CKNW Editorial
for December 27, 1999

If one is to be a Christian with a practical bent, one should belong to an Eastern Orthodox church that celebrates Christmas on what we call 12th night - the 6th of January.

In days of your, Boxing Day was the day the better off "boxed" and delivered presents to the poor. It became a holiday in most British countries though not in the United States. For the longest time it was simply a day of rest - rather like a Sunday - where hangovers were nursed and turkey sandwiches consumed. It had to happen, of course, but it became, in recent times, open for all manner of commercial activity. Boxing Day sales became all the rage. There were long, often unpleasant lineups and Christmas having passed, the old spirit of the season was somewhat lacking. Then, led it seems by the furniture and the mattress businesses, it became Boxing Week. This year, for heaven's sake, there was a car dealer holding a pre Boxing week sale. I'I've often wondered how it is that so many people ars so constantly in need of furniture and beds but obviously they are.

These post Christmas sales have become for many, more exciting than Christmas itself. I remember many years ago being in London with a man who wanted to visit the Laura Ashley store in Knightsbridge, London. It was the middle of January and we couldn't get near the place not because of anything Laura Ashley was doing but because of the post Christmas sale at Harrods a block or two away. People camp out overnight just as kids do in anticipation of a Rock Show in order to get into what was, until very recently when the Queen got a bit antsy at what Mr Fayed the owner said about her, the Queen's department store. The entire area was a sea of slow moving humanity who wanted a Harrods bargain.

I've often wondered at the ethics of all this but then I remembered that the market has no ethics. It's simply a matter of supply and demand and most stuff is in much higher demand on the 24th of December than it is on the 26th so living under free enterprise it's idle to complain about the price drop. One does have the impression, however, that the stores could sell at the lower prices before Christmas and still make a handsome profit.

The people who benefit from this are largely those with the great patience necessary to buy next year's present today or - and I suspect this is the larger group - those who were given gift certificates (provided they count in sales) or simply buy things for themselves for immediate use ... based on a decision taken long before and in keeping with a longstanding buying habit.

I personally, don't take part in these things. I hate crowds and I especially dislike crowds that don't get a wiggle on and keep moving. I am a purposeful shopper - I know where I want to go and am quite ready, willing and able to give a little old lady the hip as I go by if she is dawdling. The world is divided into purposeful persons and lollygaggers - I am firmly in the former group.

But back to Orthodox Christians. It may not be any easier to shop in so-called Boxing Week and there may not quite be the selection available as there is to the rest of us. But boy do you save money!

And as Margaret Thatcher observed, there's nothing wrong with money as witness one of the most famous bible story - the Good Samaritan could afford to be good because he had money.

I'm considering taking the case for a post New Year Christmas to the Archbishop of Canterbury but, alas, I'm so recently returned to the fold that I'm without influence. I'll just have to leave Boxing Week to others of a faith that once a year shows us the true value of the old calendar.