According to whychristmas:
Boxing Day takes place on December 26th and is only celebrated in a few countries; mainly ones historically connected to the UK (such as Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand) and in some European countries. In Germany it is known as “Zweite Feiertag” (which means ‘second celebration’) and also “Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag” which translates as Boxing Day (although it doesn’t literally mean that)!
The 26th December is also St. Stephen’s Day (or ‘the feast of Stephen’). Just to confuse things, there are two St. Stephens in history! …. Both St. Stephens have been associated with charity and giving for a very long time; and historically that’s what St Stephen’s Day/Boxing Day was about.
Starting in the Middle Ages, it was the day when the alms box, collection boxes for the poor often kept in churches, were traditionally opened so that the contents could be distributed to poor people. Some churches still open these boxes on Boxing Day.
It might have been the Romans that first brought this type of collecting box to the UK, but they used them to collect money for the betting games which they played during their winter celebrations! In The Netherlands, some collection boxes were made out of a rough pottery called ‘earthenware’ and were shaped like pigs. Perhaps this is where we get the term ‘Piggy Bank’!
It was also the day when rich land owners would give ‘gifts’ (often some leftover food from the main Christmas feast!) to those who worked and lived on their land; and later on it became traditional that servants got the day off to celebrate Christmas with their families on Boxing Day.
Before World War II, it was common for working people (such as milkmen and butchers) to travel round their delivery places and collect their Christmas box or tip. ….
There are also often sports played on Boxing Day in the UK, especially horse racing and football matches! It’s also when shops traditionally had big sales after Christmas in the UK (like Black Friday in the USA).
[continues]
Which brings us to Re-boxing Day when some of us crowd to the stores just as we did on black friday; but this time, to exchange that ugly tie or both ugly and wrong size sweater gift.
So, Mixers, what’s been your best re-gift? or most interesting store return story?
Last Minute Gifts is the funny Christmas song that says what you are really thinking when you get those unwanted gifts. A Christmas song or an Anti Christmas song? You decide. What will YOU return during Boxing Day madness?
too bad we can’t box-up and exchange you-know-who for a better fit.
We’ve gotten to the point that we don’t really exchange gifts for Christmas, so we don’t participate in exchange and re-boxing. We’ll go out today and see how badly the stores need to end the year on a revenue high. In my experience Boxing Day rivals Black Friday for discounts and sales, just without the run up hype.
Now we know what Wenceslas was really up to on St. Stephens Day
Jack, thanks so much for introducing us to “fly possum fly”. that will forever be on my top songs list for Christmas.
seems grant maloy smith is quite prolific. responsible for scoring many a movie as well as writing songs and producing albums such as this rather haunting one on the dreaded dust storms:
The mention of Florence Nightingale yesterday caused me to go upstairs and make sure that some of the gifts/artifacts that lady gave to my Welsh grandmother are still there–they are. Grandmother worked with Miss Nightingale during the late ’80s and the ’90s. Grandfather whisked her away to Jamaica, Queens in the early 1900s.
Patd, nice song. Love the guitar tone and technique.
pogo, of interest to you might be some of this from wiki about that album and him:
His next album, “Dust Bowl – American Stories,” was released on Suburban Cowboy Records in 2017 and features bassist William Wittman of Cyndi Lauper, and drummer Skoota Warner, as well as keyboardist Tommy Mandel, formerly of Bryan Adams and Dire Straits, who performed on the basic tracks of the album. Production then moved to Nashville, where additional tracks were recorded by IBGMA award-winning dobro player Rob Ickes, fiddle player Steve Stokes of Alabama, cellist Tim Lorsch of Keith Urban, Percy Sledge, accordion player Jeff Taylor of The Time Jumpers, percussionist and drummer Matt Burgess of Willie Nelson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jewel, pedal steel player Mike Johnson, of Alison Krauss and Dolly Parton, violinist Lorenza Ponce of Bon Jovi, Adele, Sam Smith, and violinist Rocio Marron of The Voice, under the supervision of co-producer Jeff Silverman.
Because “Dust Bowl – American Stories” is a theme album related to the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, Smith was invited to perform the album at the Kern County Museum, which he did on January 14, 2018. He also performed the entire album for the Bakersfield High School on January 17, 2018. and at the Centennial Rodeo Opry in Oklahoma City in August 2017.
Smith toured the USA, Europe and Mexico. Although primarily a headliner, he sometimes opened for other artists during 2015-2016, including Rita Coolidge, Jon Pousette-Dart, and John Ford Coley. He has performed at The Bitter End[ in New York, The Clive Davis Theatre at The Grammy Museum, the Troubadour in Hollywood, The National Sylvan Theatre in DC, and The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. In April 2018 Smith performed on Song Of The Mountains, which is recorded before a live audience and also syndicated on PBS television[ throughout North America. In August he performed on Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour, which is carried by more than 500 radio stations and also broadcast on PBS television.
it just ain’t gonna have the same feeling ritual-wise. I know they’ve come up with church drive-ins, e-mail prayer service and drive thru funeral visitations but this seems a bit much:
Church uses crop duster plane to spray holy water upon Louisiana faithful
The Rev Matthew Barzare blessed 100 gallons of water to deliver a low-flying benediction on his 200-family parish
[click for more from the guardian story]
100-Gallons?? That’s more than enough to make Believers of SFB’s claimed inauguration crowd.
Drive thru funerary visitations? Crop dusted “blessed” water? Whaddabunchabullshit. Praise th’ lord and I’ll upsize that order to medium. And no pickles, please.
So Trump spent Christmas night hate tweeting Pelosi. SAD!
I’ve been having palpitations from concern that Trump and I might share the same (Silent) generation. I grabbed Jamie’s reference book, Generations, and verified that the jerk is in fact, sorry folks, a Boomer.
next it will be virtual baptisms set up for a sprinkle at Notre Dame baptismal or a full body dunk in the river Jordan all while resting comfortably on your couch. no tiresome laying on of hands required, just send credit card number and expiration date.
’tis the season for floriduh-man stories
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Police said they arrested a man Saturday for handing out marijuana “because it was Christmas.”
The Pinellas County arrest report says Richard Ellis Spurrier, 67, was confronted by police Saturday around 11 p.m. at 16 2nd St. N. in St. Pete.
Officers said Spurrier had 45 grams of marijuana on him and was handing it out to people as they passed by.
In an interview with police, Spurrier reportedly told them he was handing out the weed “because it was Christmas.”
Spurrier was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell.
Officers said they found a hidden sword in Spurrier’s cane when they arrested him.
Spurrier has since been released from the Pinellas County Jail.
my sister gave me a glass candy dish with a few pieces of home made fudge. I ate the fudge with my morning coffee yesterday and this morning. I called my sister to see if there was any sentimental attachment to the candy dish. She assured me that for 2 bucks there was no attachment. I said “good, because I’m gong to put some cheese and smoked sausage on it and gift it to an elderly neighbor. So I did.
My baby sister’s ex was part of the festivities. He is off the meth and getting his life in order. Which is good he is a nice guy just not the best husband in the world. He is working steady now and was pleased with himself that he could afford to buy everybody Christmas presents. He bought me a lava lamp. I told him “wow, I’ve never owned one of those. ” Talking to one of my other sisters about it, she said the proper manners dictate I keep it for a year.
To be honest I’m too old for this gift giving stuff. I’m trying to down size. Besides all the stories jokes and smart ass remarks were gifts enough.
Jack
floriduh man defense
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Acts 20:35
Pat, I’m thinking one of those tanker planes they use to put out forest fire……. A whole load of blessed water right on the white house. Ya know, might work. Might need an exorcism spell at the same time.
Jack
Pat
They’ve got an app for that
jack, a water cannon drive by at mal an ego would also be nice
At last, a Republican with what appear to be balls…and it’s a a woman.
Best family re-gift was a great-aunt who was given a toaster cozy by my aunt. Year(s) later, my aunt got it back, gift wrapped and with scorch marks on it from being placed over the toaster while it was still hot.
I have a relative who gives me conspiracy theory/politically-charged/end-of-days books every year. I skim them (in case there’s a quiz) and throw them in the trash. I would not give those pieces of garbage to the library.
I’m trying to wrap my feeble mind around the concept of a toaster cozy. Is that really a thing?
Poobah, there’s so little SFB does that isn’t sad…he goes to mass (a first for him?) then anger tweets about Pelosi. Fugging moron.
Covering everything in the kitchen was very common. Burner covers made me laugh, especially if someone forgot to take off the lid before starting the burner.
BB, I know. My mom had a clear plastic blender “cozy”. Not ire why she kept the blender on the counter or why it needed a cover. I was just riffing on the idea that a toaster needed a blanket.
pogo & bb, some of that cozy-ness had to do with dust & grease smoke settling on things as well as keeping stuff warm like a teapot full of expensive earl grey. no AC meant open windows in summertime and with dusty dirt roads – you get the picture. cheaper to sew up a cozy than hire a maid.
pogo, first thought when I read your questioning what’s a cozy: “child, that’s what you wrapped around a cold bud on a hot ‘bama day” – ‘cept now they call it koozie
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