I appreciated the link you gave to the site about the customs around Christmas and St Nicholas,
one that makes gift giving have a bit more meaning.

We poor mixed heritaged Australians have not had all that much custom relocate to here, or if it has I think. for many/ the meaning has been lost.

I know that a loss of some traditions might not necessarily be a bad thing. still it is nice to have a bit more knowledge about the meaning of the things that we go through the motions of celebrating.

It is the latest thing here for children to want to go out trick or treating on Halloween but they have no idea of what underlies the custom, only of the fact that they will perhaps get lollies, as they have seen on American TV .
Most of the local people are unprepared for their knock out the door as it has never before been something that children have done previously in Australia.

When I was young we did used to celebrate Guy Fawkes night with fireworks, but now the purchase of fireworks is prohibited except for those licenced, due to the injuries sustained.

@Lisa: I think we all are becoming more American in our traditions. Here in Germany people have started to celebrate Halloween in the last ten years - although it was never any interest before.

In a good way some old religious festivals loosing their grip on us. But we need to invent new ones that capture our modern attitudes and needs. And some more community orientated ones would be nice as well …