In Germany, at least, this is the public holiday known as “The Second Christmas Day.” In the UK and parts of the Commonwealth, it’s Boxing Day, the day on which gifts and a day off were given to servants, according to Wikipedia, and when alms were/are given to the poor. It’s also St. Stephen’s Day, which I’m sure some of us named Cynthia probably know more about than I can distill from Wikipedia.
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Circumstances have conspired of late to throttle back my presence in the digital domain. So, if you thought my absence of late was my Christmas present to you, you would be wrong. But I do hope everyone here had a wonderful Christmas. And I'll wish everyone a Happy New Year now, just in case.
I didn't have time to write about Christmas plans because I was busy. But I had a good Christmas. Talked on the phone to my out of town sister and thanked her for the gifts she and brother-in-law sent. They hadn't opened the box from me yet. Brother came over for brunch (make-your-own omelets and cookies) and then we went to my local sister's place, picked her up, and went to the movies. She had already bought our tickets.
We saw "The Boys in the Boat." It was pretty good. Reviewers have said it's a very "traditional" movie. I think that refers not to the costume and production design--which make you feel like you're in 1936, and the costume and production design people deserve Oscars, and I want one of those cute little hats and would like to see all guys wearing fedoras--but to the storytelling. In other words, if you can figure out who is who and follow what is going on, that's considered very traditional. One cool moment? People are watching a newsreel (about the 1936 Olympics) in a movie theater. And the shot sort of made it seem like we--the 1936 people and the 2023 people--were all in the 1936 theater together. It was a good story. I understand it's based on a book, which I have put on hold (Kindle edition) at the library, though it's going to be a long wait.
Then we went back to my sister's place, made a fire on the 3-season porch (it was a mild day) and exchanged gifts and had a cup of cocoa and played with the dogs and talked. We don't go wild with gifts anymore, but we give each other little fun items and things that we know will be appreciated or useful. It's more like the stocking stuffer concept, except we don't put them in stockings. Then my brother drove me home, taking a route through one of the best areas in the city for viewing Christmas light displays on houses. Some were understated and some were extravaganzas. I think it's a great custom.