Happy Boxing Day

Dear Friends, Happy Boxing Day, traditionally the day after Christmas where people gave boxes (gifts) to their help and also gave them the day off so they in turn, could give boxes to their families. I hope you all enjoyed Christmas. I am including part of the Queen's Christmas Message, in case you missed it:

Nine Million Viewers Tuned In to Queen Elizabeth’s Poignant Christmas Message

“Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones. This year, especially, I understand why,” she said.

Queen Elizabeth’s annual Christmas Day speech had more viewers than any other program in the United Kingdom, according to reports. More than nine million people tuned in, with 7.4 million watching it on the BBC and 1.7 million viewers on ITV. Last year’s viewership was estimated at 6.3 million.

The queen’s message, her second since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, was the first since the passing of Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years.

Neither the queen nor the producers of the official video avoided addressing his absence. The video opened with imagery of the couple before cutting to a framed photo of the two on the queen’s desk. Her remarks began, “[a]lthough it’s a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones. This year, especially, I understand why.”

She continued, “[b]ut for me, in the months since the death of my beloved Philip, I have drawn great comfort from the warmth and affection of the many tributes to his life and work – from around the country, the Commonwealth, and the world. His sense of service, intellectual curiosity, and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation – were all irrepressible. That mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him.”

On the subject of the ongoing pandemic, which interrupted even the queen’s holiday plans, she commented that “we can’t celebrate quite as we may have wished, [but] we can still enjoy the many happy traditions. Be it the singing of carols (as long as the tune is well known); decorating the tree; giving and receiving presents; or watching a favorite film where we already know the ending, it’s no surprise that families so often treasure their Christmas routines.”

The video concluded with some pre-recorded singing: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” was this year’s bop. Unlike last year’s “Joy To The World,” the carolers were not doctors and nurses.

The queen’s Christmas Message (officially called “Her Majesty’s Most Gracious Speech”) is a tradition launched by King George V (the current monarch’s grandfather) with a radio broadcast in 1932.