What’s a Birthday Boxing Day…?
If you don’t already know let me tell you now, Elves LOVE their Birthday Boxing Day! Some might say even more so than the birth-DAY itself!! So, what exactly is it…? Like Boxing Day is the day after Christmas (26th December), your Birthday Boxing Day is the day after your Birthday – named so by the Elves!
Elves love a celebration and their birthday is no exception! In fact, any Elf with a birthday a month before or after Christmas gets an ‘unofficial birthday’ 6 months after their birthday, because they’re usually too busy with Christmas preparations to be able to celebrate in true Elf style!
Elves like to make the most out of any celebration, hence the Birthday Boxing Day which helps to elongate the fun. However, much like Santa, for the Elves, it’s just as important to give to others and make others happy! Much like our birthdays the main features of Elves’ birthdays are gifts, friends, family, food and fun! But how about the Birthday Boxing Day? Never fear our handy Birthday Boxing Day guide is here…
Why have a ‘Birthday Boxing Day’?
Well, for very similar reasons as the Boxing Day after Christmas! A (very) brief history lesson for those that don’t know. It is thought that Boxing Day began in England in the Middle Ages when servants of the rich were required to work on Christmas Day but were given the next day off in lieu. As they left to visit family on that day they were often presented with a boxed gift from their masters. Ta da!! Boxing Day! So in this case, the essence of a Birthday Boxing Day is to give something back and/or do something good for others.
Who can celebrate their Birthday Boxing Day?
Anyone who has a birthday!! Little People, Big People, Little Elfers, Big Elfers, Wise Old Elves, Young Elves, Fairies, Pirates, Unicorns, Zombies, Witches, Birds….you get the idea.
What do you do on your Birthday Boxing Day?
Much like birthdays everyone celebrates their Birthday Boxing Day differently. The most important thing is that the birthday person chooses what they’d like to do. Of course there can be suggestions and discussions about what to do but ultimately the answer must come from them. Why? The idea is to get people thinking about how to help, care for and be kind to others; if a parent, spouse or friend tells the birthday person what they are going to do then the thought process and reasoning behind choosing and deciding is lost and emotional learning is somewhat severed.
Listed below are some of the Elves’ favourite Birthday Boxing Day ideas and why – do let us know if you have more to add to the list!!
Plan and make a special meal for family/friends
Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or a tea party is completely up to you! This one is especially good for younger birthday people. Although they may need some assistance, remember that the food ideas should come from them! It should encourage us
to think about what others’ favourites are rather than just our own!
Set a treasure/scavenger hunt
Treasure hunts and scavenger hunts are always fun and don’t have to be long, involved and tedious! Pinterest has a plethora of fab free downloadable ‘hunts’. A great activity for medium-sized little people to co-ordinate a fun activity for family and friends, brilliant fun for big people and little people alike!
Make something for neighbours/friends/family
Whether it’s a craft, a bake or even just a printed photo, the thought behind it is the important part here; make it personal! If they like reading maybe make a bookmark, if they’re vegan bake a vegan chocolate cake or perhaps print that lovely photo of you together and give it to them. This one is an exercise in giving to others as well as, again, considering others’ likes.
Go for a walk
Get out and about and take time to notice things that you are usually too busy to take in; take in your surroundings. Even get out to another island, a beach, a mountain, just take some time to appreciate what you have around you, be mindful. You might be too busy with work or school to enable this but, regardless, try to be more aware, try to appreciate – you’ll notice a change in your mood and productivity!
Have a clear out!
Take the opportunity to make room for new gifts by clearing out old toys, clothes, books, unwanted toiletries, beauty items etc. and take them to the local charity shop or collection point. A fairly simple lesson in giving to others, a sometimes harder lesson in ‘letting go’, even if you haven’t worn that dress for four years and it’s now 2 sizes too small!
Pay it forward
Fully endorsed by Elves for the human world – at the pay point offer to pay for someone else’s shopping/coffee/meal. Tell them if and when they can, they can pass the favour forward. Warm, fuzzy feelings all round!
Write thank you notes
“I’m really upset about this letter I received today thanking me for always being happy and feeding good energy to everyone” said no-one ever! Whether it’s a general thing or a specific action, a handwritten thank you note is always a lovely thing to receive. This is a really important lesson in recognising and acknowledging good in others.
It is completely up to you as to whether you just do one thing or 10 things on your Birthday Boxing Day – there’s no right or wrong way! These are just a few of the Elves’ favourite ideas, there are plenty more to come, please feel free to share yours too!