As the family grows, so do their commitments, and it becomes more and more difficult each year to pack visits with everyone into the day-and-a-half that comprises the Christmas holiday. So this year, in an effort to make things more enjoyable and relaxed, I opted to celebrate the day after Christmas with a Boxing Day dinner. It was a huge success! Twelve were in attendance and everyone enjoyed the event. I served my traditional buffet roast beef dinner at a table bedecked with live greens, snowflake candles, Santa, and apothecary jars full of Christmas candy that delighted guests both young and old, all of whom had to have a sample (or two). The young ones were allowed to reach into the jars at evening's end and select some candy to fill a bag and take home with them. In addition, each guest was given a small house-shaped box with caramels inside that I'd used as place cards. The name was on the front of the tag, and the explanation of Boxing Day was on the reverse, as follows:
Boxing Day, also known as the Feast of St. Stephen (after the first Christian martyr), is celebrated in the U.K. on December 26th. It originated in England in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria as a holiday for members of the merchant class to give boxes containing food and fruit, clothing, and/or money to trades people and servants. The gifts were an expression of gratitude similar to the bonuses many employers offer their employees today. These gifts, usually given in boxes, gave the holiday its name, "Boxing Day". Today, Boxing Day is a time for family and friends to gather with lots of food and fun.
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| Apothecary jars full of candy delighted the children (and young at heart) at the table. |
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| Place setting with place card box. |
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| Each guest had his or her own bottle of water. I liked this extra addition of green. |
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| Apothecary jars contained M&Ms, bell-shaped gumdrops, mini Hershey bars, Kisses, peanut butter cups, and Twizzlers all in red and green. |
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| The mantle in the dining room above the Franklin Stove glowed with soft candlelight. |
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| The frosted trees at either end, gave the table a Northwoods look. |
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| Santa oversaw the event and was pleased. |
