Boxing Day: The Commonwealth’s ‘Black Friday’

There’s a crazy tradition we have in Canada (and other Commonwealth countries as well as some parts of Europe).  December 26, also known as Boxing Day, marks the official start of the post-Christmas sales (though in the past few years, Boxing Week slashes start before Christmas).   In Canada, it is quite common to see people line up outside of electronics stores before the break of dawn, hoping to cash in on TVs, DVD players, video game consoles and so forth at lower prices.  Lines are sometimes so long that you wonder if they’re waiting to buy tickets for a hot band.  It is also not uncommon to find families putting modern technology to full use. The family members and sometimes, friends, line up at different locations trying to hunt for the same item, and once the first person finds the item, he or she calls or texts the others with the note that the item has been found and purchased.

We have a recession going on as we speak. On would expect that people will cut back on their spending. However, seeing as shoppers went absolutely wild on Black Friday in the United States, I’m not so sure. I just hope that everyone who decides to shop does so safely, and politely.  We don’t want to see any tragedies.  It is also interesting to note that stores are preparing for the worst given the economic environment and are offering goods at deeper than usual discounts. I recently received an e-mail from Banana Republic saying that there’s an additional 20% off all purchases for December 26 only.  The whole idea is to get customers to open their wallets regardless of whether the things are necessary or not.

I’m not saying that I won’t participate in Boxing Day activities – I usually do, and this year won’t be any different.  However, I generally avoid the electronics stores, as they tend to be the craziest.  Some department stores aren’t all that calm either, but they generally don’t discount as much.  I also try to avoid malls for the same reason.  Many malls don’t have the best circulation, and spending too many hours there can’t be that great for one’s health.

The “real” reason for Boxing Day was historically linked to role reversals.  Those who were better-off often helped the needy – it was the day that staff were given gifts by their employers.  The famous Christmas Carol, “Good King Wenceslas” was based on Wenceslas I, the Duke of Bohemia, who offered shelter to a peasant.  However, Boxing Day, at least in this part of the world, has turned into a frenzy of “want, want, want.”  It shouldn’t be, considering the state of the economy these days.  We often discuss the “true meaning” of Christmas, but what about the “true meaning” of Boxing Day?