Monday, December 28, 2009
Day 15: Boxing Day
Monday was a national holiday, called Boxing Day. We had heard of it before, but we weren't sure what it was all about since it is not recognized in the U.S. No famous boxers of English decent were coming to mind...
No seriously...here's a little history lesson. It may help you win final Jeopary one night.
Celebrated the day after Christmas, Boxing Day is a day when people present gifts, bonuses, donations or items to others, often those less fortunate. For centuries, a Christmas box was an earthenware box used to collect donations, either as tips at a business or as donations for the poor. People would drop coins into the Christmas boxes all year. Then the day after Christmas, the box would be broken open and the contents would be distributed among employees or given to charitable causes.
We've heard some conflicting reports from locals about the history of this holiday. Other says that in feudal times, the lords of the land would gather useful items and gifts together to distribute among the serfs to use the following year. As each family received a box of goods, such as grain, tools and clothing, the tradition of Boxing Day emerged. Boxing Day is celebrated in Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, as well as many British commonwealths, like the BVI. Oh, and when Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, the holiday is recognized on the following Monday. We weren't sure if this holiday was like President's Day in the U.S. so Michael tried going into the office, but it was closed. So, our Boxing Day became Beach Day.
We hadn't been to Cane Garden Bay yet, so we decided to try it out. It is the most commercial beach on the island.
There are several restaurants located here along with the vendors who primarily sell to cruise ship passengers. We had lunch at Myatt's. This was the view from our table.
Happy Boxing Day!
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