Why I Like Boxing Day

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Nothing is expected of me today, beyond the normal civility that should characterise every day. Today is the day when: the drama of Christmas Day having passed; the preparations for Christmas belonging to history; the opening of presents having produced either spontaneous or unauthentic gasps of delight; the great bout de cuisine having been accomplished; we can either sink into a sort of hung over accidie, or begin dimly to understand why Holy Mother Church ordains Octaves as a sort of period of suspended time, a time when we can begin to really enjoy Christmas, the material part having been got over.

Thanks to Fr Z (whom God preserve!) for the insight into Octaves and into why I enjoy Boxing Day and Easter Monday so much.