There’s more to

Boxing Day than boxes

FOR MANY, the day after
Christmas is celebrated as
Boxing Day, a leisurely day
to savor the rituals of
Christmas. But the question
arises as to the origin of
Boxing Day and its peculiar
hame.

Some say it goes back to an-
cient Rome when apprentice
workers received gifts of money
— always in boxes.

Others are certain it originated
in nineteenth century England
when gifts of food or moeny were
given in boxes to family servants,
tradespeople, and suppliers of
services. The lamplighters, the
mail carriers, the trash collectors
called to receive their boxed yearly
due.

Reputedly, one culinary offering
was ‘‘bubble and squeak,” a
curious combination of mashed
potatoes and cabbage or brussel
sprouts. Leftovers, we surmise,
from the feast the night before.

The name comes from the
sound it makes when it’s fried and
repeatedly turned sca the crispy
bits are incorporated into the
whole.

Qne wonders how bubble and
squeak tasted after the journey

inquisitive
Cook

ANNE SUE
GARDINER

home in its Christmas box!

We've come a long way from
those days of packaging in simple
boxes. Now packaging is part of
the processing, preservation, mar-
keting and even the cooking of
food.

The progression was to paper
bags, first referred to as S.O.S. or
‘*Self-Opening-Sacs’” and embrac-
ed by grocers for their ability to
stand uptigh?.

Then to giass and metals with

WILSON

the first canning factory appearing
in 1812 in England.

Plastic followed, and = soon
thereafter, flexible films. Syn-
thetics were revolutionary — the
first time man had formed new
materials from long chains of
molecules called polymers rather
than from raw materials found in
nature.

From cellophane in 1912 we've
progressed to edible wrappings
made from starch in the 90s.

Strict regulations govern the
packaging of foods and beverages
in Canada. The Health Protection
Branch of the federal government
not only ensures protection from
outside contamination, it is also
concerned with interactions be-
tween the food and the package,
and between the food and the en-
vironment through the package.

Packaging has become a com-
plex business. Revoluticnary ma-
terials have brought us new food
products, greater convenience and
increased food quality and safety.

But they've also brought cause
for concern about waste,
biodegradability and the environ-
ment.

Though the focus of Boxing
Day has changed, we're still con-
cerned about boxes. H’s a good
day to pause and reflect.

Top .Off The Season
6th ANNUAL

OXING DAY SALE* /
© oft.

ON OUR ENTIRE FALL
COLLECTIONS OF LADIES’
AND MENS’ WEAR

ALL SALES FINAL

*Held over till
month end.

Fashion for the discriminating man & woman.

1457 Bellevue Ave., West Van 925-9454
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Wednesday, | December 26, 1990 - North Shore News - 3¢

ay SAVE UP To 40% ON
Selderes! TOWELS AND
_ BATH FASHIONS

WE Wai. PAY THE TAX we
aisarreD TNE) “9m everything in tse afore.

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Celebrates

CENTENNIAL

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7

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