BOXING DAY

 

Boxing Day

A hunting we will go

A hunting we will go

We’ll catch a fox

And putimina box

And never let him go!

 
Good morning to you, my friend. Do you know this song? Nursery rhyme. In my childhood we are learning this in my school and singing daily. I am remembering it now because to-day is called Boxing Day. I will tell you why. Just listen, okay?

See, in the olden days, golden days, really, olden was golden, that is why for each and evvery thing I am saying olden days olden days. What, what? What did you say? Come to the point-a? What point? And you don't talk when I am interrupting, I say. Spoiling the thought flow in my head. See, now I have to go back and remember from starting.

What you said I was saying, olden days-a? Yes, yes, correct, olden days. Now I remember. I was singing about fox and box, no? The day of Christmas was birthday of the Lord, correct? Even now it is. Joy and celebrations and all. After that, next day was the day when the rich landlord, owner of land, farm and all, he called all the labourers and workers and servants and poor people of entire village and gave them food and gift and all, each and evvery thing packed in box. Why because, it is tedious to give so many items one by one, so he put them in box and gave each one one each. Means in one box, all the items are there for one person or one family. Like our Deepavali pattasu cracker box which is coming for 200 rupees or 300 rupees or something. Of course, nowadays due to pollution control, that is also slowly stopping. What to do?

Anyway, back to track. So the landlord was giving box of presents of food and other gifts. No drinks. Okay, okay, maybe little bit of drinks also. Maybe grape wine or rice wine or something. You know, some people are making wine from rice? What? What you are asking? Whether they can cook the rice afterwards after taking out the wine? We don't know about that. Maybe they are having too much rice to make wine and all. But we don't know about that, see?

Doll? You are asking about doll? What about doll? What about it? Whether we can make wine from doll? I don't know about it because I didn't try, see? In my house we are making only sambar from doll, not wine, see?  No, no, I am not Italian. Why are you make funning of me? Because I am saying see, see? This is not Italian. It is English. I am saying to be clear, see? See. With eyes. What? Eyes, eyes, our seeing eyes. Kannu. Eyes. Not ice. You are hopeless fellow, having one track mind. When I say eyes you are thinking of some single malt double malt and all. Hopeless fellow! Better you think of ragi malt, it is good for health and tasty also. No ice required.

Okay, now back on track. What I was saying? Yes. The landlord gave them food and gifts and all packed in the box. So, after Christmas Day, next day was called Boxing Day.

Nowadays, some countries like England and Australia celebrate Boxing Day by having cricket Test Match against each other or against other countries.

See? Now you have learnt something new from me, no? What? You already know about it? As if you are knowing each and evvery thing. Like some Sakalakalavallavan or Ellamtherindavan or something!

 

Simply go now. Test Match is coming on TV. Go and watch.

 

 - © Shiva Kumar, Boxing Day, 2020