By Jacqueline Kelly –
Christmas is a day for exchanging gifts like cakes, sweets, toys or money. It is a season of lights, decorations and delicious food. We all love gifts and to receive a gift from a loved one is a treasure. While 2020 brought challenges on us in ways we never expected, it also proved that with God and a little help from our near and dear ones, all things are possible.
Many people do not know the true meaning of Christmas- about the gift that changes everything!
Has anyone ever surprised you with an amazing present? Maybe, on a bad day, like the present pandemic, when you felt sad or lonely or hurt? Sometimes, we feel that no one in the world cares for us, and then an extra special present makes all the difference!
That is what God did at Christmas! Do you know what this wonderful holiday season is about? It is all about a gift!
A gift can change everything. Let us travel back in time to the first Christmas ever. We will learn about the gift that is better than anything money can buy. This present really does change everything! God values all of us, and He showed this to us in Jesus’ birth. God gave us the gift of His Son Jesus because He loves us so deeply. The relationship God wanted to have with us was destroyed when Adam and Eve brought sin into the world. Sin separated us all from the perfect and that is the reason for all pain, sadness, sickness and death- it is all because of sin.
Jesus had finished His work on earth when He died for our sins and went back to Heaven to prepare a place for those who love Him.
I will never forget you my people
I have carved you on the palm of my hand
I will never forget you, will not leave you orphaned
Will never forget my own.
Does a mother forget her baby?
Or a woman the child within her womb?
Yet even if they forget
Yes even if they forget
I will never forget my own.
Boxing Day takes place on December 26, the first day, or normally, the first weekday after Christmas. It is an official public or bank holiday celebrated in countries like Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and some European countries.
It was started in Britain about 800 years ago, during the Middle Ages. It was the day when the collection boxes for the poor often kept in Churches were traditionally opened, so that the contents could be distributed to poor people. Some Churches still open these boxes on Boxing Day.
The name is a reference to charity drives. A box to collect money for the poor and placed in Churches on Christmas Day and opened the next day – Boxing Day. It got its name from the custom of giving a “Christmas Box” on this day to employees, tradesmen or artisans as a token of appreciation for good service throughout the year. This is mentioned in Samuel Pepy’s diary entry [Saturday,December 19, 1663].
Boxing Day was invented in the 1830s when the Victorians clarified the meaning.
“A Christmas Box” in Britain is a name for a Christmas present. It was traditionally a day off for servants and the day when they received a “Christmas Box” from the Master. The servants would also go home on Boxing day to give “Christmas Boxes” to their families.
The name refers to a nautical tradition .Great sailing ships when setting sail would have a sealed box containing money on board for good luck, and was given to a Priest, opened at Christmas and the contents then given to the poor.
In South Australia, Boxing Day is known as “Proclamation Day”. It celebrates the proclamation of South Australia as a British Province by Captain John Hindmarsh when he arrived at Holdfast Bay on December 28, 1836.
Some people distribute and open presents on Christmas day, while others on Christmas Eve [German tradition] while others on New Year’s Eve.
In the Bahamas, Junkanoo parades take place on some islands to commemorate the day. Junkanoo is named after the West African John Canoe Festival. Some claim it is derived from a French word ‘gens inconnu’ meaning unknown people.
It is a Bahamian cultural masquerade consisting of a street procession of characters in traditional costumes dancing to drums, bells and whistles with their faces hidden under a flour paste. This festival originated in the 17th century. Slaves were given a special holiday at Christmastime, when they could leave the plantations to be with their family.
In recent times, Boxing Day has become synonymous with many sports. Horse racing is particularly popular all over the country. Many top football teams also participate. They are considered to be popular past times.
It is also a time when the British indulge in traditions like swimming the icy cold English Channel, fun runs and charity events.
Another “sport” to emerge in recent years is shopping. Sales used to start in January, post New Year, but the desire to grab a bargain and for shops to off-load stock means many now begin on Boxing Day. Canadians consider Boxing Day as a “Grand Daddy of all Shopping Days.”
In Ireland, Boxing Day is also known as “Saint Stephen’s Day” named after the saint stoned to death for believing in Jesus. In Ireland, on Boxing Day, there was once a cruel act carried out by the so-called “Wren Boys”. These boys would dress up and go out, and stone Wren birds to death then carry their catch around the town knocking on doors and asking for money, the stoning representing what had happened to Saint Stephen. This tradition has now stopped, but the Wren Boys still dress up and parade around town to collect for charity.
With guests often popping in, lunch will usually be a buffet or leftovers from Christmas lunch. Baked Ham is a popular Boxing Day meat and of course, mince pies with brandy, butter or a slice of Christmas cake or other desserts are most obligatory. Traditional dinner consists of roast potato, turkey, sausage and stuffing pie.
As we bring to a close 2020, we look forward to the Boxes of Vaccines.
Let every box be a gift from the Lord
Let every box have the healing touch of our Lord
Let every box be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit
Let every ingredient in the vaccine be filled with the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Let us thank God for the gift of our families. There is no better gift than the gift of the family that God has bestowed on us. Let us emulate the Holy Family of Nazareth. God is with us always! Life here on earth is not always easy. Our bodies will die one day. But if we trust in Jesus, He will take us to Heaven when we die. Someday, Jesus will return like God’s Word promised, and God will make all things perfect again. God’s family will live with Him forever! If you want to receive God’s gift, just talk to God in prayer:
There is none like You.
No one else can touch my heart like You do
I could search for all eternity Lord
And find, there is none like You!
Your mercy flows like a river so wide
And healing comes from your hand
Suffering children are safe in Your arms
There is none like You!
There is none,
There is none,
There is none like You!