December 26th. Boxing Day. I woke up this morning wondering, like I had every other year, what Boxing Day was all about. Before I reached out to professor Google for some answers I decided to think about it for a moment. I thought about what Boxing Day means for the typical middle-aged Aussie bloke.
It's all about escaping from the late December heat by hiding in air conditioning while watching test match cricket on the television. When the brief commercial breaks are broadcast at either the end of an over or the fall of a wicket, then it's time to change the channel for a few seconds to watch some yachts sailing out of Sydney Harbour. Then it's back to the cricket.
It's a day of feeling disgusted at ourselves for the excessive amounts of food eaten the day before, while trying not to think about the homeless and the poor folks who missed out. Then when those gluttonous memories have sufficiently subsided, we either get stuck into some leftovers or fire up the barbeque to cook even more food.
Those who like to drink eventually start up on the booze again, with each dead marine being chucked into the recycling wheelie bin with a shameful clatter. I can imagine the sound of the bin being dragged out to the kerb on collection day.
If friends or family had dropped by for a visit then they eventually hit the road. Those left behind note the palpable feeling of an empty house. Getting behind the wheel is often an early start for those who are continuing their journey, wanting to beat the traffic and get to their next destination for check-in. Those who are heading back home might depart after a bit more food and a few bevvies; watch out for the boys in blue with roadside random breath tests.
Perhaps the most notable experience of Boxing Day in Australia is the melancholy. The fading of the holiday joy which we had been anticipating for weeks, transforming into a feeling of apprehension about the year ahead. More work, more bills, and another year crossed off the calendars of our lives.
Boxing Day. It can be a real mixed bag of emotions. But it's remains one of the great days of the year, unless you're already back to work. In that case, thank you for your service.
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