Since When does the world end on Boxing Day???

Ah, December. The oversized Father Christmas is up in the mall, the pageant has been and gone and the festive season is upon us. Email inboxes are flooded with Festive invitations to drinks and nibbles, hither and yon, the tinkling sound of Christmas carols reverberates through every shopping arcade and everything is red, green and gold. People go a little nuts. People all of a sudden get this sudden urge to see other people! There are people everywhere, yet everyone wants their pound of flesh. If I had a dollar for every time someone said to me "We must catch up before Christmas!" I would be able to do my entire Christmas shopping and still have some left for a pedicure to spoil myself!
Why must we catch up before Christmas? Do you have a present for me? If the answer is yes, give me the name of the pub and I'll be there....hell, I'll even whip you up some rum balls! Ok, I am not that fickle, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people pull this line out! People I haven't seen for months, all of a sudden, at the beginning of December, have this urge to "Catch up before Christmas!"
So what happens if we don't? Does the world end on Boxing Day? Are they so concerned that my new years resolution is to ditch all the friends who didn't catch up with me for a frienzied champers between Christmas shopping and rum ball making?
Let me assure you, all my friends out there, near and far, weekly, monthly and annual catcher uppers, I will still be here after Christmas. Failing a dreadful accident or any apocalyptic activity, I plan to still be here, still like catching up for a drink and still a moderately nice person both before and after December 25th!

If I don't see you before....Have a lovely Christmas!