What’s the deal with Boxing Day?

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Source: News Limited

It's the biggest shopping day of the year and there are plenty of ways to grab a good deal.

THERE are a lot of special things we only do at Christmas.

We put up a tree, we give each other presents, we go to church at midnight, we eat fruitcake. But does anyone really know why we do these things? We'll tell you.

First thing's first: Why does Christmas exist?

Christmas is traditionally a Christian holiday, celebrated each year to remember the birth of Jesus, God's son, in Bethlehem some 2014 years ago. Some people still celebrate Christmas for this reason, and others look at it as a chance to spend quality time with family and friends.

So, is it Christmas, or Xmas?

It's not unusual to see 'Christmas' shortened to 'Xmas'. While many believe that Christmas was dubbed Xmas because people wanted to remove all associations with Jesus from the day, that's a bit of an urban myth — the X in Xmas literally means Jesus.

The New Testament in the Bible was written in Greek, and the word Christ begins with the letter X:

Explained, in pictures! Source: Supplied

According to Vox, "most scholars agree that the first appearance of this abbreviation for Christmas dates to 1021, when an Anglo-Saxon scribe saved himself space by writing XPmas. Parchment paper was quite expensive, so any techniques for saving space were welcome. The abbreviation stuck and eventually was shortened to Xmas."

Interestingly, the name 'Christmas' is in itself a kind of abbreviation — it's derived from 'The Mass of Christ', which is a special service to honour the birth of Jesus. It traditionally takes place after sunset on Christmas Eve but before sunrise on Christmas Day, and while it's officially known as 'The Mass of Christ' it's more commonly dubbed 'midnight mass'.

So, Christ-mas, Christmas, Xmas — it's all essentially the same thing.

And why December 25?

As you'll soon see, a lot of our Christmas traditions come from the northern hemisphere, and the day we celebrate Christmas is no exception. Although Christmas is a Christian holiday, the date Christmas falls on is not Jesus' actual birthday. December 25 was selected as the day to commemorate it by the Western Church sometime in the fourth century, because it lined up with a few other celebrations at the time. The Winter Solstice was one of them, which was a festival signifying new life — spring was coming, and the sun had conquered the winter darkness. For Christians, Jesus is the thing the signifies new life, and the early Christians thought that having a celebration at that time of year too was a good fit. It was Pope Julius I who officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on the 25th December.

Is this the way to Bethlehem? Source: Supplied

So where did Santa enter the picture?

Contrary to popular belief, Santa Claus was not invented by Coca-Cola. Today's Santa is based on a saint who existed during the 4th century called Saint Nicholas. He went around giving presents to children in need, in his official Bishop's red robes. After he died, people gave gifts to children in his honour until Martin Luther decided the ritual should coincide with December 25, so the focus could be on Christ as the 'ultimate gift-giver', instead of on a saint.

There's also a touch of inspiration for Santa from Odin, a pagan god who led a hunting party atop a Sleipnir, which is a horse with 8 legs. Odin travelled with Sleipnir and eight reindeer, and would ride about filling children's boots with candy on the German holiday Yule, which is celebrated around the same time as Christmas.

As for the whole naughty/nice thing, that's a notion that is thought to have originated from Denmark. They have a slightly more sinister legend about a Dutch 'Sinterklass' who wears red and white, a bishop's hat, travels to Denmark on steam boat from Spain, and knows if you've been naughty. He has helpers known as Zwarte Piets, who give good kids gifts, but punish the naughty ones with jutes and willow canes.

So, the Santa we have today seems to be a bit of a mishmash of Saint Nick, the Dutch Sinterklaas and Odin. The one thing they all have in common is that they give presents, and that seems to be why we do, too.

Christmas stockings full of Christmas treats. Source: Supplied

And where do we get the whole stocking thing from?

The 1823 poem T'was the Night Before Christmas is not only a Christmas tradition in itself, but the first known publication of the ritual of hanging up stockings. Now whether this is legend or myth or reality I'm not sure, but Time magazine say that "the original Saint Nicholas, who travelled around bringing gifts and cheer to those in need, came upon a small village one year and heard of a family in need.

"An impoverished widower, devastated by the passing of his wife, could not afford to provide a dowry for his three daughters. St. Nick knew the man was too prideful to accept money, so he simply dropped some gold coins down the chimney, which landed in the girl's stockings, hung by the fireplace to dry." Who are we to argue with that?

Why do we sing carols?

The word 'carol' actually means a dance or a song of praise and joy, and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with Christmas. Carols were originally sung during Winter Solstice celebrations, before early Christians put Jesus-centred words to them. It's thought that the first Christmas carol was a song called Angel's Hymn, written in AD 129 by a Roman Bishop.

Let's move onto food … and pudding

The Christmas pudding seems to be one of those things that's evolved over time across many countries, dating as far back as ancient Rome. The tradition of making things like fruitcakes and puddings for special occasions, however, became popular in the 17th century because of the extravagance of the ingredients. Nuts, raisins, spices, candied fruit, rum … it became so decadent that at one time, it was banned by the Puritans!

As to how the pudding became associated with Christmas, one theory is that in 1714, King George I tasted it as part of a Christmas meal, and made it legal to create again. Another theory is that, because its ingredients were so expensive, people would candy fruit throughout the year at different harvest times, and at the end of the year, put them all in a pudding to serve at a special occasion — and what's a better end-of-year special occasion than Christmas?

Christmas pudding, yum. Source: ThinkStock

How about Candy Canes?

The most popular theory about the origin of the Candy Cane is that a choirmaster in Germany in 1670 wanted to give the kids at the Christmas service something to eat to keep them settled. He gave them white sugar sticks, made into an upside-down J shape to resemble the shepherd's staffs.

The candy cane then spread from Germany to the rest of Europe, into America and then the rest of the world. Sometime around the 1900s the peppermint flavour was added, as well as red and green stripes.

Speaking of red and green …

Clearly the colours of Christmas, we have the European continent to thank for the prevalence of red and green. During their winter, things like holly, ivy, pine trees and mistletoe were used to brighten up homes and churches and Christmas plays. Christians later reinterpreted the red and green to resemble new life (green) and Jesus' blood (red).

Red and green everywhere. Source: Supplied

Now that we've mentioned mistletoe …

Mistletoe is a plant that grows on apple and willow trees, and it's spread through bird poo. In fact, its name is derived from two Anglo Saxon words which literally mean poo on a stick. So how did we go from that to it being something we kiss under?

Well, in Norse Mythology, mistletoe is a sign of love and friendship. Somewhere along the way the English caught on, and every time a berry was picked from the mistletoe, they would give someone a kiss. When the berries ran out, so did the kisses. Somehow, possibly because of its colour, mistletoe wheedled its way into being used as a Christmas decoration, and the two traditions were rolled into one.

And what about the Christmas tree?

Well it wouldn't be Christmas without a tree now, would it? The Christmas tree has its roots in pagan Europe, where trees were worshipped during the Winter Solstice. The tree made the jump into being a Christmas symbol in Germany, where they were used on Adam and Eve day, which falls on Christmas Eve, to symbolise the Garden of Eden. Latvia also used a tree in their town square in Riga in 1510 as part of their Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The German royal family are largely credited for bringing the tree to England, thanks to Prince Albert's marriage to Queen Victoria in 1840. He erected a pine tree in their Windsor Castle home, and had their children decorate it. All it took was a family portrait taken by a London paper with the beautifully decorated tree in the background for the idea to take off around the UK.

Oh, Christmas Tree! Source: Getty Images

Why do we say 'Merry Christmas'?

The short answer is, no-one's really sure. Because the day is a happy one? Quite possibly, but some credit Charles Dickens with popularising the term in his 1843 story A Christmas Carol.

Why do we have Boxing Day?

Get ready to email this piece of information on: Boxing Day is traditionally the day people receive gifts from their bosses. Say what now?!

In the 17th century, servants used to have their day off on December 26, because of course they had to work on December 25. So, as a goodwill gesture, their employers would pop things like leftover food and a little bonus money in a box to give out the day after Christmas.

These days, we get a public holiday, there are of course the Boxing Day sales, and people who want to keep the tradition alive give a gift in a box.

See ya next Christmas. Source: News Limited

More: whychristmas.com | The remarkable origins of Christmas | Christmas for Dummies | A brief history of Christmas traditions

There is a lot of information out there about Christmas, and we've endeavoured to pull the most accurate explainer together as possible. Did we miss something? Tell us in the comments below. And Merry Christmas!

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Explosion blows CBD manhole into air

Explosion ... A build-up of gas and an electrical fault caused the manhole to fly into the air. Source: AAP

A FIFTY kilogram concrete and steel manhole has shot more than a metre into the air in an explosion under a Sydney CBD intersection.

Smoke poured from the hole after the loud blast startled Christmas shoppers walking past on Wednesday afternoon.

No one was hurt, but one passer-by said he was terrified by the unexpected explosion, especially in Australia's current security environment and after the recent Lindt Cafe siege.

On alert ... NSW police were patrolling the Sydney CBD today after an Australian man was charged on December 24 with possessing documents connected to a planned terrorist attack. Source: AFP

An Ausgrid worker said the explosion happened because of a build-up of gas and an electrical fault.

It wasn't yet known if there'd been any damage inside the manhole, the energy company representative said.

However, it was possible the cover could be blown off again, although that was unlikely, the worker said.

A NSW Fire and Rescue service member said firefighters wouldn't enter the manhole until it had been checked by Ausgrid.

The manhole cover put back into its casing and normal traffic resumed.

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The picture changed the world

An attack by the militants of IS on a People's Protection Unit in the city centre of Kobane, as seen from the outskirts of Suruc, on the Turkey-Syria border, October 20. Photo: Gokhan Sahin/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

THE small, tucked away place of Kobane was thrown onto the world stage this year when Islamic State (ISIS) militants stormed the Kurdish town in northern Syria in September.

It triggered some of the fiercest fighting the world has ever seen and marked a point of no return for the conflict that has now engulfed the region.

The above picture was captured by Getty photographer Gokhan Sahin and shows the moment an explosion rocked Kobane during a reported suicide car bomb attack by the militants of IS.

Getty photographers have covered more than 16,000 news events, 28,000 sporting events and 50,000 entertainment events this year and have witnessed countless moments that rocked the world. Here's their pick of the defining images of 2014.

DISEASE DISASTER

A woman crawls towards the body of her sister, Mekie Nagbe, 28, as Ebola burial team members take her for cremation on October 10, in Monrovia, Liberia. Nagbe, a market vendor, collapsed and died outside her home earlier in the morning while walking to a treatment centre, according to her relatives. The burial of loved ones is important in Liberian culture, making the removal of infected bodies for cremation all the more traumatic for surviving family members. The World Health Organisation says the Ebola epidemic has now killed more than 4000 people in West Africa.

Photo: by John Moore/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

TOTAL DESPAIR

Debris from Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 is shown smouldering in a field on July 17 in Grabovo, Ukraine, near the Russian border. MH17, on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur and carrying 295 passengers and crew, was shot down by a surface-to-air missile, according to US intelligence officials and Ukrainian authorities. The area is under control of pro-Russian militias.

Photo: Pierre Crom/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

RAINING DOWN

The New Zealand rugby team perform the Haka after winning the final of the 2014 Hong Kong Sevens against England at Hong Kong International Stadium on March 30.

Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

GOODBYE MY FRIEND

Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke pays his respects to his teammate during the funeral service for Phillip Hughes on December 3 in Macksville. Hughes died in November, aged 25, as a result of head injuries sustained during the Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and NSW at the SCG.

Photo: Cameron Spencer — Pool/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

ROYAL WALK

LEFT: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William walk down Kuniya Walk at the base of Uluru on April 22. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are on a three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand, the first official trip overseas with their son, Prince George.

BUNNIES WIN

RIGHT: South Sydney Rabbitohs captain John Sutton holds aloft the premiership trophy after winning the 2014 NRL Grand Final.

Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

TIANANMEN 25 YEARS ON

June 4 marked the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Photographer Dario Mitidieri was one of the few photographers to cover the massacre and that same year won Press Photographer of the Year at the British Press Awards for his work. This image from 1989, Beijing, China, shows a wounded soldier of the Chinese army being rescued by students after his tank was destroyed during the Tiananmen Square massacre during the night between June 3 and 4.

Photo: Dario Mitidieri /Getty Images Source: Getty Images

DAY OF SILENCE

A Balinese man throws a burned coconut husk during the "Mesabatan Api" ritual ahead of Nyepi Day on March 30 in Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia. Mesabatan Api is held annually a day before the Nyepi Day of Silence, symbolising the purification of the universe and human body through fire. The national holiday is one of self-reflection and meditation and activities such as working, watching television or travelling are restricted between 6am and 6pm.

Photo: Agung Parameswara/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

AUSSIE CHAMP

Australian Nick Kyrgios during his Gentlemen's Singles fourth round match against Rafael Nadal of Spain on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 1 in London, England.

Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

THE WALL FALLS

The first section of the Berlin Wall is pushed down by crowds of determined people on the morning of November 10, 1989 — 25 years ago this year.

Photo: Tom Stoddart/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

GRAND PRIX CRASH

Japan's Kamui Kobayashi gets off the track after crashing into Felipe Massa of Brazil and Williams during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park on March 16 in Melbourne.

Photo: Vladimir Rys Photography/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

FLANDERS SOLDIERS

June 28 was the 100th anniversary of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand — the shot that would bring the world to war. Supporting troops of the 1st Australian Division here are walking on a duckboard track near Hooge, in the Ypres Sector. They form a silhouette against the sky as they pass towards the front line to relieve their comrades, whose attack the day before won Broodseinde Ridge and deepened the Australian advance.

Photo: Frank Hurley/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

HAWKS FLY HIGH

Hawks players celebrate with the Premiership Cup during the 2014 AFL Grand Final match between the Sydney Swans and the Hawthorn Hawks at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 27.

Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

SOCHI

Krystyna Palka of Poland competes during the Women's 4 x 6km Relay during day 14 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Laura Cross-country Ski and Biathlon Center on February 21 in Russia.

Photo: Adam Pretty/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

FERGUSON OUTRAGE

Police force protesters from the business district into nearby neighbourhoods on August 11 in Ferguson, Missouri. Police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets as residents and their supporters protested the shooting by police of an unarmed black teenager named Michael Brown who was killed in St Louis. The day before, 32 arrests were made after protests turned into rioting and looting in Ferguson.

Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

GRUDGE MATCH

Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone attend the Grudge Match premiere on January 7 in Rome, Italy.

Photo: Franco Origlia/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

You can vote for the images of 2014 that move you via yearinfocus.gettyimages.com

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‘Mummy is in heaven and heaven is in my heart’

Family and friends of Sydney siege victim Tori Johnson have gathered for his funeral.

The partner of Tori Johnson, Thomas Zinn and family members carry the casket in at the funeral of Tori Johnson. (AAP Image/Nikki Short) NO ARCHIVING Source: AAP

THERE have been emotional scenes today at the funeral services of Sydney siege victims Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson as family and friends gathered to say their final goodbyes.

At the service for siege hero Mr Johnson at Sydney's St Stephen's Uniting Church this morning senior public figures and members of the police force joined his family, partner and workmates, including some who were also hostages during last week's siege.

Throughout the hour-long service as the 34-year-old's was remembered in a celebration of Tori's "love, generosity and life", the order of service booklet for the private ceremony read.

The church is about 100 metres from the Lindt cafe, where Tori worked as manager, and also where he was tragically killed in the early hours of December 16 as the Martin Place siege ended.

Mr Johnson's father Ken and partner of 14 years, Thomas Zinn, spoke at the service that began with 'Ave Maria' playing in the church.

Supplied personal photo of Tori Johnson and is partner Thomas Zinn. Source: Supplied

Supplied image of Tori Johnson, victim of the Sydney Siege at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place. Source: Supplied

Supplied personal photo of Tori Johnson and is partner Thomas Zinn. Source: Supplied

Traffic was halted on Macquarie St outside the church as a white hearse bearing Mr Johnson's coffin arrived for the 11am service.

Fellow hostages bravely attended the service. Many of them only knew Tori for the hours they were trapped inside the cafe by crazed gunman Man Haron Monis.

Elly Chen, Fiona Ma, Jieun Bae and Joel Herat arrived with Premier Mike Baird, while Harriette Denny, Selina Win Pe and Jarrod Joffman also paid their respects.

NSW police commissioner Andrew Scipione and Governor David Hurley were also among mourners at St Stephen's church.

The partner of Tori Johnson, Thomas Zinn and family members carry the casket into St Stephen's Uniting Church. Source: AAP

St Stephen's cathedral. Source: Supplied

Siege victims Joel Herat (2nd L), Elly Chen (2nd R) and Fiona Ma (R) pay their respects at wreath laying ceremony after the funeral for Tori Johnson at Martin Place. Source: Getty Images

Well-regarded barrister and mother to three Katrina Dawson will also be farewelled in a memorial service at the University of Sydney's Great Hall beginning at 2pm this afternoon.

Ms Dawson's husband Paul Smith will give the eulogy, while there will be tributes from her parents Sandy and Jane Dawson and also by her brothers Sandy and Angus.

MORE: Heartbreaking songs picked by Katrina's kids

Speakers for the ceremony include Julie Taylor, the pregnant colleague and friend who was trapped inside the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place with Ms Dawson during the siege.

Organisers have also asked for donations to be made to the Katrina Dawson Foundation instead of flowers.

The charity was set up last week by former governor-general dame Quentin Bryce, who is expected to attend this afternoon's service.

More than 1500 people have attended the service. Among them is siege survivor John O'Brien and Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his wife Margy.

Photos showing Ms Dawson with her husband and children were shown on a large screen in the university's sandstone Great Hall.

A message from Ms Dawson's son Ollie said: "Mummy is in heaven & heaven is in my heart, so mum will be with me all the time."

Memorial service for Katrina Dawson at University of Sydney, picture Craig Greenhill Source: News Corp Australia

Memorial service for Katrina Dawson at University of Sydney, picture Craig Greenhill Source: News Corp Australia

One of the hostages arrives at the memorial service for Katrina Dawson at the The Great Hall at Sydney University in Sydney. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

Photos showing Katrina Dawson (L) and Tori Johnson (R) sit among the flowers left outside the Lindt cafe in Sydney's Martin Place. Source: AFP

Sydneysiders paid their respect to the two victims in floral tributes. Source: News Corp Australia

Many of the mourners wore aqua, the popular barrister's favourite colour, while her favourite classical music is being played.

Former colleague Jeremy Stoljar SC told those gathered: "We're going to do our best, despite everything to remember the happy times."

"She had it all. She looked after the younger ones, she worked with the older ones," Mr Stoljar said.

"She put 100 per cent into everything she did ... she was the best friend anyone could have."

In the wake of the pair's tragic deaths, thousands of Sydneysiders have visited Martin Place where the public outpouring of grief has manifested in a sea of floral tributes. Several thousands of bunches of flowers were removed from the makeshift memorial site this morning ahead of wet weather which officials feared may destroy the notes left with flowers which have been collected to return to the victim's families.

The flowers will be mulched and used in a memorial set to be determined in consultation with Ms Dawson and Mr Johnson's families.

"At an appropriate time we'll also discuss with them the establishment of a permanent memorial," Premier Mike Baird said.

A smaller tribute site has been established under a marquee in Martin Place and a bouquet from Mr Johnson's funeral service will be laid at the new site. — with Andrew Koubaridis

RFS, SES and the Australian Red Cross assisted in removing flowers from Martin place today. Source: News Corp Australia

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Why lady tradies are better on the tools

The trade industry is dominated by men, but women are proving tops on the tools. Source: News Corp Australia

WANT a trade job done professionally, on time and with great communication?

Get a woman to do it.

Female tradies not only exist, but women are increasingly likely to take up a trade as a career — and they are gaining high feedback scores on the quality of their work.

According to an ABS survey of Education and Work, males were much more likely to be employed as a trade apprentice than females in 2005, with six males for every female.

But by 2011, census data showed the rates of women in trades were increasing with 1432 female electricians, 676 female carpenters, 931 female motor mechanics and 638 female plumbers across Australia.

Melbourne-based Sally Liddell is one of those trade women.

The 28-year-old owns her own business, Right Connection Electrical, and said she loves it.

"I wanted to do something different and something that would challenge me," she told news.com.au

"My uncle was an electrician, so that kind of got the ball rolling on it being a career option. He changed industries and went into real estate, and I thought, well, I can do that too, I can change industries as well.

"I was mainly working in call centres at the time, and I'd done three years of a four year teaching degree when I realised it just wasn't for me. I was about 23 then, and I enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship course," she said.

"I did quite well at trade school, so a lot of the guys turned it into a bit of a competition because they didn't like the idea of being beaten by a female.

"I just laughed if off."

In NSW, women make up 13 per cent of trade apprentices and trainees and several agencies are now set up to deal specifically with them.

Girls in Trades and support service The Lady Tradies Australia are two key contacts.

Online industry directories have started to take notice.

Melbourne-based electrician Sally Liddell. Source: Supplied

"It's always really exciting when we see female tradies join hipages.com.au," David Vitek, CEO and co-founder of hipages Group, told news.com.au

"They always get great feedback scores on completed jobs. The female tradies we have come across score higher for communication, punctuality and professionalism than the general population of trades.

"We love seeing women tradies take on work that is traditionally male dominated. For us, we get so excited to see them doing a great job, and getting recognised for it."

Ms Liddell said the stigma around female tradies was wearing off.

"I do think the attitude in the industry is definitely getting a lot better," she said.

"There are a lot of younger electricians who are more open minded, it tends to be the older ones who have the issue.

"They don't like the idea of a girl doing the hard stuff, but then, they can't do the hard stuff themselves anymore, so it doesn't really work."

The trade industry is dominated by men, but women are proving tops on the tools. Source: Supplied

While the attitude in the industry may well be changing, Ms Liddell said she had certainly been subjected to casual sexism.

"Once I rang up about a job and the man I spoke to was like, 'Are you a woman?' When I answered that yes I was, he said, 'It's very hard work you know, you have to crawl under houses and in roofs!' I assured him I could do that and I emailed my resume through, but of course I never heard back from him.

"That's part of why owning my own business was always dream. It's part of what appealed to me about the trade industry.

"I saw an opportunity to make that a reality, and have had my own business since June.

"I want to employ female apprentices to get more females into the trade, because I found it so hard to get one myself, being a woman."

Sally Liddell at work. Source: Supplied

Since starting her own business, things have gone from strength to strength for Ms Liddell — but people still double take when they realise she is a qualified electrician.

"If people call up the business and I answer, some people think I'm the office lady. A lot of people kind of take a minute, they're surprised that I'm the electrician.

"Some people still don't get it until you turn up to actually do the work!

Ms Liddel believed it wasn't that clients thought she couldn't do the job, they just didn't expect a female.

"People just aren't used to it. That's the thing we can change.

"Until now really, having a trade hasn't seemed like an option to a lot of women, there is still a bit of stigma around it," she said.

"A lot of women might be intimidated at the prospect of working in an all-male environment, but I'd still definitely recommend it.

"The electricians I have worked with are all pretty good. You might get comments about there not being many females around, but I haven't really had any issues.

"It's so interesting this job, you're constantly learning, you don't have to go to the same place for work every day," she said.

"It's not as hard as people might think.

"Don't let the ideal of a male dominated industry put you off.

"Just go for it."

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Seven pregnant after school trip

Stop motion video creates a detailed record of one woman's journey through pregnancy

Shocking revelation ... Five schoolgirls, aged 13 to 15, fell pregnant after going on a five-day trip to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Picture: Thinkstock Source: Supplied

SEVEN girls, aged 13 to 15, have fallen pregnant after a five-day school trip to their country's capital city and their parents are being blamed.

The schoolgirls, from the city of Banja Luka, went to the Bosnia and Herzegovina capital, Sarajevo.

Nenad Babici, the National Coordinator for Reproductive Health of the Republika, told Inserbia.info that it was discovered that the seven schoolgirls fell pregnant on the school trip.

The school in Banja Luka had taken 28 girls to the nation's capital city for a five-day trip to visit museums and historic sights in the city, ranked among the finest in the world.

Furious parents are demanding to know why there was such a lack of teacher supervision, reported the Daily Mail.

However, Babici blamed parents for not educating their children properly.

OSTEITIS PUBIS IN PREGNANCY: "I was in a bit of a dark place"

CAUSE FOR PAUSE: Teenage pregnancy in Australia

Twenty eight taken on school trip ... Seven of them, aged 13 to 15, fell pregnant. Picture: Catherine Yeulet Source: News Limited

He said that early engagement in sexual relations later lead to adverse consequences such as infertility, various diseases, miscarriages and premature births.

Senad Mehmedbasic, a Sarajevo gynaecologist, said a growing trend of underage pregnancies in Bosnia and Herzegovina is worrying.

"That is the trend of today. But we cannot continue to allow our children to be educated about sex on the street and not in school," he told Inserbia.info.

Educational institutes and parents should, he said, play a stronger role in providing effective sex education.

"It is obvious that children do not have enough knowledge of health education so they engage in such activities, not knowing the consequences.

"We have to be more direct in the educational system, it must not be allowed that street teaches children about intimate matters, and that they are later slapped by life."

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Police oppose bail for murder accused mum

Mersane Warria. Picture: File Source: Supplied

POLICE say they will oppose bail for the Cairns woman charged with murdering seven of her children and a niece.

Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday was today formally charged with eight counts of murder in a bedside court hearing in Cairns Hospital, where she is being treated for injuries suffered during her alleged rampage on Friday.

Four girls aged 14, 12, 11 and two and four boys aged nine, eight, six and five were found stabbed to death in a Murray St home on Friday.

Warria has been under police arrest in hospital recovering from non-life threatening self-inflicted knife wounds. She is also due to undergo mental health assessments.

The charges will be heard in Cairns Magistrates Court tomorrow but police say Warria, also known as Raina Thaiday, has been remanded in custody and will not appear.

"She is currently under police guard and will remain so until a decision's made about any future accommodations,'' regional crime co-coordinator Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said.

Family and and friends of some of the dead children attended a media conference at Cairns police station where Insp Asnicar confirmed the charges, but they did not speak with journalists.

Murder accused cannot ply for bail in the Magistrates Court but Insp Asnicar said police would "obviously" oppose if she makes a Supreme Court bail bid.

He said Warria was "conscious and lucid" but would not comment on her reaction to the charges.

The families of the dead children had also been informed of the murder charges, he said.

"It'd come as no surprise that this is a very raw and emotive time for everybody," he said.

"The family's deeply, deeply upset but the community's pulling together. It's as good as it can be out of tragic, tragic circumstances."

Asked how the five different fathers of the eight dead were bearing up, Insp Asnicar said: "You don't need too much of an imagination to understand how they're feeling."

Insp Asnicar said autopsies had not been completed and the house at 34 Murray St, Manoora, was expected to remain a crime scene for days.

Local MP Gavin King said the future of the Housing Commission house would be decided once police had finished their investigation and will announce details of a public memorial to the children tomorrow.

He also announced a public appeal for donations to the families through UnitingCare.

the public were also being urged to donate household goods to the Salvation Army to help accommodate extended family members travelling to Cairns from across Queensland to mourn the children.

Mr King backed police comments dismissing fears of unrest in Manoora over the mass murder.

"Most people understand this is a tragedy of untold horror - it's not a time for retribution," he said.

Originally published as Police oppose bail for murder accused mum

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Cyclist’s terrifying brush with death

The near-miss took place in the Chinese city of Ningbo. Source: Supplied

THIS could be the luckiest man alive.

A Chinese cyclist has escaped a brush with death after being knocked down and run over by a semi-trailer.

In CCTV footage obtained by UK TV network ITN, the truck can be seen running down the cyclist as it turns through a pedestrian crossing.

The rider managed to escape with minor cuts and bruises after managing to avoid all 14 wheels of the truck, with the entire length passing over him.

ITN reports the local police put the blame on the near-miss, which took place in the eastern city of Ningbo in Zhejiang province, on the driver of the truck.

After the vehicle passes over him, the dazed rider can be seen sitting up in the middle of the road.

The driver reportedly did not stop.

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Aussie brothers accused of Bali glassing

Arrested ... Scott O'Hehir at North Kuta Police station. Picture: News Corp Australia Source: Supplied

TWO Australian brothers could face four years jail in Bali for being accused of glassing a local restaurater after urinating in front of him while on a drunken night out.

Tim and Scott O'Hehir of Perth, in Western Australia, are in police custody after they allegedly attacked Wayan Mudipa, who owns the Apa Kabar Restaurant in North Kuta.

When Mudipa saw the two brothers on his property, he said he yelled out: "Hey, what are you f**king doing here?"

Under renovation ... the front of shop in North Kuta. Picture: News Corp Australia Source: Supplied

Mudipa, 35, told News Corp Australia he was working at the busy restaurant on Friday night, when he saw Scott, 32, urinate behind a temple near his eatery and younger brother Tim, 27, urinating inside a nearby shop owned by Mudipa, which is under renovation.

Mudipa alleges Tim then hit him with his hand and grabbed his neck.

Being questioned ... Scott and Tim O'Hehir in North Kuta Police station. Picture: News Corp Australia Source: News Corp Australia

Moments later, Mudipa alleges Scott struck his forehead with a beer bottle causing injuries to the shop owner's hands, face and head.

Police have been told the brothers then allegedly fled the scene of the attack, before local Balinese people caught Tim on the run.

Injured ... Wayan Mudipa in front of the shop in North Kuta. Picture: News Corp Australia Source: Supplied

He was taken to North Kuta Police Station where he was questioned. Scott later turned himself into police.

Police confirmed the pair were under the influence of alcohol on the night of the alleged attack but claim Scott denied hitting Mudipa.

Police evidence ... broken beer bottles at the scene of the alleged attack. Picture: News Corp Australia Source: Supplied

Authorities said Scott confessed he saw Tim hit the victim once with his hand - something police say Tim confirmed.

"It is their confession. But the victim and several witnesses said that they hit the victim by bottle," North Kuta Police Chief Ronny Riantoko Eppang said.

Giving information ... Scott O'Hehir at North Kuta Police station. Picture: News Corp Australia Source: Supplied

When asked what they wanted to say to their family after leaving the interrogation room, Scott said: "Very sorry".

But if Mudipa withdraws his claims against them, police said the pair could be freed.

Waiting ... Scott O'Hehir in Bali. Picture: News Corp Australia Source: Supplied

The brothers were staying at the Echoland villa in North Kuta and were on a three week holiday together.

Their arrest occurred while they were one week into their trip.

Tim now lives in Singapore and works for Raffles Medical Group as a dentist while Scott lives in Perth, working as a director for Checkside, a human resources firm.

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‘I’ve lost a beautiful daughter’

Police have surrounded a house in the Cairns suburb of Manoora where as many as eight children have been stabbed to death.

A handwritten note in a memorial of flowers, toys and candles in a park next to the home. Source: Getty Images

THE father of a girl killed in the horrific Cairns massacre said she should have been celebrating her 14th birthday with the family today.

Instead, he and his wife are trying to come to terms with her brutal murder and find answers for why the violent crime was committed.

The couple broke down in tears when they learned that their teenage daughter had been murdered along with seven other children at her aunt's house.

The other children were all siblings — three girls aged 12, 11 and two and four boys aged nine, eight, six and five, police said today.

Cairns Police Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said five fathers were distraught by the news of the deaths of their children, according to The Cairns Post.

Distraught locals weep near the scene of the mass murder. Source: Getty Images

Angel Jacob, 11, and children paint messages under the trees in Murray Street Park, Cairns. Source: News Corp Australia

Families comforted each other near the house of horror. Source: News Corp Australia

Australia is grieving another horrible tragedy, just days before Christmas. Source: Getty Images

"I've lost a beautiful daughter," said the father. "What for? What has she done?

"What happened?"

The man said everyone had seemed happy when he had dropped his daughter at the house a week ago.

Mersane Warria, the 37-year-old mother of the other children, who were aged between 18 months and 14 years old, has been arrested and is under police guard in hospital where she is being treated for stab wounds.

Det Insp Asnicar said charges had not been laid, but investigations were continuing.

"Every minute we have a better understanding of what went on in that house," he said.

"She will be under police guard until this investigation is completed."

A woman cries after laying flowers at the scene where eight children were found dead. Source: AFP

The children's bodies were found at the home in Manoora by her 20-year-old son on Friday.

"(The son) told us that everyone is dead," said the girl's father. "I said, 'how come you are telling me this?'

"And I was crying and (my wife) was crying, everybody was crying."

He last saw his daughter the night before she died at a local McDonald's where she was eating dinner with friends.

Neighbours Lucy and Lency Piva could not comprehend what had happened on their doorstep. Source: News Corp Australia

The crime scene at Murray Street, Manoora. Picture: Stewart McLean Source: News Corp Australia

Members of the public are trying to process the terrible news. Source: Getty Images

"I said 'come with me', but she said: 'Oh no dad, I'm going with my friends, my aunty,'" he said.

He was shocked by the news that the girl's aunt could be responsible for the crime, saying that Warria had recently decided to turn her life around and was again attending church.

His daughter loved her friends, school and reading, the man added.

"When I dropped her at the house a week ago, everyone was happy," he said.

"The last time I saw her she kissed me. She said she loved me and she asked for $100 which I said I'd give to her on Saturday morning on her birthday.

"My daughter, she was beautiful."

Neighbours said they heard the pleading screams of a woman at 9pm on Thursday.

"Don't let them take them away from us," she cried. "God bless us. Forgive me for what I'll do."

Aaron Oui and Jade Atkinson sit at a vigil of flowers and candles set up opposite the crime scene. Picture: Brendan Radke Source: News Corp Australia

"Devastating, we support you". Flowers line the footpath. Source: News Corp Australia

Neighbours comfort each other upon hearing the news. Picture: Brendan Radke Source: News Corp Australia

The first police to arrive on the scene were reportedly so distressed that they could be heard screaming for an ambulance from the street. Picture: Marc McCormack Source: News Corp Australia

At 11.20am the next day, Werria's son walked in to find the bodies of his cousin and his seven brothers and sisters.

Police were called to the Murray Street home to be confronted by a scene so horrifying that their "screams and shouts" for an ambulance could be heard from the street.

Floral tributes placed across the road from the house continue to grow today with candles, teddy bears and even Christmas toys placed against the fence line.

Community members have gathered in the park beside the house, which has been surrounded with tarps and police equipment, according to The Cairns Post.

Flowers, teddies, and candles left outside the Cairns home. Picture: Stewart McLean Source: News Corp Australia

Last night, Warria was undergoing a mental health assessment in Cairns hospital, where she was transported after sustaining serious injuries. She suffered stab wounds to the chest and neck.

"She was having a bad night; I heard her fighting with someone this morning about 4am," a neighbour, Tahnia Ruttensteiner, said.

Ms Ruttensteiner said she saw Warria "moving stuff out of the house", claiming she was going to "make a new start".

"I last saw her about 6am, then it was quiet.

"She was putting furniture and stuff out the front on the street, giving stuff away to family and friends.

"She said she was changing her life. She wasn't well but she loved those kids."

The home where eight children were killed. Picture: Brian Cassey Source: News Corp Australia

The backyard of the home where the children were stabbed to death. Picture: Brian Cassey Source: News Corp Australia

A mattress and clothing are strewn across the backyard of the house. Picture: Brian Cassey Source: News Corp Australia

Warria was seen by a neighbour moving things out of the house. Picture: Stewart McLean. Source: News Corp Australia

Authorities revealed the officers who arrived on the scene on Friday were "very young and junior officers" who were now receiving counselling.

Neighbours had described Warria as "proud" and "very protective" of her brood, adding "she loved her children dearly".

'EVERYONE KNOWS EVERYONE' ON MURRAY ST

Police stated they were not looking for anybody else in relation to the deaths.

It is not clear whether the second person taken to hospital is a stepfather of the children.

Police help a distressed family friend outside the house. Picture: Sharnie Kim, ABC Source: ABC

Friends and relatives of the family sob outside the house. Source: Supplied

Friends, relatives and local families having been grieving for the children. Source: Getty Images

"It's very early days but (the woman) is in a stable condition," Det Insp Asnicar said on Friday.

"The situation is well controlled at the moment, there's no concern for anyone else in the environment.

"The crime scene will continue now for probably the next day or two and as we get further information we will share that."

Late Friday afternoon, at a second media briefing, Det Insp Asnicar said the police wanted to speak to anyone who had contact with the family over the last two or three days.

A woman believed to be Warria is taken from the scene in a stretcher with stab wounds to the chest and neck. Picture: Sky News Source: Supplied

An unidentified man shields his face from cameras outside the house where the children were killed. Source: News Corp Australia

Flowers and toys lie against a fence across the road from the scene of the child massacre. Source: Getty Images

Members of the public arrive to lay flowers across the road from the home. Source: Getty Images

That included the 20-year-old brother who arrived at the house this morning and a man seen pacing around the property after police were called.

He refused to say exactly what the first officers who arrived at the house saw other than it was traumatic for everyone.

It was one of the worst incidents he'd encountered because of the "number of deceased all in one place".

The community has been urged to "lean on each other and look after your mates" and police have promised to provide locals with additional resources and support.

The cousin of the dead children's mother, Lisa Thaiday, talks to media. Source: Supplied

A man weeps behind a fence near the Murray St home where eight siblings have been found dead. Picture: Sky News Source: Supplied

Lisa Thaiday, who said she was the woman's cousin, said it was the 20-year-old brother who came home and found his brothers and sisters dead inside the house.

Last night ABC reporter Sharnie Kim said relatives of the slaughtered children had continued to make their way to the house. They would speak to the police and then break down, she said.

"There are very confronting scenes here of people crying," Ms Kim said.

"Everyone, the neighbours, the relatives and a large media contingent are just watching and waiting for something to happen."

Police confirmed they were called to the scene at 11.20am on Friday but would not say whether it was a family member or a neighbour who alerted them.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott called it "an unspeakable crime" and "heartbreaking".

"All parents would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what's happened."

Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar speaks to media about the stabbing deaths of 8 children in Cairns. Courtesy: Queensland Police

"These are trying days for our country," said Mr Abbott, with the tragedy coming just days after the Martin Place siege, which traumatised Australians this week.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said he was deeply saddened and shocked by the mass stabbing.

"I ask that all Queenslanders reach out to those who may need support in coming days and do not hesitate to ask for professional assistance if needed," he said.

In particular he asked for support for the police and ambulance officers who were first to arrive at the house.

Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning said the community was in shock.

"I offer my personal condolences to the family and friends of the victims."

He called for people to unite and display sympathy for those directly affected by the incident.

A candlelit vigil for the dead children was held overnight.

Cairns is reeling from the shock, in the same week as the Sydney shootings. Source: Getty Images

The community is in mourning. Source: Getty Images

People are still waiting to find out the truth of what happened. Source: Getty Images

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, told news.com.au he thought the incident was a tragedy.

"I didn't know them (the family) but my heart goes out to them," he said.

Murray Street is a diverse multicultural area with a mix of both private and public housing in a western suburb of Cairns.

It has had a stigma in previous years as a place to avoid for people looking to move to the area.

But more recently these suburbs, particularly the northern parts of Manoora, have become more popular with people looking to enter the Cairns property market.

Queensland's Department of Housing and Public Works confirmed the home in which the children were found dead was under its management.

Police at outside the Murray Street house. Source: News Corp Australia

Relatives and friends have been weeping outside the property. Source: News Corp Australia

Police say it may take several days for forensic specialists to collect evidence from the house. Source: News Corp Australia

Dozens of police rushed to the scene after the shocking mass murder. Picture: Grace Uhr Source: News Corp Australia

+ Lifeline 13 1114

More to come.

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