking for Christmas Day dinner, I will be doing some cleanup- slowly. No hurry. No rush.

Time to savour the luxury of being home with my husband.

Maybe a little winter walk. Or an afternoon nap.

Reflecting on Christmas. Noisy. Table discussion a little heated. Everyone ate enough.

Pictures taken with Adolph. Group shot at the table.

Remembering how Adolph proposed to me on Christmas Eve.

A blessing to have us all together.

What about your Boxing Day? What are your plans?
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BOXING DAY 2014

December 26 is Boxing Day in Canada and for most of us a Statutory Holiday. Most stores have their boxing day sales- 50% off Christmas merchandise even though many sales start mid-December to attract customers. It helps with the bottom line. Venturing out yesterday, I only went to Shoppers Drug Mart for some needed food items like milk and eggs as well as use my emailed coupon to get 20 times the points for spending over $75.00. They had enough of Christmas items like tags, Christmas crackers, some paper and some misc things to buy for next Christmas. Many new immigrants especially those from Russian were buying the chocolates and cookies in droves as they celebrate their Santa on New Year's Eve. In the old Soviet Union, they could not have Christmas Day so it was more of a Christmas for them than New Year's Eve with gifts and Santa giving to the children. There are others of course, like our Ukrainian-Canadians that celebrate January 6th who can take advantage of the Boxing Day sales for sure. In my youth I would venture to a big mall that had an Eaton's and Simpsons- two iconic Canadian stores that no longer exist- and be with hordes and crowds shopping for the same items. Usually trying to buy discount tree ornaments as they would be needed. Since I have a house full of Christmas stuff and enough ornaments to decorate several trees with varied themes, no longer looking for those ornaments now. I have a favourite store where I will find the 2-3 boxes of discount cards for next Christmas in a few days or even next week.
So why is it called Boxing Day. As some of the theories go, in old England maybe Middle Ages or 17th century, the servants were needed Christmas Day to serve their masters but given December 26th as a day off to be with family and were presented with gift boxes. Sometimes it would be the leftovers from the Christmas dinner! Or the churches that collected donations in boxes over the Christmas season would give them to the needy on December 26th.
In the present, there are some bargains with large ticket items. But for many people with some Christmas gift cards or cash, not able to wait very long to spend them shopping is the needed activity. It used to be a big day of returns of unwanted Christmas gifts. Although now many stores delay that process to later in the week, so real shoppers can shop and are not stuck behind someone trying to return an item without a bill and a big argument. That's why gift receipts are always helpful with gifts. I do keep all the bills in one spot in case a return may be needed.
For me, Boxing Day was quiet after my early morning quick shop- tidying of Christmas dishes, eating leftovers as well as the proverbial turkey soup- made from the bones simmering for the day and some little turkey bits-  and a plateful of veggies for dinner and actually several little cat naps during the day while watching some movies- Boxing Day was enjoyable. I had started the day to be more ambitious with cleaning up some areas of the house but decided to conserve my energy and enjoy a day of quiet! Stopping and enjoying the lights from the tree while sitting in my family room knitting a few rows of one my winter projects brought some reflections. Quiet brings memories to the forefront. With all the hustle and bustle of the season, nice not to be so busy and driving around to stores. Besides returning to work in a few days, brings the realization that work will happen with its normal routines, often boring! So being at home in the quiet of my home enjoying a paid day!

Oh Boxing Day!  Making new traditions while enjoying the old ones! How did your day go? Was it quiet or more family visiting? Do you ski or snow board so wanted to get to the slopes for winter fun?

NANA SAYS SPENDING TIME WITH CHILDREN AT CHRISTMAS MAKES IT SPECIAL

Yes Christmas with all the preparation and hype can be stressful with little children. However, no Christmas day is the same without them around. After the days before Christmas with the excited expecation of Santa bringing something special, dreams have been fulfilled! They bring back the magic of the season! Adults are allowed to sit on the floor and act like little children for a while! Assembling or playing with the new gadgets is such an important part of the day too! Saying an appropriate grace at the dinner table as a reminder of the religious aspect of the day to help little ones learn about the true meaning of the celebration! There is something to be said about Boxing Day! Quiet is good too! Hope you enjoyed your day with little people at this very special time of the year!

BOXING DAY IN CANADA

There are lineups at stores to get the great bargains on Boxing Day- December 26! A time to start the Shopping for next Christmas. It is actually a British tradition of giving gifts in boxes. Now it is equated with bargains! Many people who received  money or gift cards as Christmas presents are madly trying to find the ultimate item!

Of course it does not have to come in a box- a bag will do! Did you do any Boxing Day shopping? Or did you use the stat holiday to lie low, read a book or have a quiet nap away from all the crowds?

BOXING DAY

Yesterday, December 26  was Boxing Day here in Canada. It started as a British tradition for the wealthy to give boxed gifts to their servants December 26. Most Commonwealth countries celebrate Boxing Day! It is a federal national holiday and a statuary holiday here in Ontario. If you work on Christmas and Boxing Day you get paid time and a-half! I like having the day off. Since Christmas was on a Sunday this year- the two stat days were Dec. 26 and 27th. Boxing Day is now about shopping for bargains and we actually have Boxing Week sales. The news showed how some people lined up at their favourite stores to get those post-Christmas bargains for hours. I used to go shopping for Christmas goodies. Now I wait a few days to go to some stores to find a couple of boxes of Christmas cards. Since I have a house full of Christmas items, I don't tempt myself by being in the stores with the crowds. I chose to babysit two of my grandchildren while my daughter shopped! Now all the email flyers sent have boxing day sales that can be shipped right to your home if you like! Some of the people interviewed yesterday actually said they would rather watch the Junior Hockey Championship games than shop- two girls! Hockey over shopping!! Boxing Day is also a day to "crash". Eat leftovers! Tidy up after the Christmas dinner-putting all the good dishes and platters away! Have a nap or read a book or listen to any new CDs received as presents. Boxing is a funny word though as we usually think of the sport of boxing! Or the expression- Don't box me in! Sometimes we put our lives in boxes! We give presents in boxes! There are Big Box stores with big bargains everywhere! Some churches still has an " alms box". We ship things in boxes. Some surburban homes are like rows of boxes! We store items in boxes! We can even be buried in a pine box! Boxing Day- what did it mean to you? Did you shop? Or just drop to relax and enjoy the day?