Christmas in Australia – PLAYWORKEATREPEAT

Every year, when Christmas comes, I have the same thought. I really wish I lived in the northern hemisphere. I can’t help but feel a little Christmas envy when I imagine snow, winter coats, Christmas markets and cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows. It all looks very comfortable, and makes sense. This fits the idea of ​​Christmas I always carry in my head. But I live in Australia, and my Christmas is very different. And while those winter fantasies never really go away, I realize there are things I love about this season here. So come along with me as I share some of the things that make Christmas in Australia special for me. And no, it’s not the beach, or swimming, or spending the day at Bondi Beach. Haha, these non-beach lovers have another favorite!

Christmas in Australia

Christmas in Summer

It’s summer here, yes, we have the opposite season to most of the world, and I know this comes as a surprise to some people. While half the world is wearing scarves and coats, our air conditioning remains on at maximum. Honestly, I don’t like Christmas falling in the middle of summer. But I really love summer itself. Hello, long nights, bright sunshine and cold drinks. Yes sir, summer is my favorite season, and I am lucky to be able to handle the heat quite well. This afternoon, I walked home in mid-30ºC temperatures, and when I got home, I was sweaty, but happy and sweaty. I guess there’s a reason why a friend calls me Sahara. Christmas may make winter more fun, but I still love our unique upside-down version. Unique is good.

Double Christmas Joy

One of the things I love about this time of year is that it feels like I get two Christmases. At preschool, we end the school year and prepare for end-of-year concerts and graduations. Our school year ends in December and starts again the last week of January. The kids were so excited (not always in the best way, yikes!), and there was just a general buzz going around. It also helps that I work with some of the nicest people on the planet. Moments like this are definitely my favorite, and even though they are chaotic, they are enjoyable chaos. Then, once school lets out (ten more days, but who’s counting?), we start the second round of Christmas preparations at home, making sure everything is ready for the “real” Christmas. Two Christmases in one. I love it.

Food

For Christmas lunch, it is often customary to look for foods appropriate to the weather. Foods such as shrimp, oysters, cold ham, turkey and salad.

I enjoy all of that, but I also love traditional Christmas foods like turkey, glazed ham (I have the most amazing glazed ham recipe), roast potatoes and gravy, always lots of gravy. So I did what many people who celebrate Christmas in the summer do and combined the two. We started with seafood as a main course and then enjoyed more traditional Christmas dishes. It’s the best of both worlds!

Christmas Carols, Music and Summer Nights

One of the things I love about Christmas in Australia is Carols by Candlelight, as held at the Domain in Sydney (and similar events in other cities). I’ve never been to the Domain myself, but it’s televised, so I watch it every year when I’m wrapping presents. The crowd is always dressed in summer clothes, and there’s no snow, no cold air, but it still looks very Christmasy to me.

Light

We have streets where decorating the house with Christmas lights is a real thing. This changes from year to year, depending on how the decorating fever hits. You know how it goes: one house goes all out, then the next gets inspired, and before you know it, the whole street becomes famous for it. Not everyone decorates their home, but those who really want to.

I don’t know if the same is true overseas, maybe in the northern hemisphere, or maybe it’s just a Hallmark movie thing, you’ll have to tell me. The funny thing is, because it’s summer, it only starts to get dark after 8pm, so the lights can’t shine until then. The news often runs a segment announcing the best roads to see, and suddenly everyone rushes in. I used to decorate our house, it was me and the neighbors across the street. Now there are only neighbors across the street. I’m tired of deciphering lights and acting like a cranky Grinch. How do people keep their lights tidy?

Decorations That Never Appropriate the Weather

I laughed inside when I stopped and thought about the inappropriateness of winter decor in a hot climate. Snowflakes on the window. Reindeer in 30 degree heat. Fake fireplace on TV while you sit there in shorts. And then we have Christmas cards that try to represent us better, with Santa wearing surfing trunks. Too cute!

So that’s what I love about Christmas in Australia. The weather is hot, sticky and sweaty, but the perfect traditional winter white Christmas is only a 14 to 24 hour drive away, depending on your destination. Lucky us, right?