Boxing Day has nothing to do with fists

Each Christmas, one of my favorite holiday gifts is a wall calendar for the upcoming year. The blank squares of each month, so fresh and unobstructed, hint at 365 days filled with opportunity and possibility. I love to flip through the calendar and peruse the little notes that mark the phases of the moon and all the special days throughout the year.

One holiday that's always held an air of mystery to me is Boxing Day, marked on Dec. 26 of each year. Who participates in this day and what exactly is it all about? Are there rings and gloves involved? Do Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard get to eat cake and have songs sung in their honor?

As it turns out, no. A friend who hails from Canada recently informed me that people there gather gently used items from around their homes and "box them up" to donate to those less fortunate. What a marvelous idea.

I did a little more research on the holiday and learned that while the precise origins of Boxing Day are somewhat disputed, many people believe that it originated in England during the Middle Ages.

During those times, members of the merchant class would often gives boxes containing food, clothing and money to trades people and servants. It is also thought that though many servants were required to work on Christmas, they were relieved of their duties the following day. As they prepared to depart and spend time with their families, their employers would often present them with gift boxes.

Another theory, as noted on www.factmonster.com, is that "the boxes placed in churches where parishioners deposited coins for the poor were opened and the contents distributed on December 26.

"As time went by, Boxing Day gift giving expanded to include those who had rendered a service during the previous year. This tradition survives today as people give presents to tradesmen, mail carriers, doormen, porters, and others who have helped them."

Boxing Day is celebrated in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, various other members of the Commonwealth of Nations (the United States is an exception), and Greece. It is considered to be a "bank holiday" and is, as such, observed by banks, government offices and the postal service. It is typically celebrated on Dec. 26, but can be moved to the next weekday if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday. The movement of Boxing Day varies between the countries celebrating it.

I propose that we here in America give some consideration to Boxing Day. Whether you opt to slip a little something extra to that mail carrier who always delivers a too-large package right to your door, or you sort through your own belongings in search of treasures that can be passed on, it's a wonderful way to celebrate the giving spirit of the season and can provide an uplifting, fresh start to the new year ahead.

May 2009 be filled with blessings, health and prosperity for everyone!

n Amy Roby can be reached at-ranchosroundup@hotmail.com