Boxing Day

A long time ago, a girl called Minnie worked as a servant for a rich family in London. All year round, she cleaned, cooked and looked after the children and had no time for anything but work. Minnie missed her family, who lived in a small village. Once a year, she was able to leave London and visit them. She was never free on Christmas Day because the rich family needed her to serve their special dinner, but the day after — December 26th — was her holiday. The evening before travelling, she always cleaned her best dress and packed her suitcase. In the village, her mother was so excited that she couldn’t sleep. She would stay up all night, decorate the house and cook Minnie’s favourite dishes and desserts. Early in the morning, her sisters went to the village square to wait for her. Then Minnie finally arrived, tired from her journey which took her hours, but with a big smile and an even bigger box in her arms. This box was a special gift from her employer: it was full of presents for her family. She went home and all her brothers and sisters opened their presents and celebrated together. This used to happen a long time ago and Minnie and her family are long dead. However, one thing survives: the significance of this day. December 26th is now called Boxing Day and it’s a public holiday in the UK. People don’t go to work. They stay at home with their families and relax, watching TV and exchanging presents.