Oh dear. It is a common sight at this time of year - a Christian bemoaning the fact that Christmas isn't Christmas any more...

>>It's all a bit rich isn't it? What ever happened to Christianity?<<

It never actually occurs to these people to question whether Christianity actually ever had anything to do with the celebration of Christmas - because frankly, it doesn't.

http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/Christmas_TheRealStory.htm

"Christians had little success, however, refining the practices of Saturnalia. As Stephen Nissenbaum, professor history at the University of Massachussetts, Amherst, writes, 'In return for ensuring massive observance of the anniversary of the Savior’s birth by assigning it to this resonant date, the Church for its part tacitly agreed to allow the holiday to be celebrated more or less the way it had always been.' The earliest Christmas holidays were celebrated by drinking, sexual indulgence, singing naked in the streets (a precursor of modern caroling), etc."

Which rather puts NathanJ's harrumphing about the venality of today's celebrations into context, does it not...

I usually put presents or donate food (under the special Christmas trees set up) to support less well off families at Christmas time (or give to a local charity) that supports people at Christmas.

However when I read details about rich people essentially throwing away Christmas gifts, like putting out the rubbish each week I was appalled. I didn't think the figures were this high in Australia - in fact I'd never even thought about this issue in principle.

I thought we were supposed to be "the lucky country", and I do believe at least once per year we should support others - and Christmas is the best time to do this in my view.

Look at job cuts across the board that occur, like in the car manufacturing industry (this year) and also just recently at the ABC - leaving people thinking, what do I do this year at Christmas?

I don't want people living off excessive welfare payments or constantly complaining in Australia - but what about people overseas in absolute poverty and starvation, or those people eating at homeless shelters on Christmas Day, whilst the elitist end of town enjoy themselves, throw away their Christmas gifts, like a piece of rubbish and sipping out of their glass of expensive champagne?

Nathan,

My question again....why only bemoan all this in the case of Christmas when it's a year round phenomenon?

We are a fortunate and wasteful society. How much edible food gets thrown out in the West each year?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-08/food-waste-value-australia/4993930

"Australians might love a good meal – but if you believe the claims of FoodWise, a national campaign run by not-for-profit group DoSomething, the amount we throw away is staggering. "Aussies throw out $8 billion worth of edible food every year," it says."

"The claim:

The FoodWise campaign says Australians throw out $8 billion worth of edible food every year.

The verdict:

Based on the available research, the claim stacks up. But the $8 billion only relates to household food waste. The total value of food waste in Australia would far exceed this figure."

Hi ONTHEBEACH...

You're a good man you know, with you philanthropic attitude, and your sense of 'helping' for those who need it. I also appreciate much of HASBEEN'S attitude. I reckon a few charities should have the Fraud Squad give 'em all a good going over too ? Still this is neither the venue, nor the Topic for such a discussion ?

I think the three of us are from the same generation, therefore we mightn't agree in isolation on some things, it's the big picture however, that we're of one ? It's for this reason we can't always appreciate the more contemporary difficulties and nuances that plague younger generations of today ? For this reason there are many others, who might perceive the three of us, as being 'hardliners' and quite unsympathetic to many of their problems and their causes ?

Anyway, I hope you get the full emotional 'rush' from all your altruistic endeavours, and personal munificence ONTHEBEACH, you sure do deserve it. Though I suspect there are a few of your more fortunate beneficiaries who most assuredly, deserve nothing ! And our mutual friend HASBEEN, who is probably just as benevolent also, in his own inimitable way ? Even though he'd probably deny it most vocally and fervently, still that's him ?

Good on you mate !

In terms of OzHarvest, I don't any credibility for this group at all. It's a heavily financed, welfare body. I credit smaller groups, with a lot of volunteers. One only has to go the following site re the Adelaide Festival of Ideas:

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/more-than-10-items-or-less8217-campaign-has-a-little-shop-of-rotting-food-to-show-how-much-we-waste/story-fni6uo1m-1226741283344

A fruit, vegetable and produce shop was set up. At first I thought it was real, but I found it out to be a 'tacky and disgusting' waste of food project linking to the festival - re food wastage. It was set up to have rotting food in it. Oz Harvest said:

"Ronni Kahn, CEO of food-rescue charity OzHarvest has described the campaign as "daring". No doubt it will shock people and demonstrate the reality of how much food Australian households waste each year. We must change our eating and shopping habits to ensure good food doesn't go to waste."

I put a protest sign on the shop windows. Project a disgusting waste of food... Portrayed fruits and vegetables in a poor light... What about poor countries.... Show the insides of a meat works? (being vegetarian). The signs were very conveniently pulled down - being a festival of ideas? It was a sign of elitism - and this is where I believe Christmas needs to be less materialistic and more back to basics - as much as possible.

Hello,

Just to explain the above further (re the fruit and vegetable shop I protested about) - fresh products were put in the shop and they were allowed to rot and go mouldy - so people could see the end result.

This is where I was disgusted with the comments from OzHarvest - a group supposed to be about serving and saving fresh, quality food to go to others. Why would a body that supports saving food, back a project like this if their principle isn't about wasting food?

To me that was 100% disgusting.