WORK ON BOXING DAY!!!! WHAT?????

[almaty 19]

Yes, I went to work on the day after Christmas too. I tried to get a PTO, but my superiors won't let me. While they are all out travelling to another part of the world on vacation, I am doing their work for them. Sucks.

just wrong

[athena_ny 1]

I'm American and I don't ever call it Boxing Day, but I think it's weird.

Though, as Americans, don't we have the least amount of paid holidays, or are very close to the lowest?

[Marilyn. 340]

In case any of you were wondering

Despite its name, Boxing Day, which is celebrated on December 26 in Great Britain, has nothing to do with pugilistic competition. Nor is it a day for people to return unwanted Christmas presents. While the exact origins of the holiday are obscure, it is likely that Boxing Day began in England during the Middle Ages.

Some historians say the holiday developed because servants were required to work on Christmas Day, but took the following day off. As servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers would present them with gift boxes.

Church Alms Boxes

Another theory is that the boxes placed in churches where parishioners deposited coins for the poor were opened and the contents distributed on December 26, which is also the Feast of St. Stephen.

As time went by, Boxing Day gift giving expanded to include those who had rendered a service during the previous year. This tradition survives today as people give presents to tradesmen, mail carriers, doormen, porters, and others who have helped them.

http://www.factmonster.com/spot/boxingday1.html

So what is Boxing Day all about?....

Boxing Day originated in England in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria. December 26th, or Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries. It is spent with family and friends at open gatherings with lots of food, fun, friendship and love. Boxing Day is so called because it was the custom on that day for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for good and reliable service throughout the year. Boxing Day is also St. Stephen's Day. St Stephen was a little known saint who achieved eternal fame by being the first Christian to be martyred for his faith by being stoned to death shortly after Christ's crucifixion.

The traditional celebration of Boxing Day included giving money and other gifts to charitable institutions, needy individuals, and people in service jobs. The holiday may date from the Middle Ages (A.D. 400's--1500's), but the exact origin is unknown. It may have begun with the lords and ladies of England, who presented Christmas gifts in boxes to their servants on December 26. Or it may have begun with priests, who opened the church's alms (charity) boxes on the day after Christmas and distributed the contents to the poor.

Some say the tradition stems from Roman times when money to pay for athletic games was collected in boxes. Amongst the ruins of Pompeii, boxes made out of earthenware with slits in the top full of coins have been found. Later the Romans brought the idea of collecting boxes to Britain, and monks and clergy soon used similar boxes to collect money for the poor at Christmas. On the day after Christmas, the priests used to open the boxes and distribute the contents to the poor of the village. Thus this day came to be called Boxing Day.

http://www.pauldenton.co.uk/Boxingday.htm

[almaty 19]

wow, i never knew that sister marilyn.. i thought it was a national day for fighting..i got into it already with 2 chaps from Moose Jaw

[eric&gen 0]

I had the two days off after Christmas i get it off almost every year.

[almaty 19]

I had the two days off after Christmas i get it off almost every year.

you lucky dog

[Amby 490]

I get all days off because I'm the boss and own the business so I just make it up as I go along

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

I think you are confused with Brawling Day! It takes place any old day of the year.

wow, i never knew that sister marilyn.. i thought it was a national day for fighting..i got into it already with 2 chaps from Moose Jaw

[Kajikit 65]

America is drastically short on holidays in general We were lucky this year - DH works on call and he didn't have a single job to do this week until today, so he got four days off with pay... but that was just the luck of the draw.

Actually it seems 'wronger' to me that Good Friday is not a holiday in the US and that it's hardly recognised here, even by Christians - I'm used to it being one of the most important religious days of the whole year!

Edited December 28, 2007 by Kajikit

[kim&james 0]

I have found it weird that the 24th is a day off, alot of families including my inlaws all have the family xmas on christmas eve (day), then everyone splits up for xmas day. There is no boxing day... very very weird.

James and I have decided that we will celebrate our main christmas on christmas day every year and only take with us to his family, presents for the kids etc that we wont see the following day.

Traditionally for my family, all presents were not opened until christmas day morning,even ones given earlier were put under the tree.

This year, we took a couple of small presents for each of us to open christmas morning, since we were in MS, and the rest waited until we got home christmas night.

[raymaga 26]

America is drastically short on holidays in general We were lucky this year - DH works on call and he didn't have a single job to do this week until today, so he got four days off with pay... but that was just the luck of the draw.

Actually it seems 'wronger' to me that Good Friday is not a holiday in the US and that it's hardly recognised here, even by Christians - I'm used to it being one of the most important religious days of the whole year!

I agree about Good Friday... in Canada, I had Good Friday and Easter Monday off. When I first met my husband, and he told me he didn't even get Good Friday off, I was very disappointed. Not for religious reasons, but it was always a nice break to look forward to after the long time since the New Year's holiday.

[Widge 0]

Boxing Day is the hardest adjustment for me holiday wise to make. So far I have always requested it off as an unpaid day off and got it (not sure what I would do if it was declined lol) this year I got the three days off after xmas so it was almost like being back in England. Hubby on the otherhand was scheduled to be in at work at 11pm Xmas night as he works permanent third shift , but didn't make it! To me the strangest thinmg here is that although the build up to Christmas is just like UK it is over and forgotten in a day I miss that week long celebration that lasted through to New Year, for one day the expense and build up is sooooo over the top here.

I would definitely agree here with the lack of vacations and holidays and the difference really is the "live to work as opposed to work to live? mentality.

Happy new year to all.

[PlatyPius 5]

Aye. In America, businesses operate free of many government controls. This is good, if you're a small business owner, and is good for capitalism in general. However, it's hell for workers. Here in the US, our jobs ARE our lives, whether we like it or not. For many who don't live in the city (and some who do, too), the normal 40-45 hour week is just the start. There's also the 1-2 hours/day of commute time, getting ready for work in the morning, overtime, etc.

There have been times when I have gone a week without really seeing Mags at all. Sure, I get maybe 15 minutes at night before I stumble upstairs and pass out, but that's about it. Is this really what I/we want out of life? Do we want our gravestones to read "He was a good worker"?

I need to find a job that I enjoy that will allow me to make a living wage from working only 30 hours/week. That would be my idea of perfect (aside from being independently wealthy, of course).

Edited December 30, 2007 by PlatyPius

[Jeraly 4]

Yeah - I have joked (semi!) that I am going to claim it is my traditional heritage and that if anyone complains about it, I will sue them for racism/discrimination

In reality though I guess we'll all have to go out on the town Christmas Eve and hope the Christmas Day hangovers aren't too bad...

[Marilyn. 340]

hubby gets about 6 paid holidays a year.... New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day...

this next year he gets 3 weeks paid vacation though instead of the usual 2