Today was Boxing Day in Canada. So we talked a bit out the history behind the holiday.
"Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26th. It is a statutory holiday in the federal jurisdiction and in Ontario. If it falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the working day immediately preceding or following Boxing Day is considered a legal holiday.
Boxing Day, also known as the Feast of St. Stephen (after the first Christian martyr), originated in England in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria. It originated as a holiday for members of the merchant class to give boxes containing food and fruit, clothing, and/or money to trades people and servants. The gifts were an expression of gratitude similar to the bonuses many employers offer their employees today. These gifts, usually given in boxes, gave the holiday it's name, "Boxing Day".
Also related to the origin of Boxing Day is the tradition of opening the alms boxes placed in churches over the Christmas season. The contents of these boxes were distributed amongst the poor, by the clergy, the day after Christmas.
Today, Boxing Day is a holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, and many other Commonwealth nations. It is a time for family and friends to gather with lots of food and fun. Outdoor sports such as soccer, horse racing and hunting are popular on this holiday. Retailers offer huge savings on many items on this day, making it the biggest shopping day of the year in Canada.
Throughout the Christmas season, many organizations keep the original tradition of Boxing Day alive by donating their time, energy, and money to fill the Food Bank and provide gifts for the poor."
We drove down to Gaithersburg today to shop at Whole Foods Market and to have lunch. Flo and I took Bruno, our new puppy, into two PetSmart stores on the way for a little canine socialization. Flo and I talked about why this time of the puppy's life (he's almost 11 weeks) is a critical time in which to expose him to different situations so he turns out to be a well-adjusted, happy dog. That's the theory, anyway.
When we got home, the kids played with their Christmas gifts, which included Lincoln logs, new cabbage patch mini dolls, a wooden tool set and various other small items. Flo got a new wooden block clock thing, so we did some telling time for awhile.
We had a nice holiday weekend, and it will be tough getting back into the swing of things this week.