A few public holidays in Sydney are unfamiliar to me, like Australia Day, Anzac Day, and the Queen's Birthday, but none more than the one that falls on the day after Christmas, known as Boxing Day!
On this day, folks seem almost as excited as they are on Christmas!
I didn't get it, especially when I heard the holiday ritual consists of trashing boxes leftover from Christmas and returning unwanted gifts to the store.
I thought to myself, it can't be that simple, and I found out it wasn't.
Boxing Day is not Australia-specific - it's a British public holiday also celebrated in other Commonwealth countries like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada on the 26th of December.
The proper greeting is Happy Boxing Day!
The holiday has nothing to do with the actual sport of boxing; instead, similarly to how Americans tip service providers at Christmastime, like newspaper carriers and handypersons, theories about the holiday come from the English tradition of giving boxed gifts to service people.
Dating back to Victorian-era England, the wealthy would give servants, who worked on Christmas Day, the next day off, along with boxes of cash, gifts, and food to share with their families.
Also, in the 1800s, the early church had a tradition of collecting donations in Alms boxes to distribute to the poor on St. Stephens Day, the Christian holiday that falls on the 26th.
Traditions evolve over time, and with progressive social changes, Boxing Day now seems to have less to do with giving and more to do with spending.
Boxing Days sales are equivalent to the ones we have on Black Friday. Stores open at 6 am. but shoppers start queueing hours earlier.
 |
| Westfield Chatswood Shopping Center |
 |
| Westfield Chatswood Food Court |
But not everyone goes shopping on that day.
While visiting my co-mother-in-law, I was invited to a neighbors Boxing Day barbecue.
I was excited because my curiosity about the day could now be satisfied by a first-hand experience.
 |
| Neighbors house |
When I arrived, CP time, their family and friends of all generations had packed the house.
The party took place inside and out, and included lots of food, especially barbecue and plenty of eskies (coolers) full of cold drinks and beer.
 |
| Lots of grilling |
 |
| Prawns (Shrimp) and Oysters |
I met the neighbor's sister in the back garden. She told me that the annual family barbecue on Boxing Day gave them a chance to see everyone and to relax after the Christmas commotion.
She mentioned that she worked for an Australian government agency and was happy to have the day off, too!
I learned a lot about her job, love of family, and her culture, as she was Indigenous (Aboriginal). In return, she got an earful of what it was like to be a Black American in Sydney.
It reminded me of a 4th of July family picnic back at home,
There was not one mention of boxes, but plenty to say about the cricket match, broadcasting loudly from the television inside the house.
 |
Cricket Match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Cricket is one of Australia's favorite sports and the Cricket Test Match, which begins on Boxing Day, is the highlight of the cricket season.
The Hobart Yacht Race, which starts in Sydney and ends in Hobart, Tasmania, is another sport that grabs the attention of Aussies on the 26th.
Regardless of where you go on that day, restaurants, bars, or family barbecues, you will be within earshot of televisions broadcasting sports, which are central to Australian popular culture. |
 |
| Cricket match broadcasting live |
 |
| Cricket match broadcasting live |
Australia's sunny and hot climate provides plenty of opportunities to be outside and active, and their sports promote mateship.
When my grandson, Jethro, was three, he received a cricket bat for Christmas from an Aussie neighbor who loves the game.
He's eight now and never picked up the sport, but at least he picked up the bat!
 |
| My grandson, Jethro at 3 years old |
This year, Christmas falls on Saturday the 25th, Boxing Day is on Sunday, the 26th, and some businesses and government agencies will close on Monday, the 27th, and Tuesday, the 28th to observe the public holidays. Wow, that's two more days off!
I get it now.
When the excitement of Christmas day starts to fade and post-holiday blues begin to set in, Boxing Day is the holiday after the holiday.
For all of those who don't trash boxes, it's a time to relax with family, attend barbecue gatherings, go shopping, and overindulge in sports!
A day to trash boxes . . .
Boxing Day sales . . .
Cricket matches . . .
Sydney is NOT Kansas!
If you like this post, don't forget to leave a comment below or send me a note using the form on the right! Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more!
