TIS THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

We just celebrated the Night Before Christmas, Christmas Day, and here it is The Day After Christmas.  

According to sources, Great Britain and other Commonwealth countries (Australia, Canada and New Zealand) celebrated Boxing Day on the 26th of December.  During Queen Victoria's reign (1837-1901), servants and the poor were given presents.  The servants had to work on Christmas Day but would have the next day off to go be with their own families.  The aristocrats put their leftover food and/or money in boxes and gave them to their servants and those less fortunate.

Another Boxing Day theory is that it originated with the collection boxes that churches put out during Advent to raise money for the poor....and those collection boxes were distributed on December 26th.  

With the passing years, the day after Christmas in the U.S. means completely the opposite of the original reason for Boxing Day.  In 2024, December 26th rivals Black Friday as one of the most popular shopping days of the year.  Stores put their leftover Christmas decorations, lights, cards, candles....actually all things related to the holiday.....on super sale.  They need to get rid of it all so their shelves can be restocked with all things hearts, flowers and chocolate.   The younger generations know shopping as 'retail therapy.'  Call me non compos mentis, but how can spending money improve anxiety and depression, when spending money puts people in more debt, which, in turn, causes financial stress, anxiety and depression?