Christmas
Festival of Lights much needed for Melbourne’s Jewish community
Jewish leaders say it has been a tough year but the arrival of Hanukkah – on the same day as Christmas – is helping to lift spirits.
- by Benjamin Preiss
Latest
Don’t love your Christmas gifts? What you should (and shouldn’t) do
Christmas is a time of giving and receiving. But what if Aunty Fay was wide off the mark? Follow these tips to salvage a bad gift without causing offence.
- by Shona Hendley
Legal action to deny school change is abuse of privilege
I am really shocked that anyone would bother trying to sue a school for going co-ed. What is wrong with people that they feel they have to protect exclusiveness and the exclusion of girls?
‘There’s a lot of us out there’: The people celebrating Christmas solo
International traveller Rikard Reardon is part of a community of people celebrating Christmas Day away from family. He says it can be quite a joyful way to spend the holiday.
- by Marta Pascual Juanola
‘Not forgotten’: PM pays tribute to Cyclone Tracy victims 50 years on
Survivors sobbed in Darwin as Anthony Albanese recalled the disaster that left “an entire city almost wiped off the map”.
- by Angus Delaney
‘You never switch off’: What Christmas is like as bushfire rages
For many residents of towns near the Grampians, festive season plans have been tempered by the fire threat.
- by Benjamin Preiss
Pope opens new Jubilee year when pilgrims can obtain special indulgences
Some 32 million tourists are expected to walk through the “Holy Door” just opened by Francis at St Peter’s. He’s asked all to have courage to better the world.
- by Joshua McElwee
Nine signs of dementia to watch out for in older relatives
For Elizabeth Leonard, time spent together as a family marked the beginning of a long road to accepting that there might be something wrong.
- by Miranda McMinn
Photo gallery
Religion
Christmas 2024 around the world – in pictures
Here is how Christmas is being celebrated in Australia and around the world.
‘Above all, it’s peaceful’: The families opting out of Christmas stress
This Christmas, Lucy, Dimitri and their two young daughters are more than 1300 kilometres from their suburban home on Brisbane’s southside.
- by Marissa Calligeros
Albanese, Dutton reflect on 2024 in Christmas messages
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton gave thanks to essential staff working over the holiday period.
- by Olivia Ireland
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/topic/christmas-hp4