Australia Christmas Traditions
Christmas day is when families and close friends gather together from all over australia.
Australia christmas traditions. In australia the christmas holidays stretch over the longest days of our long summers. Australia shares in traditional holiday practices such as decorating the christmas tree singing carols and exchanging gifts on december 25 but we also have a few unique traditions. However the weather is completely opposite. Australia is the largest island and smallest continent on earth.
Rather than celebrating christmas in the middle of winter australians celebrate during their. Because it s so hot at christmas time in australia there are quite often massive bush fires across the country. Christmas traditions in australia like christmas in new zealand have many similarities to british irish american and canadian traditions including traditional christmas symbols featuring winter iconography this means a red fur coated father christmas or santa claus riding a sleigh songs such as jingle bells and various christmas scenes on christmas cards and decorations. Christmas in australia coincides with summer which means our traditions although inspired by european customs have been altered to suit the climate.
Christmas dinner is just as likely to be salads cold meat and seafood as the traditional meal is roast turkey and plum pudding. People often spend part of christmas day with their families at the beach. Children have their summer holidays from mid december to early february so some people might even be camping at christmas. Even though christmas in australia falls during summer the traditions and celebrations are perfectly in accord with the christmas celebrations elsewhere.
Christmas takes place on december 25th the summertime in australia. Christmas traditions in australia however are a little different. Children believe that santa claus leaves presents for them under the christmas tree on christmas eve. The highlight of the day is the holiday midday dinner.
In this post i ll be introducing what aussies do during their most popular. This article will break down some of our country s most treasured traditions during the happiest time of the year. In australia christmas comes in the towards the beginning of the summer holidays. It s an accidental tradition at best but lots of aussie families christmas celebrations include a drive with the kids jammed together in the back seat.
Christmas in australia is never a white christmas as it is celebrated in the first month of southern summer when the entire continent is parched by the blazing sun. For the third year running i will be celebrating christmas on the other side of the equator in australia and when everybody is having fun in the snow i ll be having a dip and a tan on the beach.