When I learned that my job was celebrating Boxing Day, I was like “yaas!” Okay, so they weren’t really referring to the actual holiday. The company decided to give us the day after Christmas off because it falls on a Thursday. They threw us a bone by including Friday, I’ve been told.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Boxing Day, it’s recognized in many countries, including the UK and the Caribbean. There are several different stories about how this day came about. Some believe that folks got greedy during the holidays and wanted to extend the celebration an extra day.
Others believe it has something to do with collecting money for the poor in boxes and giving it to them the day after Christmas. It’s also said that slaves/servants received gift boxes from their masters, and were given it the day off after Christmas. The workers also exchanged boxes with their loved ones on that day.
Every country celebrates Boxing Day a little differently. I can only speak for my own and how my family celebrates it. As you may already know, I was born in Jamaica and moved here when I was in elementary school. It’s been a minute, but I stay true to my roots and my goal is to infuse my culture in how I raise my kids.
Christmas Day is all about spending time with immediate family. We usually attend church and have a big feast. Rice and peas, curry goat, oxtail are some of the must have dishes. We drink spiked drinks and enjoy Jamaican rum cake. The day is usually spent quietly without any gift exchange. But, since migrating to this country, my family has adopted the American custom of opening presents Christmas Day.
Courtesy: National Library of Jamaica
Courtesy: Grace Foods
I had the pleasure of celebrating the holidays the American way and the Jamaica way – both offer something a little different. For instance, Americans eat Turkey with some of the classic trimmings from Thanksgiving. My husbands family attends midnight mass. Spending the day with family is something both sides have in common, but there is more of an emphasis on gift giving within the American culture. The Jamaican culture is a bit more laid back on Christmas Day. I love that Princess and Young O can learn and appreciate both sides, each having something to offer.
We made a few stops this year on Christmas Day. We started with church, and later made our way over to each Grandma’s house. It was a pretty long day, but the kids had so much fun.
My hubby had to work on Boxing Day, while I had some quality time with the kids. Jamaicans spend the day after Christmas with extended family. But, I enjoyed a quiet day with the kids, opening up more presents, assembling and playing with toys. We ate left overs, and watched Sleeping Beauty.
How we celebrated the holidays has become a mixture of both traditions and that’s what makes our family so unique. I hope that our children will continue to carry on those same customs when they have their own families some day.
What are some of your family’s Christmas traditions? Do you celebrate Boxing Day?