How do Aboriginal people celebrate Christmas in Arnhem Land?

This is 25th December 1996 in Ramingining, an Aboriginal community in north-central Arnhem Land made famous by the likes of star actor David Gulpilil and famous artist David Malangi.

Christmas is one of the few times when normal avoidance relationships are relaxed. Avoidance relationships are those codified behaviours between particular kin, especially among 'poison' or 'taboo' relatives such as with one's mothers-in-law, sisters/brothers, 'poison-cousins' etc.

A nice party was held in the house of Martin Garrangunung. Martin's sister, Shirley Gunhdhumawuy, worked for many years with the Department of Education in Darwin and made a strong contribution to Indigenous education policy. She purchased and prepared the food for this special day, and even sent out Christmas cards to family and friends in the community to come to join in the celebrations... I lived one door down from Martin's house, with Peter Djumbu and family, and was thrilled - actually rather surprised - to get such a card. I didn't think formalities like this mattered in remote Aboriginal communities!

Anyway, a good time was had by all. If you're a fast runner with fast reflexes, you can avoid being hit by eggs and flour!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• christmas
• ramingining
• arnhem
• land
• yolngu
• celebration
• party
• community
• life
• social

[snowblue18]

Have never met and don't know? What did they do to you? You can't hate somebody for someone else's actions.. You all need to grow up and grow a brain.

[ididjaustralia]

@snowblue18 :)

[kaez02]

these guys have high standards! :p

[ididjaustralia]

@kaez02 they're just having fun n celebrating that's all, some people make more effort than others, some ppl don't even bother to celebrate christmas in the cities but my families do n enjoy it very much... we make do with what we have to create our own fun! it sure is a contrast to big cities where guys are bashing each other up outside of bars...

[TheWarriorMaori]

a family gathering, peole eating, kids playing, bbq buring, a family having a laugh whats wrong about this? nothing at all shame to all the clowns making fun of this innocent family only because they are aboriginal and thats the truth grow up wankers theres a time and a place to make fun of people i agree but not on this occasion

[tittymumma]

Holy shit, feeding time at the fucking zoo.........

[ohyeahhoneysheband]

@the124Lscania Who let you onto a computer you stupid illiterate racist fuck, please vacate the earth

[TeasaaWasHere]

I'm ignorant to this like SERIOUSLY, I'm confused and at a lost for words at the same time. What are they exactly? I DO NOT mean to say that like they're not human I DON'T MEAN IT THAT WAY. I'm Black American and I'm just learning and seeing this for the first time and it's like discovering a new breed of black people for me it's almost shocking. They seem like very beautiful kind people lack of my knowledge of them.

[pidza21]

@IFknHateUTube check with the Vatican..they're experts at that...or simply go back to the 12th century with that kind of mentality.

[IFknHateUTube]

It's sad that australian people are so racist against abos because the fact of the matter is that white australians are just as drunk, high, stupid, uneducated and worthless as abos are. I mean australians are like the niggers of the english speaking world it is pretty ridiculous for them to then go and be racist against someone else. It makes sense though because white australians are such complete shit that they then want to go out and find someone worse than themselves to feel better.

[cookieking1996]

lol wtf.

[Blahblobify]

@snowblue18

Different cultures?

This ain't culture.

[orse26]

our people would make anyone and even you feel soo welcome you ignorant arrogant pigs couldnt say the same about you.... and you think your better than us ....