| How to Use Alexa Posted: 26 Dec 2019 04:00 PM PST This wikiHow teaches you some of the most useful Alexa abilities and the voice commands you need to use them. Once you have set up a new Echo you might not know where to begin. Since there are so many different abilities it can be hard to know where to start, so this will help you get to know some Alexa abilities you will want to start using on a day-to-day basis. You may also want to give Alexa's wikiHow skill a shot. [Edit]Asking General Questions - Ask for the time. Get the current time or the time in different cities around the world. You can also ask about when different days are.
- "Alexa, what time is it in London?"
- "Alexa, when is Easter?"
- Ask about the weather. Ask about local weather, the weather in a particular city or a weather forecast for either.
- "Alexa, what will the weather be like on Tuesday in Chicago?"
- "Alexa, is it going to rain?"
- Get current traffic info. To enter in your home and work address in the Alexa app, tap ☰, then Settings and tap Traffic. You can also ask about traffic to a certain location.
- Say "Alexa, check traffic," to get the travel time to the work location you set.
- "Alexa, how long will it take to get to 45th Street?"
- "Alexa, what's the traffic like to Home Depot?"
- Get a flight status.
- "Alexa, what's the status of American Airlines flight 4444?"
- Check stock prices. Say the name or spell the symbol of any stock on the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ.
- "Alexa, check Amazon stock."
- Alexa, stock price for A-M-Z-N."
- Get a definition, use the thesaurus or get the spelling of a word. If you're reading or writing something, you don't even need to look away from the page, just ask:
- "Alexa, what does 'flocculant' mean?"
- "Alexa, what's another word for 'big'?"
- "Alexa, how do you spell 'maintenance'?"
- Do mathematical calculations. Ask Alexa to add, subtract, multiply, divide, get the square or cube root, power or factorial. You can only use one operation at a time though.
- "Alexa, what's 92 divided by 14?"
- "Alexa, what's the square root of 5?"
- "Alexa, what's 100 factorial?" (Hint: It's a really big number.)
- Alexa may know other math questions as well, so give it a try if you're not sure. For instance, she can answer some questions about prime factors, give you the value of 'pi' or 'e' and calculate sine, cosine or tangent.
- Get measurement conversions. Convert to or from any imperial or metric units of volume, weight, distance or temperature or get conversions to and from different currencies. This can be especially helpful when you are cooking.
- "Alexa, how many milliliters in 2 and a half cups?"
- "Alexa, 10 kilometers is how many miles?"
- "Alexa, how much is 100 dollars in Australian dollars?"
- Ask general knowledge questions. Try asking about things like facts about geography, general info on celebrities or historical figures, about movies or TV shows, nutrition facts on food, and various other facts and figures. You can also ask Alexa to search Wikipedia and she will read several lines from the article.
- "Alexa, what's the population of Chicago?"
- "Alexa, where was Abraham Lincoln born?"
- "Alexa, what year was '12 Angry Men' released?"
- "Alexa, when does 'Game of Thrones' air?"
- "Alexa, how much saturated fat is in a steak?"
- "Alexa, how far away is the moon?"
- "Alexa, how tall is a giraffe?"
- "Alexa, Wikipedia 'fractals.'"
[Edit]Entertainment - Listen to music. Listen to Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Prime Music, iHeartRadio or SiriusXM. You can also
- "Alexa, play dance music on Pandora."
- "Alexa, play Post Malone."
- "Alexa, play Maggot Brain by Funkadelic on Spotify"
- You can now play music over multiple devices if you have more than one Echo.
- Listen to Podcasts. Alexa will play the latest episode of the podcast you request. While you can play/pause, fast forward or rewind, if you ask Alexa something else while listening, you will lose your place in the podcast.
- Play Audible audiobooks. As long as you are logged in to your account, your playback position should be synced between the Echo and any other devices you listen on.
- "Alexa, play Ready Player One."
- "Alexa, resume my book." (Plays the audiobook you last listened to.)
- "Alexa, go back/forward" (Goes back or forward 30 seconds.)
- Play most Kindle Books. Using text-to-speech Alexa can read many Kindle books from where you last left off and keep your place. [1]
- "Alexa, play the Kindle book, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry."
- "Alexa, pause/resume."
- "Alexa, set a sleep timer for 15 minutes."
- Play music over Bluetooth. Just pair any Bluetooth-enabled device, like your phone, to play anything on Alexa.
- After the device has been paired initially just say, "Alexa, enable Bluetooth." or "Alexa, connect." to pair that device again.
- This is often a better option for playing podcasts than Alexa's native ability since you have more control over playback and won't lose your place.
- Play a game. There are many game skills available for Alexa in the skill store. Popular ones include:
- Jeopardy! There are also Sports and Teen versions of the game. Remember to answer in the form of a question! "Alexa, play Jeopardy!"
- Song Quiz. This popular game will match you against an opponent and ask you to identify clips of music. "Alexa, start Song Quiz."
- Twenty Questions. Play this classic game and try to stump Alexa. "Alexa, play Twenty Questions."
- The Magic Door. This is basically a choose-your-own-adventure novel being read out loud to you. "Alexa, open The Magic Door."
- Go to the skill store to browse through many other games skills.
[Edit]Practical Features - Use Timers. You can manage and pause timers from the Alexa app.
- "Alexa, set a timer for 12 minutes and 30 seconds."
- "Alexa, set an 'chicken' timer for 15 minutes."
- "Alexa, check timers."
- Set alarms. You can even set an alarm to wake you up with a particular artist, song or genre of music. Manage alarms from the Alexa app.
- "Alexa, set an alarm for 4 pm."
- "Alexa, set an alarm for 7 am to the Beatles on Pandora."
- "Alexa, set a repeating alarm for 8 am every weekday to 80s music on Spotify."
- Set reminders. Alexa can remind you to do something at a specific time or after a certain amount of time has passed.
- Reminders will also go off on your phone through the Alexa app, so you will be sure to be reminded even if you aren't nearby your Echo.
- "Alexa, remind me to take out the trash in 1 hour."
- "Alexa, remind me to go to the bank at 4:30 pm."
- Connect your calendar. Go to the Alexa app and tap ☰, Settings and Calendar. Follow the steps to link your account. Currently, Google, Microsoft (Outlook, Office 365 or Exchange) and Apple accounts are supported. Now you can ask Alexa about events on your calendar or add an event to your calendar.
- "Alexa, add an event to my calendar." (Alexa will then prompt you for the day, time and name of the event.)
- "Alexa, what's next on my calendar?"
- "Alexa, what's on my calendar for Thursday?"
- Get shipping updates on Amazon orders. Alexa will also give you a notification when a package has been delivered or will be delivered that day.
- "Alexa, check my packages."
- Listen to your flash briefing. Set up what news services you want to get in your flash briefing by going into the Alexa app and tapping ☰, Settings and then Flash Briefing. Alexa will now read breaking stories from these services whenever you ask her to.
- "Alexa, read my flash briefing."
- Make phone calls or call through the Alexa app. Alexa can make outgoing calls simply by asking her to dial any U.S., Mexican or Canadian number. If you have contacts added on the Alexa app you can also make a voice call, send text messages (over the Alexa app), or use the drop in feature if you have set it up.
- "Alexa, dial 555-555-5555."
- "Alexa, send a message to Susan." (Alexa will then prompt you for the text message you want to send)
- "Alexa, call Susan."
- You can also send and receive voice calls and Alexa messages from the Alexa app. Tap on the speech bubble icon at the bottom of the screen. If you haven't yet set up messaging yet, it will walk you through the set up.
- Get used to saying commands without stopping what you are doing or looking at the Echo. This isn't necessary and it will help you fit Alexa's abilities into your life more seamlessly. Ask about the weather or traffic while you are tying your shoes, play some music while you are in the middle of cleaning dishes, or set an alarm from your bed.
- If you are a Prime subscriber, you may not know that this includes access to millions of songs through Prime Music, whose library you can search and access by simply asking Alexa to play any artist, song or genre of music. "Alexa, play rap music."
- Play the current free Audible audiobook by saying, "Alexa, what's free on Audible?"
- If you are having trouble making Alexa work, it can help to reset Alexa and try again. This might remove anything that was causing it work improperly but be aware that it erases all prior settings and you'll need to input everything again.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Take Care of Kittens Posted: 26 Dec 2019 08:00 AM PST Having young kittens in the house is an exciting time, but caring for them is more than just a matter of feeding and cleaning up after them. The way you interact with the kittens at a young age shapes how friendly they become as adult cats. When raising newborn kittens, if everything goes well, their mother will do the hard work. Sadly, the unexpected can happen and you may be left hand-rearing the offspring, either because the mother is unable to care for them herself, or she has rejected them. This guide helps you understand the needs of growing kittens in terms of health care, feeding, and socialization. [Edit]Helping Your Female Cat Give Birth and Care for Newborns (0 to 4 Weeks) - Provide a quiet place for the birth. Your female cat will chose a place where she feels safe to give birth. By all means, provide a large cardboard box, turn it on its side and line it with warm, dry bedding–but don't be disappointed if she has other ideas. Instinct tells her to find a quiet concealed spot, such as under a bed, behind a sofa, or inside a kitchen cabinet.[1]
- To learn more about helping your cat give birth, see this article.
- Do not disturb during the birth and first two days. The first 48 hours is a crucial time for the mother to bond with her kittens, so try not to disturb her. If she gives birth under your bed, leave her there. Moving the newborn kittens will distress the mother and in the worst scenario could cause her to reject them. Once she is firmly bonded, at around four or five days, if you feel it's necessary to move the kittens, do it then.[2]
- Leave food, water, and cat litter in the room. The mother won't want to leave her kittens for long in the first two weeks of their life. Always put food and water within stretching distance of her nest, and if possible, offer a litter tray in the same room so that she can stay within sight and sound of the kittens.
- If food is in another room, some mothers chose to starve rather than leave their newborn kittens to find it.[3]
- Feed the mother extra calories. She needs the extra calories to make milk for her kittens. Feed her kitten food, which has more calories than adult cat food.[4]
- Let Mom do most of the clean-ups. Instinct helps the mother to keep the nest clean. The newborn kittens do not urinate or defecate on their own, so the mother has to lick their bottoms before and after feeding to stimulate elimination. This way she keeps the nest clean. Try to disturb the nest as little as possible.
- If the bedding becomes soiled, wait until Mom hops out for a toilet break herself to take out the dirty bedding and pop in clean.[5]
- Check that the kittens are all nursing. If the mother cat is present, the kittens should nurse from her immediately after the last kitten is born. Newborn kittens will spend most of their time sleeping, waking up to nurse every two to three hours. If they do not appear to be nursing, or one kitten is being pushed away from the mother cat by its siblings, supplement with bottle feeding as described in Part 2.
- Consider spaying the mother cat. Having your mother cat spayed (removing her womb) after the kittens are done nursing (they should be weaned by about 8 weeks) is highly recommended by veterinarians and humane organizations. This helps prevent the suffering of unwanted kittens, and can also have some health benefits for the spayed cat.[6]
- Be aware that a cat can potentially fall pregnant again as little as three to four days after giving birth, so keep her indoors to avoid this risk.
- Start to think about deworming the kittens. This can happen as early as two weeks if necessary. Consult a veterinarian for proper medication and dosing.[7]
[Edit]Caring for Orphan Kittens (0 to 4 Weeks) - Feed the kittens a milk replacement. Powdered cat milk replacer (such as Cimicat) can be purchased from the vet clinic, major pet stores, or on the Internet. Another good milk replacer is KMR. This is the cat equivalent of infant formula, with the same composition as queen's (mother's) milk. The milk replacer has guidelines as to how much to feed in each meal.
- Do not feed cow's milk to the kitten as the lactose is likely to upset the kitten's stomach. If you have no milk replacement and a hungry kitten, offer some cooled boiled water in a dropper or syringe until you can get to the vet clinic or pet store. The water keeps the kitten hydrated and won't upset her tummy.[8]
- Use a kitten feeding bottle with a specially designed kitten teat. You can purchase this at a vet clinic, a major pet store, or on the Internet. In an emergency use an eyedropper or a small syringe to drip the milk replacement into the kitten's mouth.[9]
- Burp the kittens after each meal. You do this much as you would a baby: hold the kitten up straight against your shoulder, or place one hand under its belly. Gently pat and rub its back.[10]
- Stimulate the kittens to eliminate. Before and after each feed, wipe the kitten's bottom with a paper towel or gauze pad soaked in warm water. This stimulates the kitten to go to the toilet, which otherwise she would not do.[11] Hold the kitten over a litter box and use the towel to rub the kitten's genitals and anal region after every meal. Continue to do this until the urination and defecation is over (when nothing else is coming out).
- Rub in just one direction–rubbing back and forth is irritating.
- Cotton balls or pads are not recommended because they shed.[12]
- Look for signs of healthy elimination. Urine should be pale yellow and odorless, and stools should be yellowish-brown, formed in tiny logs. Dark, pungent urine is a sign of dehydration; green stool may be a sign of over-feeding, while white stool could indicate malabsorption, a serious problem. Call your vet if you have any concerns.
- If the kitten does not urinate for 12 hours, take her to the vet's immediately.
- Most kittens poop once a day, but individual schedules vary. Take her to the vet's if she hasn't pooped in more than two days.[13]
- Follow the kittens' meal times. In the first two weeks of life the kitten feeds every two to three hours around the clock. The kitten will tell you she is hungry by crying and wriggling around as if hunting for a nipple. A full kitten often falls asleep while suckling and has a rounded belly. After two weeks, the feeds can be stretched out to to every three to four hours, with a gap of six hours overnight.[14]
- Keep the kittens warm with a covered heating pad. Neonatal kittens (under two weeks of age) cannot regulate their body temperature and usually keep warm by snuggling up to their mother. You can simulate this situation by keeping them on a heated pad designed for puppies or kittens. Avoid putting them in direct contact with the pad: if the kitten is in direct contact with the heat pad, she might be at risk of either local burns or overheating. However, these pads usually come in a fleece cover so it shouldn't be a problem, except for when you remove the cover for washing, in which case substitute a towel.
- As the kitten gets older (over two weeks), she is able to move away from the heat if she gets too hot.[15]
- Never feed a cold kitten. If a kitten's body feels cold, you need to warm her up gradually. A kitten is cold if her ears and/or the pads of her feet feel chilly to the touch. Put your finger in her mouth: if it feels cold, the kitten's body temperature is too low, which can be life-threatening. Warm her up slowly by wrapping her in a fleece blanket and holding her next to your body, rubbing her gently with your hands for one to two hours.[16]
- Learn more about taking care of orphaned kittens. You can start with this article. Contact a veterinarian for information and suggestions. Your vet can also provide vaccinations against common diseases and deworm the kittens.
- Orphaned kittens may be dewormed starting at two weeks, and, depending on their situation, can be vaccinated starting anywhere from two to eight weeks. They may have weaker immune systems because, unlike other kittens, they don't get the antibodies from their mother's milk.[17]
[Edit]Weaning and Socializing Your Kittens (4 - 8 Weeks) - Start to leave out extra kitten food. If Mom's around, the weaning process (switching from mother's milk to solid food) happens naturally from about four weeks. At this point, Mom gets tired of the kittens chewing on her teats and starts to spend time apart from them. In turn, the hungry kittens investigate food options around them and usually discover Mom's food.
- As the kittens start to take mouthfuls of her food, they begin the weaning process.[18]
- Provide water. Kittens do not need water until they start weaning, roughly around four weeks old. Any kitten above this age, however, should have constant access to a full water bowl. Change this water whenever it gets dirty (as it tends to if kittens step and/or poop in the bowl).[19]
- Put down kitten food for hand-reared kittens. If you've been bottle-feeding the kittens yourself, the weaning process is similar. It sometimes helps to put some milk-replacer in a saucer and put your finger just beneath the surface to teach the kitten to lap first. Then, it's a matter of mashing up some wet kitten food with the milk-replacer to make a porridge for the kitten to lap. As she gets the hang of that you can thicken up the porridge until she's happily taking most of her calories in solid form.[20]
- Socialize your kittens by introducing them to new things. Socialization is crucial during the three-to-nine-week window. From two to three weeks of age, handle the kittens as much as possible every day. Introduce them to different sights and sounds, such as the vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, men with beards, children . . . anything you can think of. During this six-week window the kitten is most open to new experiences, and what she encounters now she will accept without question as an adult, making her into a happy, well-adjusted and sociable cat.[21]
- Use cat toys, balls, string, or other objects to play with them, but don't use objects small enough for them to swallow. (Note that cats may eat string or yarn if left unsupervised, so only allow this in your interactive play. It's a potential choking hazard.)
- Don't teach your kittens that human fingers and hands are toys, or the kitten may continue to bite and scratch them as an adult.
- Provide non-clumping litter. Choose a spot for the litter box carefully, as once used to it, the kittens will probably continue to use that spot. If litter-training the kittens yourself, simply place the kittens there after each meal, or whenever a kitten starts to crouch and scratch the floor in preparation for pooping. Clean the litter box at least once a day, or the kittens may stop using it.
- Choose a box with low sides so it's easy for the kittens to get in and out.[22]
- Avoid clumping litter, as kittens may eat the clumps, which could potentially harm their digestion.[23]
- If a kitten seems like it doesn't want to stay in the litter box, gently take its paws and imitate digging in the litter. Then, provide the kitten with privacy so it can dig a hole, do its business, and cover it up with some litter.
- Keep the cat inside until it has all its shots. Once your veterinarian allows it, you can let the cat outside to explore. Make sure you keep a close watch on it until you're sure it knows to return home.
- Let the kitten outside when it's a bit hungry. Entice it back in by calling its name and showing it food. This will remind your kitten that while outdoors is fun, its final destination will always be your home.
- Give kittens away responsibly. If selling or giving away the kittens, you should wait until they are at least eight weeks old, but twelve weeks old is preferred. Take them to a vet and start their shots before they leave you. Always follow-up with the new owners to make sure the kitten is getting her shots and is scheduled to be spayed or neutered. Exchange phone numbers with the new owners so you can confirm your kitten is in good hands, or in case the owners want to return her (at least you can help her find another home).
[Edit]Taking Care of an Adopted Kitten (8 Weeks and Beyond) - Ask the breeder or shelter for a blanket that smells like the kitten's mother and siblings. These smells help to give the kitten comfort while she settles into her new home.[24]
- Ask what kind of food the kitten's been eating. Provide this for the first few days so that you don't make too many changes at once.[25] When the kitten has settled in, this is your chance to change her food to one of your choosing, though do it gradually: replace a small quantity of her former food with the new food, increasing the amount slowly over the course of a week.[26]
- If the kitten is eating dry kibble, leave a bowl out all day. If she is eating wet food, give her small meals every six hours.[27]
- Continue to feed kitten food, not adult cat food, until one year of age.[28]
- Provide water. Kittens above four weeks of age need water, so clean water should always be available.
- Cats tend to be more interested in water that is not next to their food bowl. Encourage drinking by placing water bowls in different spots through the house.
- Introduce the kitten to your house slowly. Expose the kitten to just one room initially: the whole house will be too overwhelming on the first day. Set up a bed (preferably one that has sides and a roof so the kitten feels safe in a nest), with food and water in one corner of the room, and a litter tray in the opposite corner. Show the kitten where her facilities are, and then leave her to rest. It's been a big day for the little kitten so let her adjust and sleep for a few hours.[29]
- Give the kitten as much attention as you can. Spend as much time as possible grooming, playing, fussing and interacting with the kitten. This helps her to grow into a well-socialized, friendly adult.[30]
- Keep the kitten and your possessions safe. Keep electrical cords and devices out of the kitten's reach to avoid her chewing on them. Child locks may be a wise investment for low cabinets if you have a particularly inquisitive kitten.
- Plan a vet visit. At nine weeks old the kitten can have her first vaccination. This is the ideal time for a vet to examine her, worm her and start vaccinations. The basic kitten vaccine includes protection against cat flu and infectious enteritis. There is also the option to vaccinate against feline leukemia.[31]
- When you pick up any cat be sure to support all of its feet. Eventually you will learn how each individual cat prefers to be held, but initially the four-foot support rule keeps cats calmer and less likely to scratch and panic.
- Wait until your cat is a bit older to sleep in your bed because she/he may not be comfortable with it and want to stay in their bed.
- If your cat meows at you and rubs on you a lot, she is probably hungry and needs to be fed. It's important that they get fed.
- Don't ever hit your cat. This can scare your cat, and maybe even injure her. Use positive reinforcement instead to encourage good behavior. Give treats and praise your cat whenever she does something good, like using the scratching post.
- Try to use dangly toys, it'll help them learn how to hunt.
- Keep in mind that kittens are born blind. Make sure that the immediate surroundings are safe so the kittens won't hurt themselves by bumping into edgy objects or falling.
- Always wash hands with soap and water (and no other products) before and after handling a kitten under eight weeks old. Before this age, a kitten, especially one from a rescue shelter, is likely to have diseases it could transmit to you, and a weak immune system that can pick up bacteria from unclean hands.
- Always be patient with your kitten.
- Introduce the kittens to your household slowly. Kittens under two weeks old should be kept out of reach of other pets, except for the mother cat if present, and handled only when necessary.[32] Older kittens should be left in the nest and approached by only one person at a time, until they are calm and no longer hiding from people.
- If you are adopting a kitten(s) from a foster family, be sure to ask what kind of food to get the kitten.
- If you let your kittens go outside, only do so within an area surrounded by a high fence, and keep them supervised. Be aware of the weather, as you don't want your kittens to become soaked, cold or scared.
- When introducing a kitten to another pet, hold the kitten in your arms and have another person hold the other animal. Allow the other animal to sniff or lick the kitten, then let the kitten hide if it wants to.
- Provide a scratching post. Cats love to use their claws, and you'd probably rather have a torn-up scratching post than a shredded couch. You may instead want to throw in an old piece of carpet in their play area or staple it to an upright board.
- Try and create a new activity for your kitten once in awhile, so that they wouldn't get bored doing the same thing every day.
[Edit]Warnings - Kittens will play with nearly everything. Make sure that sharp or easy-to-swallow items are kept away from them.
- If you are allergic to cats, or kittens, it is strongly recommended not to live with them. Living with cats may make your allergies worse or lead to asthma.
- The information in this article should never replace professional advice from a veterinarian. When in doubt, call your vet!
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Litter box
- Bag of non-clumping litter
- Cat toys
- Water and food bowls
- Kitten formula
- Kitten feeding bottle (alternatively, a dropper or syringe)
- Kitten food (wet and/or dry)
- Paper towels
- Cat bed
- Hairbrush (if it's a long-haired kitten)
- Scratching post
- Fresh, clean water
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Celebrate Boxing Day Posted: 26 Dec 2019 12:00 AM PST Boxing Day, also known as St. Stephen's Day, is usually celebrated on the day after Christmas (December 26) in the United Kingdom and other countries with British roots. Although its origin is unclear, a popular theory is that it stems from the medieval practice of churches opening their collection boxes for the poor on this day, and so charity is an important theme to this holiday. Learn how you can incorporate this and other customs to celebrate a traditional Boxing Day. [Edit]Being Charitable - Volunteer for church functions. Find out if your church follows the tradition of collecting donations from the congregation and distributing them to the less fortunate on Boxing Day.[1] Ask if they need any assistance. If they do, donate your time.
- Donate your time elsewhere. Embody the spirit of charitability by giving and finding organizations who need volunteers for programs that day. Collect food and/or donations for a food drive.[2] Assist in a soup kitchen. Donate blood. Contribute to improving the lives of others.
- Plan ahead. Since charity is needed all year round, use Boxing Day to plan your calendar for the upcoming year. Search online for future events in which you could be of assistance. Plan a budget so you can donate to your favorite charities on a regular basis.
- Tip people who provide you service. If you haven't already, give a holiday bonus to your doorman, postal worker, delivery person, and anyone else who provides you with regular service.[3]
- Although this used to be a strong tradition that originated back when house servants lived onsite with their employers, offering holiday bonuses on Boxing Day itself has waned since carrying over to the modern era. Since many of the people you wish to tip may have the day off, be sure to tip them ahead of time.[4]
- Be a Wren boy. Buy a stuffed bird and a birdcage light enough to carry. Dress up in fancy women's fashion. Parade around town and ask for donations from passersby on the street, customers at pubs and restaurants, or by knocking on houses from door to door.[5]
- Originally actual wrens were hunted down and killed to use as props, but stick to using a stuffed bird instead to avoid upsetting people today.
- In earlier days, donations were usually collected to fund a dance on the same night. Although some localities might still have this tradition, many collections are now donated to charity.
- "Good King Wenceslas" is a popular carol that's specific to Boxing Day. The album "Bells of Dublin" by the Irish band The Chieftains also features three Boxing Day carols: "The St. Stephen's Day Murders," "The Arrival of the Wren Boys" and "A Wren in the Furze."
[Edit]Playing or Watching Sports - Join the fox hunt. Although killing the fox has been largely criminalized, the fox hunt still endures as a popular Boxing Day tradition. Don the red jacket, mount your horse, and participate in the legal substitute of flushing out foxes with your hounds (without killing the fox) or chasing a human substitute instead.
- Play football. Since football (or soccer, for you Americans) is such an important part of Boxing Day traditions as well as the overall culture of the countries that celebrate it, get out of the house and burn off some of those holiday calories. Organize a neighborhood pickup game. Challenge your family to a match. If you're on a league team, set up a match with a local rival.
- Attend games and races. Go to any one of the many horse races, soccer matches, and cricket matches scheduled on Boxing Day.[6] Don't worry about traveling; most teams make sure to play another that's nearby so neither the players nor their fans have to go too far from home.[7]
- Take a dip. Participate in one of many icy swims organized on Boxing Day. Wear something absurdly fancy, take a plunge into the winter sea, and win a medal for bravery while warming back up in front of a beach bonfire with all the other daring souls.[8] Many of these events raise money for charity, so consider it a good deed done!
[Edit]Spending Time with Friends and Family - Visit family. If your extended family is too large for you to see everyone on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, use Boxing Day to include them in your holidays. Have a formal holiday feast or keep true to the more relaxed spirit of Boxing Day and have a simpler get-together.[9]
- Popular food served as a Boxing Day meal includes leftover Christmas turkey served as sandwiches or another full meal, or alternately a cold ham or roast beef served as a buffet to minimize prep and cooking.[10] In the UK and Canada, many restaurants welcome large parties for Boxing Day carveries, or buffets serving roast meats carved to order.
- Spend time with friends. If you've already checked family off your list of holiday duties, feel free to make Boxing Day a time to spend with friends instead. Go to a sporting event or watch one at the local pub. Or just hang out together at someone's home.[11]
- Keep it casual. Put the formality of the holidays behind you. Host a potluck where everyone's free to get rid of their leftovers. Make it a pajama party if you want to make it even less formal and more inviting. Tune into the football marathon on TV, zone out, and be merry.[12]
- Go on an outing. Since sports and exercise are such a large part of Boxing Day, stay in the spirit and have the whole family get some exercise. Use this extra time together to go for a long hike through the woods or walk through the streets.[13]
- Attend a pantomime. Take the young kids to see this family-friendly piece of lively theater based on fairy tales, which is traditionally performed on Boxing Day. Sing along with the musical numbers and interact with the performers onstage.[14]
[Edit]Shopping - Chase the sales. Take advantage of the more modern tradition of stores opening the day after Christmas, offering deep discounts. Go to larger chain stores and shopping malls, since smaller shops are more likely to remain closed for the holiday.[15]
- Check the store's hours for Boxing Day ahead of time, since they may stick to a Sunday schedule regardless of what day of the week it is, or open even earlier than normal.
- Arrive early since lines may form outside before stores open.
- Stay true to Boxing Day's roots. Since charity is considered to be an important aspect of the holiday, use the discounts to shop for others who may lack the means to afford even these sales. For example, buy coats, blankets, and other winter gear for the homeless.
- Make it a family trip. Retain some of the holiday spirit and make it an outing for the whole family. Include gift cards among your other Christmas presents to family so they can spend them the day after. Build a tradition of your own around the annual sales.[16]
- Although Boxing Day is generally thought of as the day after Christmas (December 26th), the holiday is observed on the following Monday if the 26th happens to fall on the weekend.[17]
- If you are in a country that celebrates Boxing Day as a legal holiday, remember that banks and government offices will be closed and public transportation may run on limited schedules.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
No comments:
Post a Comment