Christmas in Australia
Australia is located in the southern hemisphere. This means that in Australia,
Christmas is celebrated in the middle of summer. The hot weather
means some aspects of Christmas are very different compared to
other, colder countries.
Traditions
Many traditions enjoyed in Australia at Christmastime are
similar to festive traditions in other countries, they are just
a little different. Due to the hot weather, only some people
choose to have a real Christmas tree. To ensure that the
tree will not die or rot in the heat (or leave an awful smell
before Christmas has even arrived) it is common to have
a synthetic, plastic tree. In addition, very few Australian
houses have a fireplace so families have to choose a
different place to hang their stockings.
A popular Australian tradition is the Carols by Candlelight performance. This
is a concert of Christmas songs and carols attended by families who sing along
with the songs. One of the last pieces is usually a Santa-themed song. While
the song is being sung, Santa arrives to greet all of the children. The final song
is usually a heart-warming track to send people home in the Christmas spirit.
Food and Drink
As it is so hot during Christmastime, it is common for families to have cold
meats or a barbecue for Christmas lunch or dinner. Some people might have
seafood or a seafood dish served as part of the meal. Popular
desserts include a selection of sweet dishes such as
pavlova, trifle, Christmas pudding, Christmas
cake or lamingtons. Many families enjoy a
refreshing tropical fruit punch made with
different fruit juices and soft drinks.
Activities
Families often enjoy going to the beach or swimming in their pool on Christmas
Day or Boxing Day. Instead of building a snowman, some children like to build
a sandman on the beach. Some people may also enjoy playing a friendly game
of cricket.
On Boxing Day, many families enjoy a picnic outside – the children might
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Christmas in Australia
even take their new toys to play with. When they picnic in
the park, it is important to try and find the shadiest spot out
of the sun. It is vital to keep cool and hydrated during such
extraordinarily hot weather!
Santa in Australia
When Santa lands in Australia, he changes into shorts
and a t-shirt and he wears a hat and sunglasses to
suit the warm weather. Can you imagine if he wore
his thick, red, furry suit and boots in the scorching
Australian summer?
Not many Australian homes have a chimney but this doesn’t faze Santa. Some
families believe that instead of coming down the chimney, he
uses a magical key to get into their homes. Other families
believe that he climbs through the living room window or
he just magically appears in order to leave the presents.
An Australian Christmas
Christmas in Australia can be very different
compared to colder countries – it truly is a
unique experience. The sunny weather means
there are many opportunities to have fun
outdoors with family and friends. Anyone who
experiences a traditional Australian Christmas
will remember it forever.
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