Happy Boxing Day

[PaulaO]

To our Canadian and United Kingdom friends.

[Rhianon]

Don't Americans have Boxing Day?

[Woost2]

Nope.

[Paints]

Thank you!

[westisbest]

Thanks Paula! Yes boxing day here is our "Black Friday" the malls will be chockabloc packed lots of deep discounts. It's -22C here, went to see my horse yesterday and let him free run the indoor he was kept in yesterday. For me a needed downtime day, pulled a back muscle so hot tub at the gym and tanning salon.

[Woost2]

Boxing Day in the US

[Rhianon]

I should point out it hasn't always been a "shopping holiday." It was traditionally a day when folks gave gifts to the people who work for them during the year (ie, your employees, servants, concierge), then later business associates. The exact origin is hazy, but there is a belief it began by the rich boxing up leftovers from their fancy Christmas meals to give to servants for their use. Older people of UK origin will still refer to "delivering my boxes" when, for example, taking around chocolates or whatever to clients or giving an envelope to the barn help.

[OmegaMare]

Thanks, Paula.
A shopping mall would be a cozy thing today. We started out with snow, and now we have wind and rain. There was excitement too, the ponies were spooked by the shrieks of several eagles in the field next door, fighting over an ex-something.

[silk]

Boxing day here is typically sales - shops MUST close for Christmas day. The only other day of the year where no trading is allowed is Anzac day, and then only for the morning (shops can open from 1pm). Oh and one of the Easter days I think.

Heaven forbid we miss out on buying things... I used to work in retail, the lines would stretch right around the large store until they met in the middle (we had checkout counters on both sides of the entrance).. the queue would ebb for a bit then more people would join the line and they'd meet in the middle again. It was always one of the highest $$$ turnover days of the year.

[Paints]

Highest turnover day in Canada too. There were reports of people lining up at 2:30am in front of the big box stores.

[DD2]

And tomorrow is Día de Los santos inocentes in Mexico. Similar to April fools day here and part of the overall Christmas celebration. Just FYI