Monday, December 26, 2022

It's Boxing Day!

 RHYS BOWEN: Wishing you a happy day after Christmas. Did Santa bring you what you wanted?

IN England and Commonwealth countries it’s Boxing Day. This has nothing to do with the sport. It was the day when employees got their Christmas boxes. Specifically servants in big houses who had to work all of Christmas Day for the family and were allowed home to their own families the day after. They were given a box of food, clothing and maybe a money gratuity to take with them.

When I was growing up in England the tradesmen would call at the house to wish us the “compliments of the season.” And they’d get a tip. The garbage man, mail man, window cleaner, newsboy etc.

Who had a good Jolabokaflod? I've wanted to try that but with this many people around it's not possible. Sounds ideal, doesn't it?

So did you have a good day yesterday? We had a full house with fifteen family members, a big brunch with mimosas and bloody marys, tea with mince pies and then turkey and ham and all the trimmings. So today we can barely move.  We’ll have another big brunch and then a turkey curry. And play a lot of silly games and laugh a lot. Bliss!

But I wanted to share a couple of unique things about our Christmas:

Traditional food, apart from turkey etc, is small mince pies and sausage rolls. These are from my childhood. When I was growing up the other treats at Christmas were tangerines (that only appeared at Christmas time, dates and turkish delight.


Who else has a kangaroo on their tree? (Outside of Australia, I mean?)  






You may not know that I met and married John when I lived in Australia. My brother came down to join me and my parents retired to Australia, so for years my whole family lived there. Now my brother still lives in Tasmania and every Christmas I get Aussie ornaments for the tree. So I have an emu, and echidna, koalas etc etc leaping all over my tree. Such fun.

I also have two large bears by my fireplace. They came from the house of a dear friend who passed away.  When her house was put up for sale I managed to buy two of her bears. They are  called Nigel and Stanley. Nigel is the superior one who is singing carols.

He is quite critical of Stanley who is simple and loveable and taking toys to poor children.



Apart from those my tree is decorated with stars, hearts, angels. I love it.


And I'm sending blessings from our house to yours! Love, Rhys.

57 comments:

  1. We don’t have kangaroos on our tree [how lovely that your brother sends you such unique ornaments] but we did have mince pie . . . Some of the best parts of the holiday are the traditions that we keep. [Jolabokaflod sounds like a good one to adopt!]
    Wishing everyone all the blessings of the season . . . . .

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  2. My brother's birthday was on Boxing Day. He passed away some years ago. He grew up in U.S. but moved to UK when he married my sister-in-law, who lived in Luton, and he was quite pleased to celebrate his birthday on another big holiday after Christmas. As for Kangaroos -- we have a tiny kangaroo for our Xmas tree given to us by some British friends who vacationed once in Australia.

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  3. Happy Holidays and I love your tradition.

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  5. Yay for Boxing Day! I am going to the Boxing Day sales starting at 8 am. No pre-dawn lines in sub zero temps this year since the deals I want are in a shopping msll.

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  6. Happy Boxing Day, Rhys! Thanks for the explanation, we were just discussing that very thing this morning. And getting it all wrong.

    Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas? I hope so!

    We had a fun turkey and lamb Christmas dinner last night, complete with crackers that included fancy gold crowns. But dinner was preceded by a fabulous native dance performance by local students. Two of whom performed as a pretty believable elephant.

    Debs, we shared our dinner table the last two nights with a charming honeymooning couple who live on a narrowboat in Westminster! They started with a smaller boat, but traded up to a double wide one during their time together during Covid. I mentioned your book with the narrowboat venue, and one of their mooring neighbors had already drawn their attention to it. They said they would definitely read it.

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    1. Karen, I'm so glad you're getting to experience all this! Have a wonderful time.

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    2. thanks for the mention, Karen! I hope they enjoy the book! And it sounds like you are having a fabulous time!

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  7. Happy Boxing Day! Our Christmas was quiet, delicious, and book-filled, and included a long zoom with my sons and their sweethearts.

    My newest ornament was a gift this year from Barbara Ross. It shows a woman reading sitting atop a stack of books - and the spines have the titles of all my first-in-series books! Such a special and thoughtful gift for an author.

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    1. WOW Edith, that’s what I call a very well thought gift !
      Danielle

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    2. What an amazing gift, Edith. I hope Hugh is doing well and you are staying Covid-free

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    3. What a well thought gift Edith !
      Danielle

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  8. happy boxing day Rhys! Your holiday sounds magical. Our company left yesterday and now, having done no work for 10 days, I intend to dive back in!

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    1. Work? What is that? Oh you mean things like edits and being behind deadline???? Nah. Not going to happen. Happy holiday to you and John

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    2. Roberta - I’m spending Christmas with a mutual friend in Westbrook CT and we just went down to Madison to JR Julia for a Boxing Day book shopping binge and lunch…great fun.

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    3. FB thinks that I am Anonymous….I’m Susan Markham-Starr

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  9. Happy Boxing Day Rhys! Thanks for sharing some of your past and present experiences. My dad was a Brit, so I am familiar with Boxing Day. Sausage rolls yummmmmm!

    We had a big turkey dinner yesterday and exchanged gifts, played some games and had good conversation. Just spending time with my busy family is a blessing. My sister gave us each a heart shaped ornament designed as shelves filled with books. Perfect for a family of readers. My son heads back to Chicago later today and life will move on, though I am keeping my nativity scene up until the magi arrive on Jan 6, Epiphany.

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  10. Happy Boxing Day Rhys! Thanks for sharing a bit about your past and present holidays. My dad was a Brit, so I am familiar with Boxing Day. Thinking about sausage rolls makes my mouth water.

    We had a fun holiday yesterday, with turkey and trimmings, stocking stuffer exchange,good conversation and some games. It's always wonderful to hang out together! My sister gave us heart shaped ornaments with a design of books on shelves. Perfect for a family of readers.

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  11. I knew nothing about Boxing Day until I began to read your books, Rhys! It's fun to learn about everyone's traditions. The photos you posted of sausage rolls and mince pies were positively mouth watering. What do you put into mince pies? Fruit? Meat? I adore food you can pick up with your fingers.
    Yesterday, friends came over and we had hors d'oeuvres including potato latkes, sweet and sour meat balls, tuna steak with horse radish sauce, humus and veggies, and finished the evening with brownie sundaes. 🍨 It was fantastic to have people over again.

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  12. Blogger just erased me. Oy.
    It's lovely to read about everyone's holiday. I'll check in later.

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  13. I miss my friend’s Boxing Day parties since she moved away. They weren’t anything fancy just a nice evening to visit with friends.
    No kangaroo ornaments on my tree, but I do have a star pattern (19th century design) baseball handmade by my husband. My oldest ornament is a red glass ball with my name on it in silver glitter given to me by my kindergarten teacher in 1967.

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  14. This is my third attempt to comment today. I may not be the only one having trouble since there's been nothing posted since 7:28 and now it is 9:24.

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  15. Rhys, I love your explanation of Boxing Day. I don't have a kangaroo on our tree, but my brother lives in Australia so I should ask him to send me one! Our Christmas traditions here in So. Calif are to go caroling with my mother's old pump organ - a tradition she started back in the 60's and we siblings and now grown grandkids have carried forward. We each do a skit and then open one present on Christmas Eve. Our big dinner is also on C.Eve along with opening poppers and acting silly with our paper crowns.

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  16. Love the descriptions and I think everyone should have a kangaroo on their tree🤗

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  17. Lovely tree and traditions, Rhys. Happy boxing day!

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  18. Happy Boxing Day (Saturnalia) to all. Yesterday was splendid! For the first time in a long long time I weigh less today than I did on Saturday. The main protein was beef with enough left over for a week.
    My daughter loved the veggies. One of the space heaters died. We are cocooning with blankets; moved movie time to separate rooms and watched online. Major is now using the cat box, a great gift to all, and now is cuddling with Dmitri. Cold does make warm relationships. Fare well today everyone. It is a good day on Nome Street.

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  19. May your turkey curry be delicious, Rhys. I created little mincemeat mini tartletts for the office potluck lunch on Thursday. I took many home and have been enjoying them After church services on Saturday and Sunday, I had a quite Christmas Day. I wish you all a delightful Twelve Days of Christmas, safe from illness and safe travels.

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  20. Happy Boxing Day, Rhys! We celebrate Boxing Day in our family too. We adopted many British traditions. Sounds like you had a lovely Christmas.

    Regarding Jolabokflod, I collect books ALL year to give to different relatives for Christmas. It is just how I am wired. On Christmas Eve, I read a wonderful novel THE IMPULSE PURCHASE by a British author, Veronica Henry, who wrote many novels, though only ONE of her novels have been in American book shops.

    Love the Christmas ornaments and what a gorgeous tree! Your adorable Bears reminded me of Paddington Bear.

    Made Gingerbread dough yesterday and planning to bake this morning.

    Diana

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  21. Boxing day? And here I always thought it meant the day you boxed up all the gifts that you can't use and either take them into a store to exchange them, or put them away forever. Your tree sounds lovely. We just had four of us, but we had a lovely time, including watching ELF, which I'd never seen. Although my DIL swears she's seen in every year since it came out, I have to admit, I won't be seeing it again. :)

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  22. Silly me. I always thought that boxing day is when you boxed up the Christmas gifts you couldn't use and either took them to exchange or put them away forever. Your Christmas sounds lovely. There were only four of us, but we had a great time, including wine and football, then watching ELF, which I had never seen. My DIL swears she watches it once a year, but once is enough for me!

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  23. When my mother was alive, Boxing Day was our favorite holiday. She and I would hop in the car and go shopping for ourselves, just us two. No cooking, no cleaning, no political arguments. Just hanging out with my best friend. ❤️

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  24. Boxing Day is the best day of the year. After the frenetic bake-a-thon leading up to Christmas, I get to spend the whole day in my jammies, reading books, playing with my new toys and eating leftovers from the feast. Does it get any better than that?

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  25. You are so fabulous! And this sounds wonderful— next year we are all coming to your house! We had a lovely sweet dinner of rack of lamb and brussels sprouts and delicious wine, and listened to the howling wind. Perfect in every way. Just like you are, reds and readers!

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  26. That sounds absolutely marvelous! Perfect in every way. And next year, we are all coming to your house! We had a lovely glamorous, dinner of rack of lamb and brussels sprouts and lovely wine, and listened to the howling wind. Again, perfect in every way – – just like you are reds and readers!

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  27. Boxing Day is the best day of the whole year. After the frenetic bake-a-thon leading up to Christmas, I get to spend the whole day in my jammies, reading books and playing with my new toys. Oh yeah, and there are chocolates to be had.

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  28. I miss my friend’s Boxing Day parties since she moved away. Nothing fancy. Just an opportunity to visit with a small group of friends.
    I do not have a kangaroo ornament, but I do have a star pattern (19th century design) baseball ornament handmade by my husband. My oldest ornament is a simple red glass ball with my name on it in silver glitter given to me by my kindergarten teacher in 1967.

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  29. Either my comment will magically appear 3 times now or I will finally give up trying to post one.
    I miss my friend's Boxing Day parties since she moved away. Nothing fancy just an opportunity for a small group of friends to gather and visit. I think it was her way of sharing the experience with the pen pal she has had from England for many years.
    I do not have a kangaroo on my tree, but I do have a star pattern( 19th century design) baseball ornament handmade by my husband. My oldest ornament is a simple red glass ball with my name on it in silver glitter given to me by my kindergarten teacher in 1967.

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  30. Today you rest, Rhys! I sent as much of the Christmas menu items back with my 8 family guests as possible, but I still have a couple of full dinners in the refrigerator and too many sweets. We all talk and laugh for hours but no games. Maybe I’ll propose something next year. Thanks for explaining the meaning of Boxing Day - I had no idea.

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  31. This sounds completely wonderful, Rhys! And next year, we are all coming to YOUR house! We had gorgeous rack of lamb (if I do say so...) and brussels sprouts anda great red wine. And now I am working working working. LOVE you all, darling ones!

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  32. Blogger is GOING NUTS! And marking everything spam. I am trying to fix, and will let Rhys know!

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  33. Okay...I approved everyone. Did this work? HA! Guess so. And now there are all kinds of duplicate comments..never a dull moment around here!

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  34. Thanks, Hank, for coming to the rescue! I love Boxing Day and like to combine Boxing Day with Jolabokaflod! It's a day to rest and hopefully catch up on the Christmas specials I missed yesterday (Call the Midwife and Doctor Who, of course.) We had a lovely Christmas; Christmas breakfast and presents here, Christmas dinner at our daughter and son in law's. Highlights were the standing rib roast (which took twice as long to cook as we expected) and a chocolate peppermint Chantilly cream pie from our fabulous local bakery. Happy Boxing Day, everyone!

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  35. I love how tree ornaments can evoke memories. We have a fuzzy green elephant that was given to Frank by his aunt in Louisiana after he teased her about it. Its trunk has a 90 degree bend in it and it's cute as all get out. It's been ours for 50 years now and I handle it like it is fine crystal.

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  36. I see that there are problems with commenting again today. Here's hoping I had my share yesterday and this comes through. Rhys, it sounds like a wonderful Christmas time at your house. Family and food and games! I plan on the couch or the bed today, as my brain is rather Covid-foggy and I'm really tired. My coughing is better, with it not quite as dry and often. It's my beautiful daughter's 39th birthday, and I'm so sorry to miss helping her celebrate today, but it can't be helped. Husband has his big 70 coming up on Friday, but I'm afraid it will still be too soon to get family together as I hoped. Celebration delayed is still celebration though. I hope everyone here is having a nice restful Boxing Day.

    Oh, and ornaments. I have five or six old ornaments from my mother, and those are the most special, of course. I love to think of my dear mother putting them on her tree and now my hands are doing the same.

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    1. I'm doing pretty well. Tired at this point and watching my chest congestion to make sure it stays mild. Thanks for asking. I'm certainly glad I had my vaccinations.

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  37. Ah, Blogger! It likes to keep us on our toes. Though with the weather in the middle of the country, who knows - maybe one of Google's servers is frozen solid, or buried in snow!

    I'm STILL in my pjs, with a wool sweater over for warmth, and the most strenuous thing I've done so far is load the dishwasher and stack the plates and silver that needs hand washing. Otherwise, I'm enjoying sitting in front of a blazing fire in the woodstove, reading and cuddling the dogs. It's the perfect down time after a busy Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

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  38. Christmas was fine for me. Low key in all respects. I went over to my friend Ann's house. We had dinner, exchanged gifts and watched the whole first season of 'Wednesday' on Netflix. She gave me a book I wanted and a bookstore gift card as well. (Ahem, it's been converted into new book as of a couple of hours ago). There's some pics on my Facebook page illustrating part of the stuff I'm mentioning.

    As for Christmas Eve, I went to my sister's for dinner and to answer the question Rhys asked, I was ambushed by my sister who decided to celebrate Jolabokaflod without telling anyone else. So I got Mary Keliikoa's HIDDEN PIECES, a small-sized hardcover collection of Sherlock Holmes 'Selected Stories" and a nice big Hershey's chocolate bar.

    That part of the holiday season was "memorialized" in part of my blatant rip-off of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas' poem I wrote after getting home on Christmas Eve.

    "Much like King Diamond, "No Presents for Christmas"
    My sister did insist.
    But when she gives you books and chocolate for Jolabokaflod
    It's hard to resist."

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    1. That's great! And what a wonderful surprise!

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    2. Thanks Hank. Her husband and I will get even next year!

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  39. My first experience with Boxing Day was many years ago. I took my 2,4, and 6 year old to my new friends home. She was English and I dreaded corralling children in her lively home. But they , for once, we’re perfect. My four year old fell asleep on my friend’s husband’s lap for most of the afternoon. And he didn’t move until her nap was finished. Thus began a friendship that lasted more that fifty years. Complete with sausage rolls and mince pies.
    Which I’ve snacked on most of the day. I miss my friend every single day.

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