In the northern hemisphere, Christmas is celebrated in winter and is associated with snow, hot drinks like eggnog and a sense of coziness. But in Australia, Christmas takes place during summertime!
Down Under, Christmas brings beach days, barbecues, and plenty of sun. There’s still an abundance of festive cheer – it just comes with a southern-hemisphere twist. If you’re interested in knowing how the Aussies celebrate this season, here’s what you need to know.
Gift-Giving
Gift-giving is an important part of Christmas celebrations in Australia. For the most part, family and friends exchange presents on Christmas morning or evening. Many Australians also take part in ‘Secret Santa’, where participants draw each other’s names out of a hat (or equivalent) and buy something special for the person they’ve chosen. If you’re looking for specific gifts, like beddings, you have to know how to choose the right bedding for summer.
Decorations
As the weather gets warmer, people decorate their homes with Christmas trees made from palm fronds and local plants like bottlebrush. Some places even have real pine trees! Ornaments like baubles, stars and Santas are hung around the house, often with lights to add a bit of sparkle.
Christmas Carols
On Christmas Eve, many Aussies take part in the traditional Carols by Candlelight, where they sing carols outdoors late into the night.
Outings
Most Australians take part in outdoor activities during the Christmas period. Whether it’s going to the beach, having a picnic under the stars or going camping with friends and family – these are all popular ways of spending quality time together.
Other fun outings include visiting theme parks, watching movies at an open-air cinema, or admiring the festive lights that adorn many of Australia’s cities at this time of year.
Christmas Food
Australian food varies from region to region, but a traditional Christmas dinner usually includes cold cuts of ham, turkey or chicken and salads like potato salad and coleslaw. Seafood is often served as a starter or an entrée too. Most dinners end with treats such as pavlova (a meringue-based dessert) for dessert.
As for barbecues, these are typically held on Boxing Day when everyone gathers around to enjoy grilled meats like sausages and steaks accompanied by beer and wine.
How Is It Different from the Northern Hemisphere?
Christmas in the southern hemisphere is quite different from what people experience in the north. For starters, Christmas falls during the hot summer months, so families are more likely to wear t-shirts and shorts rather than thick coats and scarves. That said, some Australians even host backyard cricket games on Christmas Day!
The festive season also coincides with school holidays, so many Aussies use this time as an opportunity to take a break from their studies and work commitments. This is why you’ll often find people going on road trips or flying abroad for Christmas – it’s an exciting chance to explore new places.
Christmas in Australia is certainly unique – vibrant, warm and full of love! With its summery weather and laidback atmosphere, it’s no wonder that Australians cherish this special day every year.
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