December 26th in Boxing Day in Australia....here is what it is all about.

image from pngtree.com 

Merry Christmas season to you.  Hope all had a wonderful Christmas Day.  We did and it will continue till the weekend which is awesome.  We are having dreary foggy days, but the temperatures are warm.  We are setting new records for highs.  It will change on Sunday and next week, back to our regular temperatures.  I think we would have more sunshine.  High today is 37F(2C) with cloudy skies.  Stay warm, stay safe. 
 
Australia family and friends for Dec 27 Saturday will have a high of 70f(20C) with clear skies. It looks like a great summer day for them.  Stay cool, stay safe.

I want to talk about a day that Australia has the day after Christmas.  They call it Boxing Day.  I remember Evelyn talking about this over the years, so I wanted to share this holiday with you.  It hasn’t anything to do with the sport of boxing.  Have a read and you will see.  
Evelyn wrote,” This is the history, which is based on the English history. In Australia, being the summer, we box things up from Christmas and head off on holidays and it is also a big day of sales, similar to Black Friday sales in the US. It is a public holiday here as well.”
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understanding the Rich History Behind December 26th
What is the history of Boxing Day is a question that puzzles many people who celebrate this December 26th holiday without knowing where it came from. The name has nothing to do with the sport of boxing—instead, it comes from historical traditions of giving "boxes" of gifts to servants and the poor.
The Servant's Box Tradition - Wealthy employers gave servants a box of gifts, leftover food, and money on December 26th, which was their first day off after working through Christmas Day
Church Alms Boxes - Churches collected donations in boxes throughout the year and distributed them to the poor on the Feast of St. Stephen (December 26th)
The Nautical Tradition - Ships carried sealed boxes of money for good luck, which were opened after a successful voyage and given to the poor
Key Historical Facts:
Boxing Day became an official bank holiday in the UK in 1871
The earliest print reference dates to 1833
Samuel Pepys mentioned the custom in his diary as early as 1663
Today it's celebrated across Commonwealth nations including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
The holiday has transformed dramatically from its charitable Victorian roots into a day known for sports, shopping sales, and eating Christmas leftovers. While aristocrats once spent the day foxhunting and horse racing, modern Boxing Day features Premier League football matches and massive retail events that rival Black Friday.
Infographic showing the three main origin theories of Boxing Day: 1) Servants receiving gift boxes from wealthy employers on their day off after Christmas, 2) Churches opening alms boxes collected throughout the year to distribute to the poor on St. Stephen's Day, 3) Ships carrying sealed boxes of money for luck, opened after successful voyages to donate to charity. Timeline showing 1663 (Samuel Pepys diary mention), 1833 (first print reference), and 1871 (official UK bank holiday). - what is the history of boxing day infographic
Shoppers queuing for Boxing Day sales The tradition took off in the late 1990s after the UK amended Sunday trading laws. People would queue outside stores before dawn for dramatic price cuts. Today, the landscape has shifted with the rise of online sales and Black Friday, but Boxing Day remains a retail powerhouse.
The irony isn't lost on us—a holiday that once celebrated giving to those with less has become synonymous with scoring the best deals for yourself. Though if you're looking to burn off those holiday indulgences rather than accumulate more stuff, we'd love to help you find out what to expect from a new routine that actually gets results.
Traditional Boxing Day Foods
Perhaps the most universal Boxing Day tradition is eating Christmas leftovers. After an elaborate feast, December 26th takes a more relaxed approach to dining. This has turned from a necessity into a cherished tradition.
Leftover turkey is the star, appearing in curries or sandwiches piled high with stuffing and cranberry sauce. Baked ham, often served cold, is another popular choice. Traditional dishes like pease pudding and mince pies still appear, alongside another slice of Christmas cake. What began as servants making do with leftovers has become a culinary celebration in its own right, enjoyed with less stress in the kitchen.
Taken from https://www.legendsboxing.com/post/what-is-the-history-of-boxing-day
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Beckysgreenhouse.com  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse