Meaningful Ways To Celebrate Boxing Day

Also known as St. Stephen’s Day, Boxing Day is the traditional post Christmas Day event that is celebrated by people with native British roots. As if Christmas Eve and Christmas Day weren’t enough, December 26^th provides a further opportunity to celebrate the festive season.

The feast of St. Stephen originated in medieval times, and focused on the practice of collecting donations for the poor. To make the custom of giving a central focus of your Boxing Day festivities, here are a few meaningful suggestions:

Being Charitable

• Follow The Tradition

If you have a religious practice, Boxing Day presents the ideal opportunity to get involved with your church. Many churches follow the St. Stephen’s Day tradition and collect donations that are then distributed to people who can benefit from this assistance. Give your time to this worthy cause by asking your church if they need a helping hand.

• Giving Thanks For Service

If you are out and about on Boxing Day consider tipping generously for the service that you receive. Leave a sizeable tip for the waitress who serves your lunch, or the cab driver who takes you home. You can also give a bonus payment to anyone who regularly provides you with a service – the window cleaner, the chatty hairdresser, the cheerful delivery guy etc.

• Give Your Time

Not everyone can afford to pay out cash donations, particularly at this time of the year. Instead, look for creative ways in which you can give others your time. Perhaps an elderly neighbor needs someone to give them a lift somewhere? Maybe you can collect food items to make up a food parcel, for someone who would appreciate a little extra help? There are endless ways in which you can contribute to improving the lives of others.

Family First

• Extend Your Welcome

If charity really does begin at home, use Boxing Day as the perfect occasion to spend quality time with family and close friends. Spend this day with special people that you may not have had a chance to get together with over the holidays. If you have a large or extended family it can be difficult to get everyone together at the same time, so make Boxing Day a relaxed occasion that everyone can enjoy.

• Open Your House

Keep it casual and invite people over to celebrate in an informal way. An Open House invite means that you can enjoy people dropping in throughout the day. Suggest a Pot Luck party, so that everyone can get creative and use up all of the leftover Christmas turkey!

• Attend A Panto

Younger family members can get restless after a few days of Christmas cheer. Break the boredom by organizing a family outing to the Panto, theatre or cinema. If you have a big family it’s worth booking your tickets for this event before Christmas, to ensure that you can get seats together.

• Go For A Walk

After the excesses of Christmas Day you’ll benefit from some gentle exercise. Get your family and friends together and set off for a leisurely stroll somewhere scenic, or for a long hike through the woods. Reconnecting with nature in this way will help you appreciate and value what you have, in a more meaningful way.

Enjoying Solo Time

If you are spending Christmas Day surrounded by family finding a few quiet moments for yourself may present a challenge. Set aside a few hours on Boxing Day for quiet contemplation. Being charitable to yourself in this manner is a great way to raise your vibration, and presents you with an opportunity to give heartfelt thanks for all that you have.