Notice: Did you know you can get an instant definition of any word on this page, just by double-clicking on it?

Try it now! Double-click any word on page to see the definition!

Views #195 | Mid-Intermediate 5

Boxing Day

Nicola talks about Boxing Day in England.
image

Todd: Nicola, you're from England.

Nicola: Yes, I am.

Todd: OK. Now in England you have something called "Boxing day".

Nicola: Yes, we do.

Todd: So, we don't have that in America. What is Boxing day?

Nicola: Well, boxing day is always on the 26th of December, the day after Christmas day. And it was originally called boxing day because it was the day in England when the very rich people in Victorian times gave presents to their servants, the day after Christmas. And usually it would be something like money, or food but they would give it to them in a small box, and so on December the 26th, servants would receive their boxes,the Christmas boxes, and that's why it was called Boxing day.

Todd: OK

Nicola: Today, people don't really receive money or food so much, sometimes you give extra tips at Christmas, but Boxing day has stuck. So that's the name.

Todd: What do people do on Boxing day?

Nicola: Nothing really. Uh, eat the leftover turkey, turkey sandwiches, watch TV, and in my family we usually go and watch dog racing, grey hound racing.

Todd:Oh, really?

Nicola:Yeah, and lose some money...

Todd: Lose money!

Nicola: Yeah always. At least I do.

Todd: Wow, cool. Dog track. Is there a dog track near your house?

Nicola: Yeah, there is, where I live, yeah.

Todd:Oh, cool! Alright, thanks a lot!

Nicola:That's OK!

Learn vocabulary from the lesson!

day after

Boxing day is always on the 26th of December, the day after Christmas day.

The noun the day after means the following day or the next day. Notice the following:

  1. Can you book my flight the day after tomorrow?
  2. It rained heavy the day after I went back home.

Victorian times

The very rich people in Victorian times gave presents to their servants.

Here, the word Victorian times refers to the period when Queen Victoria ruled Britain. Notice the following:

  1. There were nine British prime ministers during the Victorian times.
  2. People in Victorian times were very formal.

servants

Servants would receive their boxes, the Christmas boxes.

The noun servant is a person who does the work inside the house.  Notice the following:

  1. We have servants who clean our house.
  2. She live in a big house with servants.

extra tips

Sometimes you give extra tips at Christmas

Here, extra tips means to give someone who has provided you with a good service an extra amount of money to thank them.  Notice the following:

  1. She gave extra tip to the waitress for her good service.
  2. The taxi driver received a $10 tip from the lady.

dog track

Is there a dog track near your house?

Dog track means a stadium that is used for dog racing or greyhound racing. Notice the following:

  1. My dog likes to ran on the dog track near our house.
  2. The dog track is poorly maintained.

Vocabulary Quiz

day • Victorian • servants
tips • dog tack
  1. Rich people often have .
  2. I llike to read novels from times.
  3. I lost money betting at the last week.
  4. Waiters earm most of the income from from customers.
  5. We went to the lake, and the after got there is snowed.
Answer these questions about the interview.

Bình luận (0)

Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Learning English Everyday