Ho-ho-ho: What’s Open and Closed on Christmas Day in Belmont

Merry Christmas, Belmont. If after unwrapping all your presents and watching the latest holiday movie on the Hallmark Channel you have a “need” to get out of the house, here are a few places around town open on Christmas.

Dunkin’ Donuts

• The Dunkin’ Donuts at 353 Trapelo Rd. near Beech Street will be open from 5 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.

• The store located on Church Street in Waveley Square is closed today.

Starbucks

• The Belmont Center store at 47 Leonard St. is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

CVS Pharmacy

• The stores at 264 Trapelo Rd. and 60 Leonard St. in Belmont Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas, although the pharmacy at both locations will is closed.

What would Christmas be if the local movie theater was closed? Thankfully, Belmont’s Studio Cinema at Trapelo and Beech will be open and screening “Mary Poppin Returns” (rated PG) at 7:30 p.m.

If you are looking to get around on the MBTA:

• The Fitchburg/South Acton Commuter Line will operate a Sunday schedule while buses and trackless trolleys that operate in Belmont are likewise running on a Sunday schedule.

Town Offices and One Library Closed on Boxing Day in Belmont

Town offices and the Belmont Public Library will be closed today, Boxing Day, in Belmont.

Belmont’s other library, the independent and volunteer-run Benton Library at the corner of Oakley and Old Middlesex, will be open today, Friday, Dec. 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for families and individuals to use and enjoy.

Thursday’s trash collection will occur today due to Christmas. 

The MBTA is running regular weekday service.

Cats LOVE Boxing Day.

You all should know by now that Boxing Day is not the annual organizing of rounds of fisticuffs to settle scores – you are likely thinking of the “Airing of Grievances” that is part of the Festivus Celebrations – but commemorating the custom in which tradespeople and servants received “Christmas boxes” of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. 

A paid holiday in the UK and most Commonwealth countries – the day is spent fox hunting, recovering from “making merry” the day before and watching “football on the telly” – the tradition was popular in Boston until the 1920s as my grandmother recalled receiving on the 26th a small, gold-colored wooden box with her yearly bonus in cash. She didn’t get to keep the box.