P90X – Boxing On Boxing Day…
In Canada, Britain, New Zealand and Australia Boxing Day is a national holiday, a day when you get to go back to the stores and return the items you received on Christmas Day (the ones you do not wish to keep, for whatever reason).
The exact etymology of the term "boxing" is unclear. There are several competing theories, none of which is definitive. The European tradition, which has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions, has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown. It may come from a custom in the late Roman/early Christian era, wherein metal boxes placed outside churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen, which in the Western Church falls on the same day as Boxing Day. In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. This is mentioned in Samuel Pepys’ diary entry for 19 December 1663. This custom is linked to an older English tradition: Since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts and bonuses, and sometimes leftover food.
When I was raised (in Montreal) I was told that on Boxing Day, people who received new shoes or other new pieces of clothing put their older shoes or clothing in boxes and left them on the front step to be collected, and eventually given to the less fortunate. I always liked Boxing Day.
Today, we simply use Boxing Day as a shopping day (when the post Christmas sales come out to tempt consumers to separate with just a little more of their savings).
I find it interesting that today, Boxing Day, my 28th day of P90X is my scheduled day for Kenpo. While I was concentrating on my kicks, my mind was concentrating on my kicks…form and style over speed and quantity. When I was doing my punches, the irony hit me. Here I was boxing on Boxing Day. How cool is that?
After my workout, I allowed my body to cool down a little before heading to the gym, which thankfully does not observe Boxing Day. After an easy 3 mile run, I enjoyed some lunch before starting on my Honey-Do list (or should I say Kerry’s Honey-Do list?)
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