Wednesday, December 21, 2011

An Australian Christmas

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Christmas 'downunder' isn't probably very different to how the northern hemisphere celebrates a traditional Christmas, in that we celebrate the birth of Jesus. The only major difference is the weather I suppose. Most of us Australians dream of a 'white' Christmas with snow falling, wearing warm mittens and hanging Christmas stockings over the fireplace.


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Here in Queensland where I live, it usually gets quite warm with temperatures in the mid to high 30's (mid to high 90's) with humidity at nearly 100%. Last year, with all the rain and flooding, we had one of the mildest Christmas days I can ever remember with rain all day. Because it's also the school holidays (or summer break) some families are already holidaying at the beach so Christmas Day for them would mean being spent at the beach. For those with swimming pools, there'll be pool parties and barbecues.

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The Food

We've 'done' Christmas a few different ways over the years but when I was still at home it started with a big breakfast of leg ham, poached eggs, tomatoes and croissants. We then opened presents and went onto another family member's house for lunch or to a restaurant or club as I got older. Lunch usually consisted of fresh prawns and seafood, cold leg ham, cold roast chicken and other roast meats and salads and for dessert, a trifle, pavlova or traditional plum pudding with custard and ice cream. Throughout the day we nibbled on White Christmas, nuts, a Christmas lolly mix, rum balls, and copious amounts of beer, wine and soft drink. Depending where we finished up, we had a game of cricket in the backyard (or on the beach) and a barbecue for dinner. We usually front up again on Boxing Day to do it all again with family members and friends we missed on Christmas Day.


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The Songs

Besides the traditional Christmas hymns like "Silent Night", "Away in a Manger" etc, Australians have created a few of their own. I've really only found out about them since the kids have been going to Kindergarten and school. I don't really remember them when I was at school.







The Presents

Probably no different to other countries but summer orientated with gifts like beach towels, pool toys, beach themed Barbie dolls, bikes, scooters, summer serving dishes, anything really. (Oh, and chocolate that always melts.) Lovely body lotion and soap sets for the ladies, toiletries for the men, new back to school bags and lunch boxes for the kids and books, candy, DVD's and computer games galore will no doubt be under a lot of people's trees this year.



Christmas Day is always followed up with a cricket test on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Look, it even has an entry in Wikipedia. I was fortunate (for some) to go one year and another thing ticked off my bucket list, before bucket list was even a term.

Does your Christmas differ to this? What have you asked Santa for this year?
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3 comments:

  1. UnknownDecember 21, 2011 at 1:18 AM

    It is shaping up to be a very unusual Christmas for us because we do not have any snow and there isn't any in the forecast! I am going to have to show my kids the Aussie Jingle Bells song when they get home from school.

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  2. MeganDecember 21, 2011 at 8:32 AM

    We eat pancakes and gravy for breakfast. It is like biscuits and gravy except we use pancakes. No one knows how the tradition stared in our family as it is not one shared by other Americans and most people have never eaten it.

    My mom said when she was small she and her 6 siblings got ice skates each year. We live too far South for ice skates, surfboards would be more appropriate. We still always get an orange in toe of our stocking.

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  3. MarnieDecember 22, 2011 at 8:18 AM

    Six White Boomers!! One of my faves (and yes, I didn't know that one until the kids started school).
    I think you've summed up a traditional & "typical" Aussie Christmas. It's supposed to hit 35 here in melbourne on Christmas Day, with A LOT of rain predicted for the arvo. I hope the Ferrari that Santa is bringing me doesn't get soggy.
    He's is bringing me one.....right??
    I ask every year...he's gotta get the drift by now...
    have a great Christmas Anne. CU on Twiiter
    x Marnie

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