Happy Boxing Day!

It's the day after Christmas: Boxing Day (in the UK), St. Stephens Day in 'western Christianity'. On Boxing Day,

servants, tradespeople, and the poor traditionally were presented with gifts. By the 21st century it (Boxing Day) had become a day associated with shopping and sporting events.

Sounds like Black Friday, doesn't it?

I learned about Boxing Day when I lived in England. Didn't do much shopping then, but did exchange presents with my friends and family on that day. Another thing in England - at least where I lived in the northeast - which was different than I was used to from the USA: On Christmas Day, if the family could afford it, they ate out. Poor families saved for months to afford it. Eating out on that day was a BIG DEAL.

Ohh and Boxing Day is also the one of the days for Mummer's Plays, traditional British plays done by amateurs, often featuring sword fights or dances and resurrection. Once again, this happens in England, and sometimes there's a parade beforehand! This tradition is in Philadelphia in the USA as well, when the Mummer's Parade is on New Year's Day. Fun stuff!

By Michael Maggs - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

St. Albans Mummers Production of St. George and the Dragon on Boxing Day in 2015. I love the costumes!