Boxing Day

BOXING DAY

[Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December). Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts to poor people, today Boxing Day forms part of Christmas celebrations, with many people choosing to take advantage of Boxing Day sales. It originated in Great Britain…in parts of Europe, such as several regions of Spain, the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, and most of Ireland (excluding most of Ulster), 26 December is Saint Stephen’s Day, which is considered the second day of Christmas.]

On Boxing Day

We give it away,

The things we do not want,

We wrap it up

And raise a cup

To those who can’t or don’t

But what if

Instead we gave

The thing we value most?

What if we gave

A costly gift

Needed from coast to coast?

What if a sacrifice

Is what

This day requires?

Not leftovers

Or duplicates

Or things we don’t admire?

What if tangible things

Are good

but not good enough?

What if love and joy

Is much more

Than all that material stuff?

On Boxing day

We need to say

I’m here without conditions

On Boxing day

We need to display

Love—more than just traditions.

It is in giving

That we receive

It is in living

What we believe–

That Christ is the gift that keeps on giving

On this and every day,

You keep his love within your life

By joyfully giving it away.

BW3 12/20/23