Christmas Snapshot: 1997

Each year, it has become a Christmas custom for me to post an entry focusing on how Sydney marked Christmas 25 years earlier.

The year of focus is 1997.

I have decided to change focus to the actual celebration of Christmas and media coverage and dispense with the retail advertisements as I have done in previous years.

Above is a list of the services available for Christmas Day and Boxing Day as published in The Daily Telegraph on 25 December 1997. 

On Christmas Day, Hotels are still allowed to trade from noon to 10pm, but only dining areas and that alcohol can only be purchased with a meal.

Generally, there has been little or no change to the services provided. However, there have been changes such as Cinemas being permitted to trade longer hours or fast food outlets electing to open, particularly McDonalds.

Below is Page 4 from The Daily Telegraph (25 December 1997), containing a summary of Christmas Messages from Prime Minister John Howard and Church Leaders, and a typical summer weather forecast for the day with 26 degrees.

The Sydney Morning Herald has maintained a tradition of not publishing on Christmas Day. Below is coverage of Christmas Day as reported in its edition of 26 December 1997.

Below are two clippings relating to how the day was marked across the city, including the homeless and disadvantaged.

 

Source: Hill, K. 1997. "Day of giving: less holy but wholehearted". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 26: 4.

There was even a feature on church services attended by prominent Sydneysiders. 

 

Source: Pitt, H. 1997. "Jockey's lean days are over". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 26: 4. 

For the followers of consumerism, retailers were happy with sales in the leadup to Christmas. Given the headline spread across the page, there is also a photo of backpackers spending the day at Bondi Beach, a feature on seafarers marking Christmas and preferred destinations for the summer break by Sydneysiders.

Source: Cummins, C. & Jamal, N. 1997. "Retailers reap best harvest in years". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 26: 4. 

Finally, I would include a newspaper clipping of Carols in the Domain which was held on 20 December 1997. Sadly, I could not locate an article on it for 1997, but I can provide the finale which was uploaded to Youtube by Daniel Celeno.

Noni Hazelhurst & John Jarratt (Better Homes & Gardens, Seven Network) returned for a second straight year to compere the evening. Have fun identifying the stars, but I will mention that a young Hugh Jackman performed on the evening. 

That is our snapshot for Christmas 1997. I wish each person a very safe and wonderful Christmas.