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Australian
children grow up enjoying traditional Christmas stories such as
Clement Clarke Moore's Twas
the Night Before Christmas
and
Charles Dickens' A
Christmas Carol,
but children's authors and illustrators are beginning to create truly
Australian children's Christmas literature. One favourite is Wombat
Divine by
Mem Fox, while a more recent addition is Aussie
Night Before Christmas
by
Yvonne Morrison.
Also very popular are the Santa is coming to..........books by Steve
Smallman
The
Christmas break is an opportunity for sports fans to enjoy two major
sporting events. The 26 December is the opening day of the 'Boxing
Day Test' between the Australian Cricket Team and an international
touring side at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This has been well
attended since the first match in 1950, and watched by many others on
television. In Sydney one of the world's most prestigious ocean
races, the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, starts on Boxing Day from
Sydney Harbour.
Of
course we can't talk about Christmas in Australia without mentioning
the Indigenous people of this great country.
Indigenous
Dreamtime stories obviously do not include Christmas. However, this
date in the calendar coincides with other seasonal changes. In Arnhem
Land, Northern Territory, Yolngu Aboriginal people will observe the
last season of their six-season cycle. Gudjewg,
the wet season, begins in late December.
Many
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities include Christian
groups within them which celebrate Christmas. The Ntaria Choir at
Hermannsburg, via Alice Springs, Northern Territory, has a unique
musical language from mixing the traditional vocals of the Ntaria
women with Lutheran chorales - the hymn tunes that were the basis of
much of J.S. Bach's music.
Baba
Waiyar,
a popular traditional Torres Strait Islander hymn, is featured on
Lexine Solomon's debut album This
is Woman (2003)
- showing the influence of gospel music mixed with traditionally
strong Torres Strait Islander vocals and country music.
Significantly, Torres Strait Islanders celebrate the 'Coming of the
Light' on 1 July, the day the London Missionary Society landed at
Erub Island in 1871.
Modern
Indigenous Christmas celebrations are beginning to take on elements
of traditional Indigenous culture.
Some of the Christmas stories you have mentioned are new to me but I recognized some of the older ones that I have heard or read in my younger days. Have a blessed and joyous Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks like you some are new to me some I already knew about I hope your Christmas is a great one
DeleteNever new any of that Jo-Anne...been educated!
ReplyDeleteI am pleased to educate people including myself
DeleteIt's great to have new stories and celebrations that include old traditions.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I agree
DeleteGood to hear about some new Christmas traditions. That was very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI am pleased you liked the post
DeleteI like the idea of people establishing new traditions and it's even nicer when they incorporate some of the old traditions. Very interesting.
ReplyDelete