Daily Matters: Beardless Santa arrives to a bun fight

‘TIS the season for traditions.

The Christmas and new year period is filled with tradition.

For Christians, it is a time of reflection and celebration of the traditions of their faith.

In times past, religion was the key factor at Christmas but it seems that tradition has been surpassed, for many, to become a time where family and friends gather to enjoy each other’s company — with gifts under a tree, decorations, Santa Claus and his reindeer, carols and Christmas Day festivities of food and drinks.

More than ever, it seems there is a push for a change to our traditions.

This year a United States logo creation company polled 4000 people in the US and UK about ways Santa Claus could be modernised.

More than a quarter (27 per cent) said he should be rebranded as female or gender-neutral.

There also seems to be a growing discussion — certainly in the social media bubble of Twitter and Facebook — about whether “indoctrinating” our children to believe in Santa Claus is a healthy thing at all.

Another yearly controversy kicked off on Boxing Day when Coles, for the first time, started selling hot cross buns.

The major supermarket chains have usually waited until at least a few days after Christmas to start selling the traditional Easter treats, but Coles went all-in this year, prompting the usual reaction.

There are those who have deemed it a “tradition-killer” while there are a growing number of people who just adore the sticky, sweet buns so much they love the fact they’re on the shelves for months on end.

Mildura was Coles’ fourth-highest hot cross bun-selling location in Victoria in December last year with 6877 packs sold.

Considering they were only on the shelves from December 28, it seems there’s plenty of demand.

We are entering the next phase of traditions — new year’s resolutions — where many people will look at the year ahead and make vows to enact positive change in their lives.

Whether it be to be a bit healthier, spend more time with the family, save money … there seems an endless array of activities we’ll put our minds to as we promise to find ways to improve our lot in life.

Research shows resolutions rarely last longer than the end of January, but that won’t stop many of us trying.

And, if we can find growth by either following old traditions that have served us well, or by adopting new ones, surely that’s the main thing.

KEEP PETS SAFE IN THE HEAT

IT is fair to say summer hit Sunraysia with a bang with a blast of hot weather last week being replicated over the next few days.

Sunraysia Daily received several calls from concerned residents about treatment of pets — particularly dogs — as the mercury rose.

One caller said she’d had a run-in with an elderly lady who had left her dog in a car on a 40-degree day while she spent a considerable amount of time inside a store.

Another caller was worried about the number of people walking their dogs in the hottest part of the day.

Common sense would tell you not to walk your dog when it’s particularly hot. Not only is there the chance of heat-related stress, but their foot-pads can get burnt as footpaths or other concrete gets extremely hot.

Vets advise keeping your pets inside during heatwaves, where possible, or to at least ensure they have plenty of water and shade if you have to leave them outside. Exercise them early in the morning or later in the evening and never leave them in cars or on ute trays for any amount of time.

Again, it’s just common sense.