Jim’s Australiana Spot – 2UE - December 18, 2011

  AUSSIE CHRISTMAS part 2

Let's look at two old inherited Christmas traditions and two new Aussie ones. People have asked me about the TREE and the GIFTS while Our Boxing Day traditions .... Cricket and Yachting... are both very recent ... post WW2

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
The fir tree at Christmas - pagans worshipped trees at symbols of rebirth at winter solstice. St Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity 1,000 years ago, saw a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree and cut down the oak tree and young fir tree sprung up from the roots of the oak tree. Another legend has it that Martin Luther began the tradition of decorating trees to celebrate Christmas. He set up a little fir tree indoors for his children. He decorated it with candles, which he lit in honor of Christ's birth representing the stars. Like many modern traditions it was popularised in the USA, as was Santa in red and white ...by the Coca Cola Company!

Gifts and Boxing Day - St Stephen's Day was when the poor box was opened and food left from Christmas feat given to poor.

Boxing Day Test - Sheffield Shield game was always Boxing Day and Ashes Series 50/51 had a test at MCG 22 - 27 December - the tradition began only in 1974.

Sydney Hobart Race - began as a post Christmas cruise idea as a relaxation after WW2 by Peter Luke (died 2007 aged 92) but was a race from the very first 1945 on suggestion of visiting British Capt Illingworth.

Sydney Hobart Yacht Race	Melbourne's Boxing Day Test

'along by merry christmas time'
Henry Lawson

Along by merry Christmas time they buy the aged goose, And boil the dread plum pudding, because of ancient use. But to sneer at old time customs would be nothing but a crime, For the memory of the Past is all bound up in Christmas time. Then Jim comes home from shearing, and he puts a few away, With Dad, perhaps, or Uncle, but they’re right on Christmas Day: For be it on the Never, or ’neath the church bells’ chime, The family gets together, if they can, at Christmas time. And, after tea at Christmas, they clear the things away And play the dear old silly games our grandfolk used to play And Dad gives a recitation that used to be the joy Of all the Western countryside, when Father was a boy. Along by merry Christmas time, and ere the week is o’er We meet and fix up quarrels that each was sorry for. Our hearts are filled with kindness and forgiveness sublime, For no one knows where we may be next merry Christmas time.

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