Festive update, 10.38am:
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Things are decidedly festive in the Children and Adolescents Unit at Bendigo Health this morning.
The ward's Gerard Scanlon said the morning was quiet with a lot of children discharged on Christmas Eve to spend Christmas at home with their families.
"Things have been fortunately quiet which is good because no family wants to spend Christmas in hospital," he said.
He said a number of gifts, donated by Telstra earlier in the week, had been distributed to those children and parents who remained in the ward.
Mr Scanlon said staff were looking forward to spending a shared Christmas lunch together.
Festive update, 10am:
United Service Station's Amardeep Johal, another worker in Bendigo for Christmas Day, said his day began at 6am and was off to a slow start.
Mr Johal said a few people were coming in this morning for fuel, ice and basics like bread and milk, but overall trade was quiet.
But he said he was enjoying it because "everyone is in a happy mood".
Mr Johal said he was looking forward to finishing work at 3pm, when he was planning to head over to a friends house in Kangaroo Flat for a Christmas dinner with about 10 others.
Festive update, 9am:
Everyone spends Christmas in a different way.
For some it's getting up at up early and excitedly opening presents under the tree, for others it can be getting up at the crack of dawn and heading to work.
Bendigo police members on duty today were up for spreading a bit of festive cheer this morning, noting it was a traditionally quiet morning for police.
Constable Nick "St Nick" Hakes joked that working on Christmas Day at least meant wearing bright colours.
Senior Constable Melissa Wiltshire said one of the best things about working on Christmas was noticing "everyone's attitude are different".
Earlier: MERRY CHRISTMAS BENDIGO!!!
How's your morning been? More importantly, what are you doing up so early?
If the kids got you up to see what Santa bought them, send us a pic of the goodies! First one to send a photo to hannah.carrodus@fairfaxmedia.com.au will get their photo on the homepage.
However, all others will still feature in our online gallery, so keep them coming.
Click here throughout the day for updates on Christmas news is Bendigo, Australia and the world.
We'll also be uploading Christmas quizzes, videos and quirky stories to keep you entertained.
So when your great aunt Shirley has had one glass too many or Uncle Bob is telling his favourite anecdote you've heard a million times, click back here for some fun.
First off, test your brain with this extensive Christmas quiz
1. What's the name of the period leading up to Christmas?
2. Who brings presents to children in Holland on the 5th/6th December?
3. In what town was Jesus born?
4. How many of Rudolph's eight companions names start with 'D'?
5. What country did Christmas Trees originate from?
6. What's the second line of "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas"?
7. What's lucky to find in your Christmas Pudding?
8. Where did the baby Jesus sleep?
Jokes
What do you call an obnoxious reindeer? RUDEolph
What do you call an elf who sings? a wrapper!
Why was Santa's little helper depressed? A: Because he had low elf esteem
What nationality is Santa Claus? North Polish.
What do you call a kid who doesn't believe in Santa? A rebel without a Claus.
Answers:
1. Advent, 2. St. Nicholas, 3. Bethlehem, 4. Three - Dasher, Dancer and Donner, 5. Germany - it was Latvia but it was part of German then!, 6. Just like the ones I used to know, 7. A six pence, 8. In a manger