BOXING DAY

Today is Boxing Day. It’s a British tradition dating to the 1830s when traditionally, employers give their servants “boxes” of holiday cheer – a day late – as the holiday takes place the first weekday following Christmas. It’s not a holiday you hear about in the U.S. but if you have a paper calendar, look at it. I bet it's listed just as prominently as Christmas or Easter. 

I wonder if anyone states-side knows anyone who takes part in this tradition.

Of course in the U.S., Boxing Day takes on a completely different meaning for some of us non-blue bloods.  Some gather the gifts they received yesterday that somehow fell short and box them up, heading back to the store or shipping company for refunds.

In our house this year, only one thing is going back to the store, and that’s a car phone charger Brian got me that doesn’t work for my phone. But I’m in no huge hurry and won’t get it done on Boxing Day.
What we might do is gather up the stacks of empty boxes around the house and garage and move them to the attic.

Brian and I are getting obsessive about collecting boxes. For years I accumulated shirt-style boxes but now, things are worse. We collect every decent box we can get our hands on.  We're becoming our parents with the "Never know when you might need one" attitude about a variety of things. Boxes are at the top of that list.
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I always thought the day would come where free boxes were no longer offered and I've been saving accordingly for years. Our attic is akin to a department store office. Only now you might be hard-pressed to get a free box in a department store. In fact, Brian tried to score a few this year to no avail. (I warned him this day would come.)

We also find that when you need a good box, you need it stat. So we gather up good boxes and save them. Particular prizes are big, lidded printer-paper boxes or lidded envelope boxes. Sturdy and free.
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Whether Boxing Day is on your radar or not, wishing you a happy one. ​