By Sheree Hoddinett
Merry Christmas!
That’s right folks we’re in the midst of the silly season once again. It seems to come around faster every year or maybe I’m just getting older and time is whizzing by. Either way, it is right around the corner and the jolly guy in the red suit is getting his sleigh ready for the big trip! Have you been naughty or nice? Is your name on the good or bad list this year? Only time will tell on that one!
It’s no secret that the meaning of Christmas is not the same for everyone. Traditionally a Christian celebration, the name ‘Christmas’ comes from ‘the Mass of Christ’. These days, Christmas is celebrated around the world, by multiple cultures and religions, but the reasons may differ.
Christmas means different things to everyone. For little kids (and some big kids), it can be about Santa and the presents they receive. For some, it’s just another day on the calendar as they go about their daily routine. For others, it’s about enjoying food, drinks and exchanging gifts with the ones they love the most. And to many more it’s a day for paying respect within the religious chapter of their lives. For many, it’s some combination of all of the above. Christmas can also be an extremely lonely time for some in the community who may not have family close by. If you know someone on their own and you can spare some time for them this Christmas, make your presence their present for the day.
Christmas also tends to be a time for tradition to seep in. Many families have their own special way of marking this time of the year. It begs the question; how do you spend Christmas? Is it a big lunch or dinner with the family? A day at the beach with a Christmas spread? Do you prefer a hot or cold lunch, maybe some snags on the barbie or a bowl full of prawns with ham on the side? Is it a game of cricket out the back (remember over the fence is six and out!) or relaxing by the pool? Or do you keep it low key and just watch a few Christmas movies with the family?
With that in mind, here are some traditions that are truly Aussie in nature!
Leaving a beer/spirits out for Santa - Everyone around the world knows that the big fella loves to dig into a plate of cookies paired with milk while his reindeers nibble on carrots… but Aussie kids know that delivering pressies is thirsty work and a hard-earned thirst needs a big cold beer or whichever spirit seems to be “Santa’s” favourite this year.
Laughing at the terrible Christmas cracker jokes - There’s not a Chrissy gathering in the whole of Australia that doesn’t feature an elderly relative wearing a flimsy paper crown who thinks the height of comedic sophistication is ‘What do you get when you cross Santa with a duck? A Christmas quacker’ or ‘What is the best Christmas present? A broken drum, you just can’t beat it’. Insert cheesy laughter here!
Eating ham for days - Boxing Day brekky? Ham on toast. Boxing Day lunch? Ham sandwich. Boxing Day dinner? Ham and cheese toastie, with a side of ham, plus ham for dessert. Proceed to repeat for days. If you’re not still polishing off the last of your leftovers well into the New Year, you didn’t get enough ham to last the season!
Watching the Boxing Day Test - Eating your body weight in leftover ham isn’t Australia’s only beloved pastime on December 26, there’s also a whole day of cricket to watch on the telly. If you aren’t keen to watch them and you’re still in celebration mode, why not play out your own backyard test instead!
No doubt there are plenty more Christmas traditions out there and if you haven’t yet started any, there’s no better time than the present (yep, couldn’t resist one last Christmas pun!).
However you choose to mark the occasion, the team at The LOCAL wish everyone a safe, happy and joyous Christmas and a bright, prosperous start to the new year! See you all in 2024!