Hello my lovely readers!
Tonight's #SeasonalSonnets entry is a musing on what Boxing Day means. There are many different theories, the most prevalent being that it refers to the boxes of gifts traditionally given to servants by their employers on this, their day off after the business and busyness of Christmas Day. Whatever its historical basis, it's now more about the sales, and this naturally got the socialist in me thinking about how nice it would be if we could reclaim the gift-giving sense of the day (though definitely not the power hierarchies and servitude!).
In fact, we have so much left over food that we were trying to conjure up a way of giving some to people who might need it (especially because, as a vegetarian, I didn't have any of the bird). Alas, I'm aware food banks only take non-perishable items, so we'll continue to plough our way through the festive fare - and donate some other things instead. I'm also going to give an amount to the Trussel Trust.
I hope everyone has had a lovely day and that you enjoy this little offering - I'll be back with another tomorrow (we're on the home stretch now, I promise!)
Jx
26th December
The 26th December’s about boxes,
‘though just what kind of boxes, no-one knows –
this is a festive question that still foxes
and keeps many a great thinker on their toes.
T’popular claim is that it might refer
to presents that ‘great’ families gave their staff
since, Christmas o’er, th’exhausted servants were
at last – for once! – permitted a day off.
These days, of course, it’s more about the sales
and just how many bargains we can hire*
but I prefer to ponder on the tales
these rare family reunions might’ve inspired.
And so, today, I’ve thought ‘What can I give?’
and pondered how best t’help those who don’t have.
*'Hire' was mostly just a convenient rhyme, but it's also a slight nod to the fact that a lot of things bought today probably get returned!
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| Copyright Jessi Parrott December 2016 |
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