10 • NEWS
www.bendigoweekly.com.au
Bendigo Weekly – Friday, December 20, 2013
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
Faith sees a difference at Christmas By CHRISTINE McGINN
CHRISTMAS is a traditional time for giving and gathering with family and friends, but not all families believe in the birth of Jesus Christ. The Bendigo Weekly spoke with families who respect the Christian calendar date but swap presents for reflection. Although a Christian faith, the Plymouth Brethren church does not celebrate Jesus’ birth, an occasion unwritten in the Bible. Jeremy Napier said the birth of Jesus was a joyous occasion but his religion did not celebrate the event. “We are Christians but we go by the scripture. Christianity is our way of life, bringing enjoyment and satisfaction,� the Kangaroo Flat father said. “We celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ at the Lord’s Supper every Sunday. The scripture doesn’t tell us to celebrate his birth.� But Mr Napier will enjoy the day off with his wife and four children sharing a meal together. “It’s a free day where you can get together with family and other family groups. It’s about being together,� he said. “It’s nice to get together with
everyone but we don’t hand out presents.� Buddhism is a religion of enlightenment through exploration and discovery. Buddhist Ian Green said his faith recognised Jesus as a great “spiritual leader� but did not celebrate his birth. “We are happy to join the celebrations for Christmas. We don’t attend service but we recognise it is a spiritual time for Christians, a time for families to get together and the importance of it in Australian culture,� the father of one said. Mr Green said they would mark the occasion, sharing a big lunch with family even erecting a tree in their home. “There will be no turkey or ham, we are vegetarians, but we have some favourites at Christmas time. A nice mushroom pate my wife cooks and vegetarian lasagna,� he said. Mr Green said they would give small gifts to each other to participate in the Australian festive season tradition. “Generally it is a time of the year families gather together,� he said. Mr Green said the days after Christmas are an important period for reflection on peace and compassion.
BRETHEREN: Bronwyn and Jeremy Napier with their children Barnaby, Blake, Bexley and Banjo. Photos: ANDREW PERRYMAN “The Atisha Centre hosts a retreat, it is a good time to settle down and think about the time ahead,� he said. “It is a routine for a lot of people.� Even Hindu Bidhu Mohapatra has a small white tree to celebrate the festive season. Hinduism is the world’s third largest faith, practising tolerance and peace. “On December 25 we are having a gathering. We don’t have much family here so we will meet
with friends, too,� Dr Mohapatra said. “We are very much involved in the Christmas celebrations for the month, giving gifts to the kids and we have a Christmas tree in our home. Santa is even hiding inside and outside. “The children have been so keen to look at the Christmas lights so on the weekend we will make a special trip.� Dr Mohapatra said his daughters, aged 12 and four, had given and received gifts with their friends.
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“We are Hindu but we are totally open to all types of religions,� he said. The Mohapatra family decided to stay in Bendigo to celebrate Christmas this year rather than take the annual holiday to India. “There is so much involvement in the Christmas celebrations,� Dr Mohapatra said. The Sacred Heart Cathedral is also embracing nationalities, hosting several different nativity scenes to represent the community.
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