Perhaps 100s of years ago. In my lifetime, it was a day for visiting relatives and friends. I recall that often, while visiting relatives who lived in the country, outside of d’Ottawa, we would often go to the ‘levee’ at the township hall, on Boxing Day. We’d quaff a few pints of ale, to shake the cobwebs out, and visit with neighbours.
From at least the 1970s (likely much earlier), stores would have ‘Boxing Day’ sales, getting rid or old stock. I can remember going to a ‘Best Buy’ type store at 5:00AM, so as to get in early and ‘score’ a deal on a DVD player. IT WAS FREAKIN’ COLD! Now, most everything is done over the internet! That said, technology doesn’t bear any interest to me, anymore.
Well, I guess that’s a good day to have clearance sales.
It’s probably one of the last days of all that I’d want to leave the house - especially up there :-)