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| This kiddo was laughing her guts out. This is not a look of shock, nor a yawn, this is a pure belly laugh. |
Recently a friend from the US asked about our Boxing Day. It made me think how far our culture has come from what Boxing Day was originally intended for. On December 26th commonwealth countries have Boxing Day marked on their calendars. Way back in the day, Alms Boxes (boxes for the poor) were placed on church doorsteps for people to put money in. It was a day that was marked as giving to the poor. Now it's turned into a similar day to the American Black Friday (or what I know of it.) People wake up at crazy hours, some at 3AM, to drive to the city to stand in line to wait for stores to open and get smokin deals on all sorts of things. We've never done anything like this, probably not just because of the insane amounts of people, but we were all laying around in our pajamas eating turkey buns.
Really I don't think we need a day marked on those little square boxes to remind us to think of those less fortunate than us. I believe it should be something imprinted on our hearts all year long, and something that is just a natural extension of who we are. Nothing to be shown off or consciously thought of, but it should be as customary as getting your breakfast in the morning.
This year was a beautiful day as a Chinook had blown in right before Christmas and to accompany our white landscape there were impressive warm temperatures. A pink Carhartt coat, yellow snowpants from when I was a kid, and a poor old Oiler's toque (the only one we could find) was tossed on and sleigh rides around the yard ensued. Who needs mittens? Kitty socks on the hands work just fine. A lucky little girl, who promptly could call the horse after she said Momma, got to go for a lil ride and sat up their like a big girl, clicking her tongue and laughing. What a day it was!
What did you all do the day after Christmas? Was it time to put the tree away and clean the house? Were you still at gatherings? I'd love to know.
*UPDATE* Another Canadian blogging friend made a wise comment about Boxing Day being the day post Christmas when servants got the day off. I looked it up and that is another part of Boxing Day--according to the article I read, people would send home with the servants, boxes of gifts, bonuses or food to go with them to visit their families. Again according to this article, it stated about Alms Boxes left on Church doorsteps. Who really knows...?
30 comments:
Your little girl is darling! I thought boxing day was when in England the day after Christmas the servants got the day off and made up box lunches for the family of the house. Who knows?
aah! She is simply darling, my friend!!:) We had went out for lunch with some friends on 'Boxing Day' here. and I tell ya what. Even though these Americans have no name for that crazy, hour-long-line-ups, hair-pulling-good-deals, day. IT WAS NUTS. line ups forever. Except Victoria Secret where I got some smoking good deals on body wash!!! $2.50 a shot! (grin)
ps. I want a turkey bun too;)
I can't believe I never wondered about boxing day or knew what it was really for. I love seeing happy children, good job!
I knew about servants to the gentry getting the day off, but I didn't know about the boxes for the poor. Very cool. Since it was Sunday we all took sandwich makings and snacks to church with us, and played after church--games for the kids, guitars and singing and bible study and fun conversation for the adults. It was a great day.
Your little one is quite darling. :-)
I just love that photo.. what a darlin baby.
I like the charitable version of boxing day, and yes.. it should be a natural extension of our daily existence.
I had always heard of the story of the landlords filling boxes the servants has put outside of their homes with food and goods. I always get lots of questions from my American friends too! The number one response is oh I thought you put on the boxing gloves. lol
www.cdycattle.blogspot.com
I've always wondered what Boxing Day was! Oh, we also had our first white Christmas ever! A whole one inch! Of course every road was closed and there wasn't a loaf of bread or gallon of milk in sight!
I had heard most of the Boxing Day history, except the part about the servant's day off. I guess it was in honor of them that i too took the day off. Never got out of my pj's and ate turkey buns, turkey leftovers, fruitcake, chocolate peanut butter balls, butter tarts, mince tarts... too! LUV that day of doing nothing but burning calories eating!!!
What a happy little girl! :-)
We didn't do anything as it was cold and rainy and then turned to snow!
So we stayed inside, toasty warm.
How adorable!!!
Thanks for sharing about Boxing day, that was very interesting!!
Aww that photo is awesome!
I was one of the crazy people who went boxing day shopping, even though I know thats not what it originally was made for.
What a dolly Chey, I can almost hear her laughing. Thanks for the little history lesson there, I never really knew the origins, makes so much more sense to me than shopping!! We never do anything other than spend time with family on Boxing Day. This year we made Brunch for my family then settled in with some movies with our feet up!!
Happy New Years to you all!!
Steph
What a great photo! She looks to be having the time of her life.
(I wondered if you had horses)
On boxing day we knew that high winds were on the way so we went for a long walk in the snow before all heck broke loose:) It was all pristine and beautiful.
Happy New Year to you and your family, Chey!
Someone needs to buy that "kiddo" a decent toque!!
Loves.
Very interesting, I saw that on my calender and wondered about it! I love the sweet little dress in the post below too :D
I've never heard of boxing day but I like the concept. On the 26th of Dec. we were spending Christmas with my mom in law since she had to work on Christmas day. I hope you're enjoying a wonderful start to the new year!
Oh, thank you! My kids saw Boxing Day on the calendar and I couldn't tell them what it was! It sounds like commercialization has taken over this holiday, too. :(
On 12/26 we left for our first ever family vacation! It was just up to my brother-in-law's cabin, but it was nice to get away by ourselves.
Precious. I love her look pure joy and contentment.
Love the picture - I won't mention the oilers touque to hubby - he will be soooo upset!! LOL!!! We had family over (hubby's) ate ham and played pictionary - it was grand!!!
Hey, I happen to think the toque is great! But it is the girlie under the toque that is the 'bestest'!
A happy and blessed new year to the three of you.
I just love when moments like this are captured!
Hi Cheyenne,
Great minds think alike!
Hugs...
What a precious little lamb on that horse! I miss the days when my kids would show their pure joy!!! Not so concerned with trying to look "cool"!!!
thanks for the lovely comments!!! I got the quilt pattern at Folktales, a local quilt shop in Lynden. I know she ships to Canada all the time, as so many of her customers are Canadian. It's by Crabapple Hill and I know you can get it from them too, or your local quilt shop. It really was fun to do!!! The quilt didn't take so long as the parting with the money to have it quilted did!!!
Have a lovely week!!
Thanks for the info on Boxing Day. I'm like you, prefer to hangout and relax on boxing day and hopefully get outside for some family together time. this year we were in flight to see my Dad in AZ.
Seems kind of backwards doesn't it ... boxing day used to be about giving to those less fortunate and now it seems more and more about going out and buying more more more (didn't we just have Christmas?)
take care of that sweet little girl ... how old is she?
Totally unrelated her , but how did you get your link badge on your sidebar
Oh Cheyenne, she is adorable! It makes me smile to see the laughter on her precious little face!
Goodness, Boxing Day HAS changed over the years! Wouldn't it be neat if it could be like it was back then?
Way behind on my blog reading. =] Just stopping by to catch up.
Just to let you know YOU ARE MISSED! :) Hope you are enjoying time with your family though! ;)
Too funny. Why am I always right after my sister??? I just stopped by to let you know that I was thinking about you. Hope all is well with you and your family. Everytime my hubby and son make plans to do something fun (in their words, in my words very messy and creates more work...) I think of you. Luckily we just got 15 more inches of snow, so their bobcat plans have been foiled for another week.
Have a great day!
Kate
Look at how much she is laughing with delight. Soo cute!
what a lucky baby.. to have such a good environment... congrats..
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