BOXING DAY

The English language has lots of misleading words: there are no grapes in “grapefruit” and a “book-maker” doesn’t make books. Likewise, on “Boxing Day” there are no boxers throwing punches at each other.

“Boxing” comes from the practice of servants receiving presents from their masters the day after Christmas and, because employers recognised with appreciation the service rendered by maids, cooks and butlers, we may say that the celebration did much to bridge the gap between masters and servants. Nowadays, the well-off may still have maids and cooks working at their homes but the house-owners generally fend for themselves at Christmas as the hired staff generally take off work on this special day.

Boxing Day was celebrated in the capital city of Santa Fe on December 27. The Pickwick Club Band were the organisers and Daniel Fairfax, the heart and soul of the music group, made sure that the party lived up to everybody’s expectations.

The celebration has its roots in British history and so there was a lot of folk music from the British Isles but, because there was Argentine food and beer made by Cervecería Santa Fe, the local brewery, the gathering became a real blend of cultures too.

There was music and dancing transporting us to quaint villages in the English countryside but the cherry on the pie was the Christmas cake with which Daniel Fairfax treated every guest.

I am sure Daniel believes in the saying that “the quickest way to people’s hearts is through the stomach,” an idea which was very much in keeping with the spirit of generosity that prevailed on Boxing Day in Santa Fe, an inspiring celebration that helped us kick off the New Year with optimism.

Adrian Insaubralde, Santa Fe