by Brita Johnson, Lead Doula and Storyteller

What is Boxing Day? Unless you live in the UK or a Commonwealth country, it may just be a mysterious holiday that appears on the calendar on December 26th.

What’s it all about? (Here’s a hint: it has nothing to do with the sport of boxing!) Modern day Boxing Day traditions focus on time with family and friends, food, football (that is, soccer for those of us in the US), and…as with many holidays, shopping. In countries where Boxing Day celebrations are baked into the annual calendar, the focus on retail deals can be compared to Black Friday and other holiday sales in the US.

Boxing Day’s origins are quite different than the contemporary practices. There are various origin stories that claim to explain Boxing Day’s roots: a tradition in 1800s England in which wealthy British families boxed up leftover food, gifts and money for their servants (who’d worked on Christmas instead of being able to celebrate); a winter feast for the poor funded by donations to church alms boxes; the Bohemian King Wenceslas, moved by the plight of a poor man gathering wood on his royal lands, and whose delivery of food and wine to the man’s house inspired a tradition of giving on St. Stephen’s Day (December 26).

Though the origin stories differ, they share the theme of generosity and support for those who are struggling.

On this Boxing Day, we’re inviting you to extend generosity and support to include your local ecosystem and the global health of our planet. In the coming year, Bridgetown Baby is turning our focus toward how we can do the work we do - and live the lives we live - in ways that steward the environment that all families depend on for the basis of their wellbeing. Let’s think sustainability - and modeling stewardship for our kids!

In the US, there are more boxes (and other forms of packaging) going into the waste stream in late December than at any other time of the year - and this is on top of the crush of pre- and post-holiday retail sales that already strains the planet’s carrying capacity. So, starting on this Boxing Day, in the transitional time between one year and the next, here are some suggestions for ways to recycle the remnants from this season’s celebrations and think ahead to making the next set of holidays cleaner, greener and even more infused with generosity:

Reduce:

• Give experiences rather than things

• Choose wood and paper items that are recycled, recyclable or made from environmentally-certified materials

• Consider the environmental footprint of the foods you eat

• Make a charitable contribution in someone’s honor, rather than giving a physical gift

Reuse:

• Use reusable fabric wrappings - learn about the Japanese tradition of furoshiki for inspiration

• Shop secondhand - think used books and cute vintage items, or even gently-used baby clothing and children’s toys

• Donate lightly-used furniture and other items to community organizations that provide goods to families in need

• Involve your kids in choosing old toys, books, and clothing displaced by new items to donate to other children in the community

Recycle:

• Choose recycled (or recyclable) wrapping options - or other fun sustainable wrapping solutions

• Get tips for correctly recycling/disposing of holiday waste

For additional tips on making holidays more sustainable, check out suggestions from Medium, World Wildlife Federation, and others.

From all of us at Bridgetown Baby, may this last week of the year bring you opportunities for rest, reflection, and connection - and energy to fill the coming year with celebrations infused with care for ourselves, our families, our communities and the planet.