Boxing Day – December 26th
The day after Christmas is when Lords gave their employees, servants, tradesmen, and the poor gift boxes as thanks for their good service throughout the year and out of genuine charitable kindness. This started sometime in the 17th century and continues to this day. It coincides with the Feast of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, celebrated throughout Europe. Saul of Tarsus who became the Apostle Paul, was complicit in Stephen’s stoning to death at about this time. Boxing Day is a time of being grateful for people who have supported you, a time to clean up after the holiday, and a popular day for going to the movies.
In Britain, servants were committed to often exhausting Christmas Day celebrations of their employers. They were allowed time-off on the following day for their own observance of the holiday. Servants from the country were allowed to travel home, and with luck, brought boxed leftovers, a gift, or a bonus to share with their families. Boxing Day has become a sporting holiday in the UK (horse races, foxhunting, and rugby) as well as a bank holiday, so bankers can get some well-deserved rest after loaning so much money for the holiday season.
Music Du Jour: Boxing Day playlist
Films Du Jour:
- Boxing Day (2021)
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! (1969 a Boxing Day tradition)
- Downton Abbey Series
- The Remains of the Day (1993)
- Boxing Day Tsunami (2021)
- Mike Tyson – Top 13 Greatest Knockouts
Snacks du Jour: 43 ingenious recipes to use up Christmas leftovers
Cocktail Du Jour – Boxing Day Cocktail
- 2 oz Irish Whiskey
- 1 oz Port
- 75 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 5 oz Swedish Punsch (can use cachaça as a substitute)
- 5 oz cinnamon syrup
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a common water glass or a stolen fancy glass.
Mocktail Du Jour – Boxing Day Mocktail
- 2 oz non-alcohol whiskey
- 1 oz non-alcohol wine
- 75 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 5 oz non-alcohol rum
- 5 oz cinnamon syrup
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a common water glass or a stolen fancy glass.
Beer Du Jour
Christmas Ales and Porters
Wine Du Jour
Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc
Use freshly squeezed citrus in your cocktails and mocktails when called for – It makes such a difference! Here’s a reliable and inexpensive juicer.
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Photo credit: “Emptied cardboard box” by Creativity103 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
