Christmas spreads its light around the world

 Hi everyone. I hope you and your family are doing well. 

In these days of tragedy around the world that we hear and see nightly on the news (or indeed experience them) - whether it be political unrest, cultural or religious persecution, violence within communities, or natural disasters - it can be overwhelming. This was brought home recently with the outpouring a grief following the tragic shootings at Bondi Beach in Australia during a Hanukkah celebration. 

So I believe it is cultural traditions, like Christmas, which we must hang on to, to spread some light around the world. Bringing family and friends together, and to find peace and spread love in our troubled times, whatever culture you come from or beliefs you have. We all have rights and share this planet Earth. 

But around Christmas we seem to get hooked up in the hype and tied up in the decorations, the gift giving, and the food. When Christmas really is a time for remembrance of the Christmas story, and a time for family and friends to come together. 

I saw this the other day - and really liked the sentiment. 

Christmas in Australia is in mid-summer and the temperatures can be in the high 30s C. I was reminded the other day of Christmas when I was a child. We lived in a weatherboard and asbestos fibro house in Perth, Western Australia - no insulation, no air conditioning, no fans. And my mother would be cooking a roast dinner and Christmas pudding in the "Metters" wood burning stove. The kitchen, which is also where we ate, was baking hot. 

No wonder I would later retreat to the cold lino of the passage way floor, which seemed to me to be the coolest place in the house, to read my latest book. 

 

The Metters stove looked a bit like this. I could never work out how Father Christmas could possibly come down this chimney. 

 

I think a hot Christmas dinner was common place in homes in Australia at that time, where the families were descendant from European stock - and so the Christmas traditions came with them to Australia - despite the fact it could be several generations later, and that it was summer here in Australia at Christmas and not really suited to a hot dinner, unlike the northern hemisphere. 

Cold meat and salad in those days would not have been acceptable. Times have changed and today families in Australia are more likely to have a cold meat (probably ham) and salad lunch, with perhaps prawns, and followed by a Pavolva for dessert instead of a Christmas pudding (I do love Pavlova). A fruit punch drink, Christmas cake, fruit mince pies, and sausage rolls are also favourites.

 

Below are some Christmas goodies I have made in the past. My little Christmas puddings are a favourite in our household. I was asked about the recipe so I'll post it further down. I haven't made these stars in a while - I must do this year. If you are wondering about the cake, that is a stained glass fruit cake - full of fruit and nuts, and expensive to make- this is the only time of year I make it. You only need a thin slice. It's delicious.

I believe family and cultural traditions are important. I found this link on the net that gives you links to Christmas traditions from different cultures around the world. It's fascinating reading. Christmas around the world 

Do you put up a Christmas tree? Did you know that the first officially recorded Christmas tree was in the 1400s in Estonia and Latvia. It is thought that Christmas trees first came to the UK when Queen Charlotte, the German wife of Britain's King George III, first decorated a Yew branch in Kew Palace or Windsor Castle in the 1790s. You can find out more on the link.

 

Christmas Trees became very popular throughout the UK from the mid 1840s, when a drawing of the Queen Victoria, her German Husband Prince Albert and their young children around a Christmas tree was published in the Illustrated London News. (note the candles on the branches)

Benjamin Harrison was the first President of the USA to be documented having a Christmas tree in the White House in 1889, though it is thought other former Presidents also had them. 

I heard something the other day that candles were used on the trees before the invention of electric Christmas lights in the late 1800s. Sounds rather dangerous! Christmas Tree decorations

There are lots of games and activities to keep children amused over the Christmas time, and of course lots of Christmas movies! 

When I was a child we made paper Christmas decorations like chains and lanterns. In the early days of Australia, people would use decorations from nature around their house. Here is a door wreath I made from twisted grape vine branches and bush-land nuts... sprayed with gold paint and with a few ribbons thrown in. 

Here in Western Australia we have the Western Australian Christmas Tree -Nuytsia floribunda - that flowers October to January. I have blogged about it before (please click on the link).  Growing up to 10 metres tall, this tree is actually the world's tallest parasitic tree. It occurs naturally only in the south west of Western Australia. Named moojar or Kaanya Tree (kaanya, meaning recently departed soul) by the indigenous Noongar people, it has a powerful spiritual significance for the Noongar culture, who believed the spirits of ancestors rested in the branches. 

As promised below is the recipe for the Mini Christmas Puddings. Honestly this recipe is so easy and so yummy!

All you need is 1 x 700-800gm fruit cake (any plain wrap supermarket brand is fine), 180gm dark chocolate - or use a mixture of light and dark chocolate, 1/4 cup brandy (or substitute with orange juice), white chocolate bits and glace cherries to decorate (or you could use jelly fruit lollies).

Crumble the cake, melt the chocolate, and mix with the cake, and add the brandy. Mix well and then form into balls with your hands. Place on a tray. Melt white chocolate bits and drizzle over the puddings. Use glace cherries cut to shape to look like cherries and leaves to decorate.
Tip - only pour white chocolate over a few at a time as it will set very quickly and you need to stick on the glace cherries before the chocolate sets.  Store in the fridge. 

Try not to eat them all before Christmas day! 

 Christmas summer is a bit like this for us Down Under (made for Air New Zealand, but same in Australia!) 

 

 

I am leaving you with a Christmas thought - 

You might also like -

• Western Australian Christmas Tree
• The Ghosts of Christmas Past - including a poem for you
• Christmas Baking When It is Baking Hot!
• Why Christmas.com - to find out everything you need to know about Christmas around the world. 
• The 12 days of Aussie Christmas 

Wishing those of you who celebrate Christmas all the very best for a blessed Christmas spent with family or friends. And those who don't, I wish you peace. I pray for those around the world experiencing hardship, ill health or trauma. What we need now is to spread more love, compassion and understanding around the world. 

 

My heart goes out to the victims, their family and friends and all those who are traumatised by the tragic shootings at Bondi Beach in Australia on 14 December. 

This Christmas I hope you have the opportunity to pause and give thanks for the love, hope and joy that is the Christmas message. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

If you are looking for a translate button - it's there near the top on the right hand side. 
   

Mosaic Monday @ Soul & Mind & So On

Saturdays Critters - Viewing Nature With Eileen

Peabea's Pictorial Tuesday

Travel Tuesday

Talking About It Tuesdays @ Slices of Life

ThroughMy Lens 
Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity. 
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Thankful Thursday 

H2O Thursday
Nature Thursday

Sky Watch Friday

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Until then, enjoy your day...Life only comes around once, so do what makes you happy, be kind, and be with people who make you smile.