Happy Boxing Day

Today is Boxing Day, a day declared a public holiday around the world and its traditions date back thousands of years.

Boxing Day is based on the tradition of giving gifts to the less fortunate members of society but the traditions vary across the globe.

It dates back to past centuries when it was custom for the wealthy to give gifts to employees or to people in a lower social class, most especially to household servants and other service personnel.

But contemporary Boxing Day in many countries is now a shopping holiday associated with after Christmas sales, where traders often make huge reductions to rid of the Christmas stocks.

Here in Fiji, it is mostly used to wind down after the Christmas day feast where people spend time with family and friends, and thousands flock to the beaches.

And as thousands head to the beaches this morning, Director Police Operations SP Erami Raibe said police presence will be beefed up around picnic spots.