Monday, December 28, 2015

Boxing Day in the UK: sales and sports cars - or fly away

Boxing Day was originally the day when the servants who had worked on Xmas day took home a box of goodies or leftovers and took a collecting box to get tips. Many families do a kind of second Christmas day when those invited invite back the hosts of Christmas Day dinner. For example, grandma does Christmas Day lunch, then her eldest daughter hosts the Boxing Day lunch.

Since a few years ago shops have started opening on Boxing Day with sales, to compete with the Internet which offers online bargains on Christmas Day when people are at home. Why do sales start after Christmas? Because traditionally you have spent lots of money on food and gifts, and are already stocked up on seasonal warm clothes (northern hemisphere) and would not normally go shopping except to take back unwanted items and get the money back.

But what if you still have shopping fatigue? What else can you do?

Looking on Facebook I saw my friend and erstwhile neighbour Charlie had been to a motor show. I had not idea that motor shows took place on Boxing Day.

That's an idea to remember for next year.

As a teenager I discovered that the secret of finding somewhere to go when you've nowhere to go is to stage your own event.

One year we found the only available flights were on Christmas day and New Year's Day. On another occasion we were bumped off flights to the Caribbean.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

No comments:

Post a Comment