Toast the Holidays with Jo-Ann Roberts

Happy Boxing Day!  In Great Britian and some Commonwealth countries, particularly Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, December 26 was the day on which servants, tradespeople, and the poor traditionally were presented with gifts.

Explanations for the origin of the name have varied, with some believing that it derived from the opening of alms boxes that had been placed in churches for the collection of donations to aid the poor. Others, however, have held that it came from the boxes of gifts given to employees on the day after Christmas. According to this theory, because the work of servants was required for the Christmas Day celebrations of their employers, they were allowed the following day for their own observance of the holiday.

Our family has celebrated Boxing Day several times in the past with a life-long friend, Doreen (Potts) Ference, an English war bride. She often served Buck’s Fizz, a drink made with orange juice, non-alcoholic sparkling wine, and a twist of orange. No stirring was needed…the bubbles did all the mixing.

Buck’s Fizz

  1. 4 ounces orange juice**
  2. 8 ounces sparkling non-alcoholic wine
  3. Orange twist for garnish

Resist the urge to stir here. Your mocktail will be perfectly blended as you combine your juice and your bubbles. It’s the power of sparkling wine.

**Feel free to get creative with other fruit juices, too. Blood orange, pineapple, and mango juices go well at brunch or baby showers. Cranberry juice may feel festive if you’re celebrating the winter holidays or new year’s.

8 thoughts on “Toast the Holidays with Jo-Ann Roberts”

  1. Sounds like a refreshing drink, can’t wait to give it a try, I’m thinking maybe cranberry juice to be a bit more festive

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