AUSSIE
JINGLE BELLS
To the tune of "Jingle Bells" - please
sing along
Please email
me if any translations are needed!
Dashing
through the bush, in a rusty Holden ute,
Kicking up the dust, esky in the boot,
Kelpie by my side, singing Christmas songs,
It's summer time and I am in my singlet, shorts and thongs.
Oh...
Jingle
bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summer's day, Oh,
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden ute.
Engine's
getting hot, we dodge the kangaroo,
Swaggie climbs aboard, he is welcome too.
All the family's here, sitting by the pool,
Christmas day the Aussie way, by the barbecue. Oh..
Chorus
Come
the afternoon, Grandpa has a doze,
The kids and Uncle Bruce, are swimming in their clothes.
Time has come to go, we take a family snap,
And pack the car and all shoot through before the washing
up. Oh..
Chorus
CAROLS
BY CANDLELIGHT
It is
generally agreed that "Carols by Candlelight," was started
in Melbourne, Australia by radio announcer Norman Banks in
1937 after he saw a woman listening to carols alone by candlelight.
Banks decided to do something to relieve the loneliness and
isolation some feel during the Christmas period.
He announced
community carol singing for anyone who wanted to join in.
The concept has grown in popularity over the years, and the
recorded program is now broadcast the world over.
Carols
by Candlelight is held every year in the week before Christmas,
when thousands of people gather in the parks of the larger
towns and cities to sing their favourite Christmas carols.
A stage
is the center of attraction for the event and may consist
of a temporary stage using the flat tray of a semi-trailer
truck or a permanent facility such as the Sidney Myer Music
Bowl in Melbourne.
Admission
is free but local charities usually have donation boxes at
strategic points. Available are carol sheets and candles,
with candle holders to protect tiny fingers from hot candle
wax. Food and drink stalls are usually staffed by local Rotary
or Lions Clubs. Many people bring blankets or portable chairs
for seating.
Entertainment
and carols singing commences before darkness falls. At about
half light the person comparing the evening announces the
time has come to light the candles causing much excitement
among the children and older participants.
The lighting
is turned off and the park is lit by many candles while families
and friends continue singing carols under a clear night sky
with its Southern Cross stars. The fact that this time of
year is also the longest day of the year in the southern hemisphere
ensures warm weather which allows Australians to enjoy this
tradition. Occasionally rain will cause the event to be moved
indoors provided there is time to publicise the change of
venue, if time is not available it often continues in the
rain with all wearing wet weather covering. Even though it
is raining it is not cold at this time of the year.
Christmas
in Australia is often very hot. Well known entertainers sing
solos and lead the audience in singing. There is usually a
band or orchestra and Father Christmas often appears. At some
Carols by Candlelight a nativity scene may also be on display,
and some also end the evening with a fireworks display. The
function commences before dark and runs until about 10.00
or 11.00pm depending on the latitude of the location. As Australia
spans from above the Tropic of Capricorn to 40 degrees south,
sunset is at a later time the further south you go.
State
capital cities usually telecast and/or broadcast the major
Carols by Candlelight evening in the state which features
musical stars who sing their favourite carols. Most towns
over about 5,000 population hold a Carols by Candlelight in
their local park with local businesses usually provide some
sponsorship for the evening. The program features local artists,
plenty of community Carol singing, and now days large screen
TV monitors may be available.
In summary
Carols by Candlelight is hundreds of happy faces of children
of all ages, mothers, fathers and grandparents all enjoying
a fun night of entertainment, singing carols by candlelight
and rejoicing in the Message of Christmas. In other words
a large cross section of the community having a good night
out.
BOXING
DAY
Boxing
Day is December 26th, (also the feast of St Stephen), and
is a public holiday in both New Zealand and Australia.
It's
name probably comes from the custom which started around 800
years ago, in the UK. Churches would open their 'alms boxe',
and distribute the contents to poor people in the neighbourhood
on the day after Christmas. This was a box in which people
who could afford to had placed gifts of money, especially
over the Christmas period.
Also
on December 26th, apprentices and servants broke open small
earthenware boxes in which their masters had deposited small
sums of money during the year. In large households, the family
used this day to distribute Christmas boxes to their staff
and in later centuries it was traditional for even modest
homeowners to give their servants and retainers a small gift
on the day after Christmas. Servants were traditionally given
Boxing Day off to spend with their families after working
through Christmas Day
Thank
you Juanca for this beautiful Award
Thank
you for the lovely Award Trish
Denise's
Christmas page
here
Squeak's Christmas page here
Lady Shadra's Christmas page
here
Jamie's Christmas page here
