I think it is safe to say what Christmas looks like to the average Australian has changed vastly over time.

In the past, a traditional Christmas meal was a roast, but now Australians eat more seafood, cold meats, the good old Aussie barbecue and local produce. 

Dessert has also changed, with local traditions like pavlova added to traditional winter fare like plum pudding.

Personally, I order a delectable coffee cheesecake from Robertson’s Hot Bread Kitchen.

Christmas has become more diverse and personalized, with a shift away from British and Irish traditions. 

Some examples of alternative celebrations include vegan feasts, queer celebrations, and family cricket games. 

In 1901, 96.1 per cent of Australians identified as Christian, but today only 43.9 per cent do.

In 2016, 16.6 million stamps were sold leading up to Christmas.

Last year, that dipped to 6.1 million.

The bottom line I feel from the many changes in Australian Christmas is we are living it more for ourselves.

The tradition of Christmas is centred around what individuals would prefer to do, rather than adhering to traditions which largely no longer suit many.

Christmas should be around making memories for you and your family. With people putting so much significance into a particular day, just because this one has a title, what happens to the rest of the year?

Spend your holiday with the ones you love rather than falling into line with others wants because it has always been done.

A quick look back to local articles depicting Christmases over time.

An article on page five of the Tuesday Dec 17, 1946 edition of The Riverine Grazier, titled CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS OF OLDEN TIMES, details, “In days gone by, Christmas usually began with church and ended with a dance either in the barn or the farm kitchen.

“As an old Scottish ballad puts it, “Hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys and reels Pat pith and mettle in their heels.”

“While the Swedish custom on Christmas Eve was to light the tree and then catch hands and dance around it.

“After the dancing the presents were brought in by a Julbock (a goat with a rider).

“Then followed supper and more hilarity till midnight when the party all repaired to church to attend a service at the hour when it was thought Christ was born.

“Christmas Day was observed reverently as more of a holy day, the festivities having been completed be forehand.”

An article from Page 2 of the January 4 edition of The Riverine Grazier titled THE BACK COUNTRY, begins with, “Christmas comes but once a year, and whom it comes, we got on the beer.

It then proceeded to, “chronicle a meeting of sportsmen which took place a few days before Xmas, with a view of bagging the warm duck, the plump turkey, or the toothsome plover, as a contribution to the good things provided for the Xmas dinner.

“After having lunch at Murrumbung, the party, consisting of Messrs Evans, Ridgway, Carter, Haines, Brewer, Moore, Wilson, Brown, and the writer, proceeded to a largo swamp about three parts of a mile away and at once entered upon the work of destruction.

“The betting out the bag of each sportsman was very keen, resulting in much wagering, and perhaps a little jealous shooting.

“However a splendid afternoon’s sport was obtained, and the fact that the shooters had to wade through water, lignum, and duckweed, did not seem to interfere very materially with their enjoyment especially as I suppose the thermometer would have registered about 150° in the sun.

“Something over 50 ducks wore bagged, and 8 swans, besides a few other birds of smaller kind, somewhat larger than snipe, and us much smaller than plover, and which proved excellent eating.

“The keenest contest of the day was that between Ridgway and Haines, resulting in a victory for the latter by a brace of ducks and a swan but as Mr Haines was assisted by a retriever, the bet was declared off.”

These days we all know Christ most likely was not born on Christmas day, and other previously conceived notions are now known to be false or other beliefs have taken their place.

The meaning of Christmas changes for everyone over time.

When I was a little girl, I would get bound up with significant but positive anxiety, waiting for the ‘fat man’ to come, barely able to sleep.

Sometimes, my siblings and I would be up at four in the morning, instructed to wait until at least six by our parents.

One year, we woke up and thought let’s just open one, while mum and dad are asleep, it won’t matter.

Cue a flurry of wrapping paper flying around the room as we opened every single one, and hyena like laughter at how cheeky we were being.

That glee turned into abject panic for me within seconds, realising how much trouble we would be in when the parents woke up.

Over time, growing up and then having my own children, feelings regarding Christmas changed.

I went through a period where Christmas meant little other than satisfaction when my children were happy with what they had received, seeing the joy on their faces when they saw Santas ‘snow’ powdered footprints leading out of the house, and the munched carrots left on the plate left out the night before.

Now, Christmas means something magical to me.

The quiet of the world makes it feel as though the world has stopped for a day.

No cars on the road, no sounds of the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Just people in backyards and homes coming together, being with each other.

Marking the day with love and laughter.

For a time, the motions of everyday life, getting through one day and the next, are gone. The world stops turning in a sense, just for you.

Being still, with the ones you love, and remembering why you wake up and get out of bed every day is the best present of all.

It is not something I have always been old enough or wise enough to feel, and I am grateful beyond measure to feel it.

If you could bottle that feeling, I would be happy with just that as a present for any and every special occasion for the rest of my life.