On Boxing Day, British shops are usually full of people wanting to buy New Year’s surprises for loved ones. It’s different this year, with no customers on sale.
The tradition of celebrating Boxing Day on January 26 dates back to the Victorian era, from 1871. On the same day, the next after the Protestant Christmas, one of the rounds of the football championship is traditionally held, when whole families of fans gather at the stadiums. However, this year, many matches have been postponed due to the pandemic. However, some buyers still did not give up shopping:
“You know, life goes on. Just live as if nothing is happening.”
“I got three doses of the vaccine and, as you can see, there is a lot of social distancing.”
But amid the raging pandemic, store traffic has plummeted compared to 2019, and the number of purchases decreased by 67% in London and by 58% in other cities. Leanne Williams, York Wine Bar Manager, says:
“Today the working day started very sluggishly. I was already thinking if nobody would cross our doorstep? We were saved by the fact that several tables were booked by families who come to us every year on the weekend after Christmas, we are lucky with such clients. But in general – at least close. “
No infection statistics are kept on holidays in the UK. But the reports on Christmas Eve were shocked – more than 120 thousand cases of infection per day.
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