Since we’re on the topic of great inventions by Canadians, what about Tim Hortons coffee? Ok, I’m not a coffee drinker, but I am a donut eater, so I can appreciate Canada’s great fast food chain. Now open in places like the USA and Ireland, it’s still known as a Canadian chain, as you can see from this commercial in Minnisota:
In many countries, Boxing Day observed today, the 26th of December. Many parts of Europe and Canada all celebrate the day, but it means different things in different countries.
In Canada, Boxing Day is often associated in people’s minds with the retail business – after Christmas Sales, and returning the gifts that didn’t fit or are already broken! (Recently I learned there’s a similar day in the USA – the day after American Thanksgiving is a huge day for retail sales). The retail aspect has changed in recent years, as some stores are required to stay closed on the actual day, or they do not allow returns (retail stores fight back by claiming it’s “Boxing Week”!). Boxing Day 2005 was the biggest day for retail stores in Canada’s history.
In practice, Boxing Day is an extension of Christmas Day – another day with family, a day of rest. Many families have special dinners on the day after Christmas, and exchange gifts. In a country like Canada where Christmas has become so rushed, it’s great to have the extra day (for those who actually get it).
The funny thing about Boxing Day, though, is that most people don’t know where it came from, and those who do “know” disagree. It’s still a mystery wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in a box. There are various theories, none that satisfy the general population. However, we do know something about the significance of the day, even though we don’t know for sure what boxing has to do with it.
 Courtesy of Wikipedia |
Boxing Day is also the Feast of Stephen – referring to Christianity’s first martyr. This may ring a bell, if you’ve been singing Christmas carols. That’s right, Good King Wenceslas helped a poor man on the Feast of Stephen. Wenceslas was the Duke of Bohemia. He was raised a Christian – his father was introduced to Christ through missionary brothers Cyril and Methodius. Whether or not the story in the carol is true, it does remind us of one of the original meanings of Boxing Day – giving to the poor.
In Britain, giving to the poor, or the “poorer-than-you” was a Boxing Day event. Employers might give a bonus to thier employees. Or goods like clothes might be given to the poor. Servants, who would work on Christmas Day, would have the following day off and might take home some of the leftovers from the Christmas feast. Remember in Dicken’s A Christmas Carol – it’s the poverty-stricken employee Bob Cratchit who gets the raise –
“A merry Christmas, Bob! A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you, for many a year! I’ll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob! Make up the fires, and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!”
Many of us are humbled on Christmas by all that God has blessed us with. Perhaps it’s time to revive the tradition – to give back a little to those in need right away. Right away, before the old bitterness or unthankfulness of our human nature takes hold again. Is there someone you know in need? Or perhaps you could give the basics to a family somewhere else in the world. Maybe Boxing Day, instead of being just another day to think about the stores, can be a day to give from all God has given us.
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Nathanael, Hannah and I went around our yard yesterday to photograph a few of the plants out there. I don’t know what they all are – there are quite a few flowers, and lots of edibles too, including mint and limes. There’s so much out there in such a small space, I even found some things I didn’t know where there!
So if you want the close-up tour of our yard, visit the album Our yard in Cuernavaca, click on the first photo, then click next on the top right to continue. You can also go to the first photo and click slideshow on the left. Then choose the size of photos and speed at the top.
By the way, I don’t know what a lot of these plants are. If you know, please leave a comment!
When we first came to Calgary, there were a few, then they seemed to disappear for a while. Now they’re popping up all over the place, and there’s no possible way we could ever eat at them all. No doubt part of the reason is that more and more Mexicans are coming to live in Calgary.
Anyway, from the ones that we have tried over the past few years, here’s what we think…
There are many more – have you tried one you liked? Disagree with the order I put these in? Leave a comment!
While driving in Mexico, I came across this. My favourite restroom sign of all time.
That’s right, another quality service from the Mexican government – it reads: dignified restrooms, for dignified people like you. I’ve never been called dignified before, so I’m delighted. Thank you Caminos y Puentes Federales!
I guess that’s what you get when I post at this time of night.
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Hannah and Nathanael were pretty excited about the tamales. Little did they think about the inexperience of the cook – me. Yes, I attempted my first tamales ever yesterday – sweet tamales, to be exact.
There have been a lot of new experiences around here lately, more than just tamales. For one thing, Nathanael has discovered how easy it is to climb out of his crib – leading us to think about an emergency switch from crib to bed. Except … well, we don’t have a bed. Not for Nathanael. We’re raising money to buy him one in Mexico. In the mean time, it may be a mattress on the floor for our little crackerjack. As we sell our furniture and pack up our belongings, each of us will be experiencing more and more transitional experiences like this.
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Tamales are steamed, and I don’t have a steamer. So they took a little improvising too – bits and pieces of this and that and *presto* – a small but functional steamer. The corn husks had been soaked, the batter made, and it was time for assembly.
Hannah helped me put in some raisins as we folded the tamales into the husks and tied them. They were put into the steamer, and they filled the kitchen with that Mexican smell while I worked on lunch.
There are lots of things to think about while you make lunch. If you can concentrate with the kids in the background. They’re doing well, but all this busy-ness and change is a challenge for them too. There’s been a lot of talk around here about Hannah’s schooling this fall in Mexico – how will it work? How do we prepare? What’s available? How will we pay for it? How far in advance should we plan?
Anyway, you’ll be glad to hear that in the end the tamales were a stunning success. Everyone enjoyed them, and I have plans for another batch. We were hoping they would be a celebration of Mexico’s win against Angola in the World Cup – a win that ended up being a tie. Ah well.
Tamales are not a lot of work if you know what you’re doing. Which I didn’t. But I know a lot more now. I found a recipe on the internet which I adapted a little – you can try it yourself – they’re sweet tamales with pineapple and raisins. Or you could invite yourself over to try mine. But remember – I’m still only a novice. Better to visit Mexico yourself. Hey, we should do that…
