Today, in Canada, is Boxing Day. What is Boxing Day, you might ask? Well, a lot of Canadians would be challenged to explain that to you. It has its roots in Canada’s history as a Commonwealth country. It is a British tradition, and there is more than one explanation for it: some say it is the day that alms for the poor, collected in boxes, were distributed to the poor. Others say that it is the day that servants at the homes of wealthy were given gifts in boxes. Either way, it was a day of generosity. It has remained a holiday, and it used to be that all businesses were closed on Boxing Day.

It has devolved into the Canadian equivalent of Black Friday, with stores advertising big savings on things you already gave someone for Christmas at twice the price. I’ve only twice participated in the madness–once to buy my husband a much-needed suit, and last year, I gave money to someone who was already going, to buy the camera for my son’s birthday.

Today, we’ll be relaxing and the kids will be enjoying another day of the snow that fell just in time for Christmas. How will you spend Boxing Day?