So I was on fb, seeing all the posts of Happy Boxing Day (and Merry Christmas from all those in the States a day behind) and a friend asked me what exactly Boxing day was. It made me stop and think for a second, all I knew was what Boxing day is to us now, but where it came from and why we celebrate this holiday the day after Christmas on December 26 I knew not.
Today Boxing day means to most Australian's a day when a lot of long awaited movies make their debut, when the massive after Christmas sale's begin and there are lots of bargains to be had just waiting to be found. It means a day spent with friends and family that you may not have seen on Christmas to celebrate with them over a barbie or eating the many leftovers from the day before, or simply lazing by the pool or beach with drink in hand and enjoying the sunshine.
But what are its origins? We can imagine, that like Christmas its real meaning has been lost or changed to suit some commercial purpose. And you couldn't be more correct! Like Christmas is supposed to be the celebration of the birth Jesus, whether you believe he is simply a prophet and man, or the saviour of the world, it matters not if we celebrate it on the right day, all that matters is that we DO. And Boxing day I believe is the same.
Boxing day is known in some places as the Day of Goodwill, and while the exact etymology of the term "boxing" is unclear and there are several competing theories, there are none of which are definitive. The tradition has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions. The European tradition has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown and there are some claims that it goes back to the late Roman/early Christian era; where metal boxes placed outside churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen.
Like Christmas, it doesn't matter when you celebrate Boxing day for what it once was, a day of giving, giving to those who do not have as much as we might, in fact the more you give the more blessed I believe you will become, and the more often you help those in need, then the better. For life is never more fulfilling than when we are serving others. But how cool is it that we have a day set specifically aside to help others? It may have been lost in todays society of selfishness and wants, becoming a massive day of shopping for sales, but nevertheless it is a day, a holiday to remember those less fortunate. I challenge you and myself to remember this, plan something for next year and start a new tradition of servitude.
What better time to have a day set aside to think of others than after Christmas day? A day where we get to relish in giving to those we love most, a time spent with family and friends and the giving and receiving of gifts is sometimes paramount and where we stuff ourselves so full of good food we can barely move. Boxing day comes as a gift of itself, for us and those in need, for what is more satisfying than giving to others and not asking or expecting anything in return?
So this or next Boxing day, why not skip some of those sales and think of something you can do to help someone else instead? you may find that it is the best gift that you both gave and received that Christmas, where other presents may break, get consumed or thrown into a box in the garage and soon forgotten about, I bet that something you do for someone else with no agenda will last forever.
Happy Boxing Day
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