As the festive season rolls in, many traditions mark the beginning of Christmas.

From adding decor to our homes to grand displays, everyone is looking forward to these Christmas staples.

However, a decade-old tradition recently got disrupted, which has concerned locals and some officials.

The MYER Christmas window display has been a cherished tradition in Melbourne for almost decades.

The display draws in crowds of excited families eager to kick off their festive season with a touch of magic.

However, this year's much-anticipated event has been cancelled, leaving many spectators disheartened.

The MYER Christmas window displays have been around for decades, entertaining multiple generations of Melburnians. Image Credit: MYER

The sudden cancellation followed after plans for a protest by an activist group, Disrupt Wars.

This potential disruption led MYER to make the heart-wrenching decision to cancel the opening event, citing safety concerns.

The window display should still be unveiled as scheduled and will remain until 5 January.

While the MYER Christmas window display will still be up this year, Melbourne's festive spirit has been dampened, as the 69-year tradition of unveiling it will not happen this year.

The cancellation sparked an outcry from Liberal MP Sussan Ley.

MP Ley called on the protesters to 'leave Christmas alone', highlighting the disruption it caused to the locals.

'The MYER Christmas window unveiling? Really? And by the way, doing this is not going to convince anyone of your cause,' MP Ley added.

'I just think of the kids, the families that love this excitement on the unveiling.'

'Melburnians and Australians have had a tough year. I hope the state and federal governments do all they can to make sure families can celebrate Christmas in peace,' MP Ley ended.

Along with MP Ley was Federal Education Minister Jason Clare, who echoed her sentiments.

'I hope a bit of common sense prevails here. Melbourne is a big place. Plenty of places to protest without stopping people celebrating Christmas,' Minister Clare added.

While he recognised the right of expression, Minister Clare also emphasised the importance of Christmas.

After the backlash and criticism from several public officials, protest organiser Amy Settal stated that the supposed disruption will not push through anymore.

'The children coming to see the MYER Christmas windows were never a target, because children are not a target,' Settal said.

'In light of MYER’s decision to cancel their window reveal event, planned disruptions will not go ahead.'

With the said disruption already cancelled, MYER has not yet confirmed yet if the unveiling will push through or not.

However, this raised questions about the importance of traditions, especially during the festive season.

Many Australians are now wondering about the future of public celebrations.

The MYER Christmas window display was more than just a festive decoration; it was a symbol of joy, togetherness, and the spirit of the season.

Key Takeaways

• MYER department store cancelled the unveiling event for their Christmas window display due to a planned protest.
• While the launch will not take place, the Christmas wall display will be available until 5 January.
• Liberal MP Sussan Ley criticised the protesters for disrupting a long-standing tradition and expressed her concern for family events around the Christmas season.
• Federal Education Minister Jason Clare called for common sense and to practise freedom of speech without disrupting Christmas celebrations.

What are your thoughts about the cancellation of this year's MYER Christmas window display? Do you have other decade-long Christmas traditions? Share your thoughts and other Christmas festivities with us in the comments section below.

 

[BigAl6164]

Religion is the root of ALL evil!

That's because religion is human-made.

 

[BigAl6164]

I suppose we have to be clear here in that our democracy allows people to voice their views by way of speach, writing or protest rallies.
However, this planed protest is a threat to disrupt or cancel the traditions of our way of life and is in my book a form of terrorism.
You don't see normal western cultures threatening us because they are not happy with what is happening in their country. Ukrainians would be a classic example of this. They have not told us they will not put up with us celebrating Christmas because there is no joy in celebrating Christmas because of what the russians are doing in their country.
As an older Australian I have lost my patience with this newer culture forcing their views on us.
If you came here or have been brain washed and are thinking you could take over with your beliefs and customes then pack your bags and go do some good where you came from.
I can live with you if you wish to keep your culture/customs to yourself but don't force it down our throats or threaten us.

First, the protest has been cancelled.

Second, it was never about Christmas.

 

[BigAl6164]

Agree with some of what your saying mate but there is a difference between the groups of cultures we turned our back on through history and these immigrents/antagonists that are threatening our way of life. They are in effect soft terrorists at this stage but given the chance they would like to see us convert to their culture and customs. There will be no priviliges to recognise other than what they allow our future generations to have and they will bring sirens and bombs to our front door.
Our weak politicians have encouraged this group. Now we need to get some strong intelligent leaders who are not afraid to take up the challenge to fix it before we become like the UK.
You don't really don't know what you get with new cultures. Look at America, a very intelligent knowledgeable politician recently told the world that its immigrents were eating the local citizen"s pets. He should be their President so they don't have anyone with more intelligent to our PM. Jury is out on that one.

My point was, we can happily ignore what's happening in Gaza, Northern Israel and Ukraine because we're not Palestinian, Jewish or Ukrainian, but we don't like it if anyone or any group "threatens" a morally-suspect event. I doubt if Disrupt Wars is the kind of organisation best suited to advancing justice for Gaza: aggression and infantile tit-for-tat-ism do not lead to peaceful solutions. Myer, meanwhile, will continue to celebrate Christmas while bleating about Disrupt Wars and ignoring the birth of Jesus. Convenient!

 

[Cheezil]

They’ve cancelled their protest this post needs updating as they’ve changed their plans they say their stopping it for the kiddies sake it’s all on the news updates

But can these protesters be trusted?

 

[Julie1946]

Absolutely disgraceful how these so called activists are ruining our country, why are they here waving their flags, why are they not back there fighting for their country, because they are cowards, no use yelling and screaming, go back and fight , we don’t want you here disrespecting our country and our people, and destroying our traditions.. enough is enough, time for the government to WAKE UP and get tough on these protesters.

 

[Knell]

A small detail SDC failed to report was that Disrupt Wars (a misleadingly-named pro-Palestinian outfit) *cancelled* their protest the day after Myer cancelled its ostentatious opening ceremony.

I can't and don't support the juvenile antics of groups like Disrupt Wars, but Myer took the decision to cancel one single part of their overall event. As ordinary Australians struggle with cost of living realities it is surely profoundly offensive for the wealthy to parade their lucre in the faces of people who may well be unable to afford to shop at such a rich establishment.

And as it turns out, the guts of the Myer display remains in situ. No one misses out on that.

Meanwhile, a few ask why we should be concerned about conflicts thousands of miles away? Because when they came for the black people I said nothing because I was not black. I said nothing when they came for the Jews because I was not Jewish. I remained silent when they rounded up the gypsies and homosexuals and disabled folk because I was none of them ...

Recognise our privilege in this nation and thank God our children have food and don't live in terror waiting for the next siren, bomb and explosion. Thank God we can send our children to school and know they will return by mid-arvo, alive. Not having the rich folks' display is not exactly the end of the world.

It's kind of paradoxical that the Myer event celebrates the birth of someone who would grow up to condemn both the methods of Disrupt Wars *and* the unbridled ostentation of Myer.

Authentic. No straw man fallacies. You clearly captured the essence of the subject and exemplified ‘the art of humanity’ - your words caused me to shed a few tears, and I thank you for that.

 

[BigAl6164]

But can these protesters be trusted?

Whether the group, Disrupt Wars, can be trusted is only partially the point. It still needs to be reported.

 

[Anmafin]

It’s not cancelled as the headline suggests. As I am not from Melbourne I don’t know what the opening ceremony entails, but the window displays will be there. Surely that’s what people come to see.

 

[Anmafin]

Authentic. No straw man fallacies. You clearly captured the essence of the subject and exemplified ‘the art of humanity’ - your words caused me to shed a few tears, and I thank you for that.

So true. Christmas has become an occasion when we dig into our pockets and make big companies like Myer and David Jones, and many more, boost their profits. The public has been brainwashed and have long forgotten what Christmas is all about. I wonder how different it would be if all we gave was our love and kindness, instead of the materialistic things everyone has come to expect.

 

[BigAl6164]

Absolutely disgraceful how these so called activists are ruining our country, why are they here waving their flags, why are they not back there fighting for their country, because they are cowards, no use yelling and screaming, go back and fight , we don’t want you here disrespecting our country and our people, and destroying our traditions.. enough is enough, time for the government to WAKE UP and get tough on these protesters.

Isn't it amazing how a protest designed to draw attention to a critical situation in Palestine by disrupting a wildly extravagant display of tinkling wealth, suddenly becomes "ruining our country," "disrespecting our country and our people," "destroying our traditions" ... It's probable that most of the activists are Australians, too.

Of course, Disrupt Wars - a pro-Palestinian bunch of rabble trousers who would not be many people's No.1 choice of advocates for Palestine - is doing nothing at all as the correspondent above claimed. All they managed was to terrorise Myer into calling off a certain opening ceremony, an event which has misappropriated a sublime spiritual experience for the sake of rattling jewellery in the faces of people too impoverished to participate fully in such largesse. It's not what Jesus was born for.

 

[BigAl6164]

It’s not cancelled as the headline suggests. As I am not from Melbourne I don’t know what the opening ceremony entails, but the window displays will be there. Surely that’s what people come to see.

Well said. Apparently it begins with a smashing opening ceremony that seems to be more important than the display, which remains, as you observe, unaffected.

 

[DLHM]

Hmm Seems there are people who’ve forgotten about the Hamas attack on Israel 7 Oct 2023.

Australia has shown how the pro-Palestinian activists are given a wide berth for their disruptive and antagonistic disturbances. This is Australia, not Palestine.

 

[Anmafin]

Hmm Seems there are people who’ve forgotten about the Hamas attack on Israel 7 Oct 2023.

Australia has shown how the pro-Palestinian activists are given a wide berth for their disruptive and antagonistic disturbances. This is Australia, not Palestine

 

[BigAl6164]

Hmm Seems there are people who’ve forgotten about the Hamas attack on Israel 7 Oct 2023.

Australia has shown how the pro-Palestinian activists are given a wide berth for their disruptive and antagonistic disturbances. This is Australia, not Palestine.

People seem to have forgotten *many* things. I shall refrain from perpetuating the tit-for-tat-ism which lies beneath all this hatred. Australia is neither Palestine nor Israel, nor Ukraine nor Russia, nor Rohingya nor Myanmar. We are in a blessed state to act for peace, not turn our backs, close our eyes and switch off our hearing aids.

 

[BigAl6164]

If people wish to object to our Australian Christmas traditions, take yourself to a country that doesn't celebrate Christmas.

We're already in a country that doesn't celebrate Christmas! What Myer is doing *isn't* a celebration of Christmas.

 

[Knell]

People seem to have forgotten *many* things. I shall refrain from perpetuating the tit-for-tat-ism which lies beneath all this hatred. Australia is neither Palestine nor Israel, nor Ukraine nor Russia, nor Rohingya nor Myanmar. We are in a blessed state to act for peace, not turn our backs, close our eyes and switch off our hearing aids.

Extraordinary! Cheers to that!

 

[BigAl6164]

Extraordinary! Cheers to that!

Thank you