Boxing Day falls on Dec 26 every year and was traditionally the day when people would box up leftovers or unused items to give to those in need. It follows Christmas Day on Dec 25 and is celebrated here in Canada as a statutory holiday. It is now known as the day that has mad sales after Christmas, and many people have the tradition of living up outside stores early on the 26th to get in and buy lots of stuff on sale. It’s basically the equivalent of Black Friday in the US, the day after Thanksgiving when stores will have crazy sales.
Once I found out what Boxing Day really was about I found it really sad that we have taken an occasion which was supposed to be about philanthropy and is now about mass consumerism and gluttony. I’ve never really been a fan of Boxing Day shopping and now I have another reason to not like it. I personally would like to go back to what Boxing Day is about and use it as a means to provide goods and services for those in need. My husband and I have made a list of charities we would like to provide funds to and have donated to them for Boxing Day instead of buying more stuff for ourselves or people who already have enough stuff.
