Click here to access Part 1.
This week is our second (and concluding instalment) looking at Christmas 1996. Lets focus on the festivities!!!
Carols in the Domain
On December 21, 100 000 attended the annual Carols in the Domain which was compered by Better Homes & Gardens Presenters - Noni Hazlehurst & John Jarratt. This was screened on the Seven Network right across the nation.
Source: Snell, S. 1996. "Sydney's Christmas cheer: Carols attract 100,000". The Sunday Telegraph, December 22: 20.
Below is a Youtube clip of the finale to the evening.
Christmas Eve
I don't know why I seem to enjoy Christmas Eve more than Christmas Day? Is it because its a normal day with the usual shops and services open as if the next day will be normal? Or is it because I can relax or in my family, the fact that have traditionally gathered that evening for Christmas Dinner like they do in Europe and Latin America. And yes, another family customs exchanging presents at midnight.
I do enjoy heading out to the city or even to a major suburban shopping centre and just observing proceedings along with a photo walk of the surrounding area on Christmas Eve. In the city, there is a sense of order, even amongst the panic last minute shoppers but the same in the suburbs. Grocery shopping on December 24 is where you may find an issue and in 1996 was the same thing especially at the Sydney Fish Markets.
Also I enjoy reading old clippings relating to the "last minute" gift rush for Christmas. Some things never change, like the men who hold off buying gifts until December 24. Fortunately, a quarter of.a century later, we don't need to physically visit a shop to buy gifts, though this year people may have to visit a physical store with delivery times for online purchases increasing due to high delivery volumes within our postal system or those of private delivery companies. lingerie and cosmetics led the last minute gift purchases and gift cards believe it or not are now the most popular Christmas gift.
Source: Gelastopoulos, E. 1996. "Men lead the last minute gift rush". The Daily Telegraph, December 25: 7.
Bondi Beach
The evening of Christmas Day the previous year saw a riot brake out. Police were determined that this would not be allowed to happen in 1996. Extra police would patrol the beach, Campbell Parade was closed to vehicular traffic and restrictions on the consumption of alcohol including designated areas for consumption. The closure of Campbell Parade was to prevent horns from bringing their cars into the area as they were identified as the trigger for the riots.
Source: Gee, S. 1996. "Police blitz on Bondi Party". The Daily Telegraph, December 23: 7.
In the end, it was peaceful. Trouble did not eventuate as reported by The Daily Telegraph on 26 December 1996.
Source: Porter, J. 1996. "Christmas in a cage". The Daily Telegraph, December 26: 3.
This gathering has continued over the years without trouble, but COVID-19 has packed a punch. Hopefully as travel restrictions ease for foreigners in 2022, this custom will revert to what it was pre-pandemic.
St Patricks Cathedral, Parramatta
In February 1996, St Patricks Cathedral at Parramatta was devastated by a major fire that was deliberately lit. Christmas Day marked the first worship services to be held in the Cathedral since the fire.
Source: McMillan A. 1996. "Mass return to St Pat's". The Daily Telegraph, December 25: 2.
In 1996, The Daily Telegraph was printed on Christmas Day. As a newspaper reader, I am not a fan of the decision to not publish on Christmas Day as they do now (and before 1994) because news doesn't stop, newspapers provide an essential community service and journalists and reporters will still work on Christmas Day. The internet is no substitute. In the United States, newspapers are published as per routine on Christmas Day. Fairfax (Now part of Nine Entertainment) newspapers did not publish on this day. Below are the Christmas features and editorial from Pages 11 and 12.
And finally, I wish you all a very merry and safe Christmas.
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