forestdale

[Sara Noel]

I was wondering since it's not winter there, what is Christmas like? Here everything seems to look winter-like for Christmas decorations and cards etc.

I guess it's maybe not too different than our US people in warm climates, but was still curious.

Are there any unique Australian traditions that are different than here in the states?

[forestdale]

I think most Western culture Christmas traditions are about the same but we have a few here that I guess would seem kind of funny to you.

It's quite common to have Christmas lunch at the beach. Whole extended families trundle down to the beach with granny and pops, all the aunties, uncles, cousins, mum, dad and the kids and they have a huge Christmas lunch with the sand and flies. LOL They do the full deal too - hams, turkeys, puddings, salads and naturally dad and the uncles are slurping down the cold beers.

The day after Christmas we have Boxing Day. It's a great Australian tradition to watch the Boxing Day Test Match (cricket)played at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). I'm guessing it would be like your superbowl - but the game goes for 5 days hahaha! so everyone's frazzled when it finally ends on the day before new year's eve. I think that if you asked any australian who has lived here for a while, as opposed to many new Australian who have moved here recently, they would say that watching the Boxing Day test is the highlight of Christmas.

Our summer school holidays last from now until the end of January so the parents often have their holidays now too. January is our big holiday month with people in their pools and enjoying BBQs, surfing, fishing and all the outdoor things.

Just about everything else is like your Christmas except for the heat. It's usually around 40C on Christmas day. I remember when I was little my mum put my sister and I in the cold water bath for christmas lunch. Those were the days.

[Sara Noel]

So are your cards snow scenes, chestnuts by the fire, hot cocoa, and snowflakes? lol

Decorate trees? Hanging Christmas lights? Stockings hung by the chimney with care? lol

Is santa in a speedo? lol

How about Christmas carolling?

[forestdale]

Many of our christmas cards have snow scenes but we have lots of Australian ones with kangaroos and beach scenes. We have Carols by Candlelight - which I think started in Australia, we have lights on houses with many families trying to outdo each other with the number of lights they put up. That is a very family-like thing to do just before Christmas, to go around, with the family, looking at all the homes that have been decorated with Christmas lights. Often the home owner will keep a box for donations to a favourite charity and people often give money at these places. It's a nice thing to do.

We have Australian chistmas carols and sopngs. Here is one popular one which your kids may like, it's called Six White Boomers:

Early on one Christmas Day, a Joey Kanga-roo
Was far from home and lost in a great big zoo
Mummy, where's my mummy, they've taken her a-way
We'll help you find your mummy son, hop on the sleigh


[Verse:]
Up beside the bag of toys, little Joey hopped
But they had'nt gone far when Santa stopped
Un-harnessed all the reindeer and Joey wondered why
Then he heard a far off booming in the sky


[Chorus:]
Six white boomers, snow white boomers
Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun
Six white boomers, snow white boomers
.. On his Aus-tra-lian run


Pretty soon old Santa began to feel the heat
Took his fur-lined boots off to cool his feet
Into one popped Joey, feeling quite OK
While those old man kangaroos kept pulling on the sleigh


Joey said to Santa, Santa, what about the toys
Aren't you giving some to these girls and boys
They've all got their presents son, we were here last night
This trip is an extra trip, Joey's special flight


Soon the sleigh was flashing past, right over Marble Bar
Slow down there, cried Santa, it can't be far
Come up on my lap son, and have a look around
There she is, that's mummy, bounding up and down


Well that's the bestest Christmas treat that Joey ever had
Curled up in mother's pouch all snug and glad
The last they saw was Santa headed northward from the sun
The only year the boomers worked a double run

There are a lot of remnant things from Europe that still live on - many older people spray "snow" on their windows and tree - the "snow" comes in a spray can! The older folk also have the hot turkey dinner and they make traditional puddings with coins in them. Most of this is dying off now, while younger australians tend to go for a more casual cold lunch on christmas day.

Here is a link for more Australian Christmas things.
http://www.thekoala.com/ausxmas.htm