Many would be aware that in Australia, Santa comes on a surfboard. You probably wouldn’t be aware that a bilby brings chocolate eggs to Australian children at Easter. The Easter bunny was sacked some time in the 70s because his brethren had become a nuisance to wildlife since being introduced to Australia. You’ll still find chocolate rabbits in the shops, but specialty chocolate manufacturers have modelled their Easter produce on an endangered native species.
Bilbies are long-eared burrowing marsupials found in arid regions of Australia. They carry their babies in pouches that face backwards so that they don’t get filled with dirt while digging. The Greater Bilby grows up to 55cm long and is nocturnal. Although they are omnivorous, their diverse diet hasn’t been enough to allow them to compete with the rapid reproduction of rabbits, which were introduced with European settlers. Lesser Bilbies are believed to be extinct and the Greater Bilby is has become a symbol of endangered species in Australia. This, coupled with its long rabbit-like ears made it the perfect candidate to replace the Easter Bunny. The transition hasn’t been quick. Before I started travelling, I rarely heard of the Easter Bilby, but since I returned in 2007 I’ve seen many more bilbies than bunnies.
Easter buns have changed too. They used to be simple sultana buns with a cross on the top to signify their Christian origins. Last week, my colleagues celebrated Easter by getting a selection of Easter buns. I wasn’t going to join because I’ve never liked sultana buns of any kind. They assured me that wasn’t an issue and served up a selection of hot cross buns of various sorts. The traditional buns took centre place, surrounded by fruitless buns, choc-chip buns and choc-chip mocha buns. I was glad to see that they all bore the cross on top. I’m not a great supporter of Christianity, but it is our national religion and I’d hate to see its traditions disappear in the multiculturalism of modern Australia. I’ll be even happier when we celebrate Hanukkah with blue gum candles and Vat Savitri Purnima by tying threads around Banksia trees.
Interesting question, epm, though I’m not sure what it has to do with ANZAC Day. Can you say more about the VAT festival? Are you referring to Vat Savitri? I’m not actually familiar with it.
Interesting question, epm, but my point wasn’t about finding other examples of women celebrations for women. It was about celebrating festivals from other cultures with an Australian twist.
I don’t know about praying, but Western culture has a Mother’s Day to celebrate the role of women.