Families typically gather for Christmas lunch which is enjoyed al fresco in the backyard, although Christmas dinner is also popular. The 26th of December also signals the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, which has been held every year since 1945. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Merry_Christmas_From_Melbourne,_Australia.jpg, 2010 Myer Melbourne Christmas Windows The Nutcracker. Taking precedence at Christmas though is seafood, specifically prawn cocktails and barbequed Tiger Prawns. However, considering the holiday season falls smack bang in the middle of summer, the feast is somewhat sprightlier than in the northern hemisphere. After the main meal, a fruit platter with golden mangoes and ruby cherries is handed around. Australia… Australian Christmas Symbols. There are also some original Australian Carols. Christmas dinner is just as likely to be salads, cold meat and seafood as the traditional meal is roast turkey and plum pudding. Australians consume 45,000 tonnes of prawns throughout the holidays. In summer the flowers turn a deep shiny red over a period of weeks (generally by the week of Christmas in Sydney). With COVID-19 restrictions, gathering limits, and social distancing rules, Australia Christmas 2020 will look very different this year. It is not unusual to have Christmas Day well into the mid 30 degrees Celsius, or near 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Often, it’ll take until late in the evening for the sun to set. No Christmas table setting would be complete without Christmas Crackers, which generally hold miniature items including a joke, a fortune teller fish or plastic toy. In the lead up to Christmas, Australian’s count the days using a chocolate advent calendar, which has a bite-sized choccy behind each date window. The extensive skiable terrain in the South Eastern states is between … On Boxing Day most people go and visit their friends and often have barbecues at the beach. The most popular event of the Christmas season is called Carols by Candlelight. December and January are at the very height of our beach season, and we love to head for the beach and relax. Most people now have a cold Christmas dinner, or a barbecue with seafood such as prawns and lobsters along with the 'traditional english' food. Around the world, food plays a huge part in Christmas celebrations, and that’s no different in Australia. Whereas the northern hemisphere is in the middle of winter, Australians are baking in summer heat. The free exhibition brings to life a different story each year with previous displays, including The Twelve Days of Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Christmas Carol. Christmas in Australia exposes the reader to many of the wonderful differences of what Christmas is like in a faraway land. When Australians celebrate Christmas on December 25, it is during summer vacation. This country honors its indigenous peoples, the Aborigines and the Torres Strait Islanders and embraces some of the cultural aspects brought with those who colonized Australia. This is a collection of images based on Christmas in Australia. Christmas in Australia In Australia, Christmas comes in the towards the beginning of the summer holidays! Poinsettia plants are also popular plants used as decorations. Christmas in Australia has many similarities to the United States. Presents are normally exchanged between families on Christmas Day. Children often leave out carrots for Santa's reindeer and there might be some cake for Santa, with some cold beer but it's often non-alcoholic because Santa has to drive his sleigh. However, the film is not believed to be the origin of the phrase's use in Australia, which seems to date from around the late 1970s to the early 1980s. People often spend part of Christmas day with their families at the beach. The parade features floats, bands and a variety of entertainers as well as an appearance from Santa Claus. Two Australian Christmas books that we love are The Australian Twelve Days of Christmas by Michael Salmon and Santa Koala by Colin Buchanan and Glen Singleton. Australia is the Land Down Under, where the seasons are opposite to Americans. According to WhyChristmas, one of the largest Christmas information sites on the web, in Australia, Christmas comes in towards the beginning of the summer holidays—Children have their summer holidays from mid-December to early February, so some people might even be camping at Christmas. The one exception is that in Australia, Christmas is rarely white for … The Christmas holidays stretch over the longest days of our long summers, and our Christmas cards almost always show scenes in … Christmas in Australia is a little different in the Southern Hemisphere as here it is summer. In the lead up to Christmas, Australian’s count the days using … The largest event takes place on Christmas Eve in Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl and features celebrity performances as well as an appearance from Santa, with profits supporting Vision Australia. Make the most of the daylight hours and hot weather to … Bing Crosby's christmas albums (with White Christmas included) would have to be the most commonnly owned christmas albums in Australia. Since 1956, Melbournians have queued up in Bourke Street Mall to see the magical Christmas window displays at department store Myer. Each November since 1933 the Adelaide Christmas Pageant has been held in South Australia. He also changes his clothes for less 'hot' ones! It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. Most of Australia's immigrants came from England and Ireland, bringing their Christmas customs with them. Perth: Explore The Nightlife. Sometimes the displays are put out as early as December 1st. In Melbourne, cricket fans gather at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to watch the annual Boxing Day test match. Perth is a wonderful place to celebrate Christmas in July. The Christmas season starts quite early in Australia! Christmas 2020 in Australia There are also huge Christmas pageants in each state capital city, that are also broadcast across the country. Many volunteer bush fire fighters are involved in saving people and property and travel from all over Australia to help in other states. Neighbors sometimes have little competitions to see who has got the best light display. Easy to make and a favourite with children, White Christmas is a sweet Australian … During Christmas in Australia, the parks and amusement destinations are bustled with visitors and firecracker shows are organized in the night time. Sydney also hosts a similar event known as Carols in the Domain. Christams takes place on the twenty-fifth of December, and lasts for only one day. Christmas Tradition in Australia. Most families try to be home together for Christmas and the main meal is normally eaten at lunch time. Popularized in Melbourne in 1938 by radio announcer Norman Banks, the annual Australian tradition of Carols by Candlelight sees crowds gather in parks and outdoor venues to listen to carols sung by candlelight. One suitable location is the Kwiambal National Park in New South Wales, which is famed for its gorges, picnic areas, walking tracks and wildlife.. As it is the middle of Summer in Australia at Christmas time, the words to the Carols about snow and the cold winter are sometimes changed to special Australian words! Because the weather is so warm during Christmas in Australia, many beautiful flowers and plants are growing during the holiday. The calendars are often printed with popular cartoons to appeal to children, but adults also buy them. This video is a more informative version of a past Aussie Christmas video I did. A traditional … Children have their summer holidays from mid December to early February, so some people might even be camping at Christmas. Street parties. The phrase 'Christmas in July' is also found in other countries in the southern hemisphere like New Zealand and South Africa. Many towns, cities and schools also hold their own Carols by Candlelight services, with local bands and choirs sometimes helping to perform the Christmas Carols and songs. In some places, there is a fireworks display at the local park. Kwiambal National Park. It’s summer in December in Australia, so street parties are very popular. In Australia, Christmas comes in the towards the beginning of the summer holidays! A famous Yacht race from Sydney to Hobart in Tasmania is also held on Boxing Day. Some people like to have the 'traditional' Christmas Pudding but there might also be cold desserts like pavlova and trifle. Christmas in Australia If dazzling festivities and fervor make a festival, the Christmas celebrations in Australia quite equal the observances of the festival in Western cities like New York, London, Paris or Vancouver. There are several ski resorts in Australia’s high country of the states of NSW, Victoria, Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania along with real snow to get you right into Christmas spirit. Christmas Day is a public holiday. Both countries put up decorations, such as Christmas Trees, figurines for outdoors, candles, etc. Santa Claus is known as Santa, or Father Christmas. Because it's so hot at Christmas time in Australia, there are quite often massive bush fires across the country. Christmas in Australia is often very hot. One city-specific tradition is the Myer Christmas Windows. The neighbors often visit each other to look at the light displays at night. People also decorate their houses and gardens with Christmas Trees and Christmas lights. On Christmas Eve, fish-markets are often full of people queuing to buy their fresh seafood for Christmas day. One street in Sydney raises over $(AUS)35,000 every year for charity with their co-ordinated street display! Black Friday is also commemorated with two major sporting events. Each Christmas Carol listed below will have the Christmas lyrics/words displayed on page, and (hopefully) a link to an audio performance of the carol, most commonly from a beautiful performance by St Matthews choir, available at the Internet Archive Open Source Audio, from December 2008 at archive.org, or from a popular performance on YouTube. Sometimes in … Most towns and cities have festivals and parades. Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! Celebrate the festive season and Christmas Day in Sydney and enjoy Christmas carols, meet Santa, shop at pop up markets and dine at the city’s great restaurants. 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. © Copyright 2000 - 2021 James Cooper | About the site | Cookies & Privacy | Site Map | Other Links | Support | Website logistics by LetterBlock | Proud Affiliate of the Merry Network, whychristmas?com answers your Christmas questions! On Christmas Day the people who live in the outback send Christmas greetings to each other over the radio network. "The temperature is normally in the mid to high 20 degrees Celsius; this makes it good … Even though Christmas in Australia falls during summer, the traditions and celebrations are perfectly in … - www.whychristmas.com. There was a Hollywood movie called Christmas in July (1940). Other songs sung and listened to are about Snow and Snowmen. A number of tunes have become part of the annual Christmas festivities in Australia. If you enjoy action packed activities, then there are also plenty of opportunities for swimming and mountain biking. They also decorate their houses with bunches of Christmas bush, a native Australian tree with small green leaves and cream colored flowers that turn a … Famous Australian singers like The Wiggles, John Farnham, Anthony Warlow, Colin Gery, Niki Webster and many more help to sing the carols. Christmas takes place on December 25th, the summertime in Australia. Australians hang Christmas wreaths on their doors and decorate their houses and gardens with Christmas trees and lights. Boxing Day in Australia is the equivalent of Black Friday in the United States. Children believe that Santa Claus leaves presents for them under the Christmas tree on Christmas eve. White Christmas. The event attracts thousands of spectators and is broadcast throughout Australia. Australians also decorate their houses with bunches of 'Christmas Bush', a native Australian tree with small green leaves and cream colored flowers. Elsewhere in the world, Christmas is blanketed by snow and people keep warm wearing festive jumpers and sitting by the fire, but in Australia thousands take to the surf at beaches such as Bondi to escape the heat wave and typical attire includes thongs and Santa hats. On decorating your house. Many carols sung are Australian, celebrating Christ's birth with an imagery drawn from the Australian Christmas Bush, which flowers at Christmas. These carol services, held in different cities, are broadcast on TV across Australia. Retailers hold massive sales, and the day is celebrated with a public holiday. Usually, the … However, it is very hot during Christmas in Australia but the people here remain … Australians often have Christmas Crackers at Christmas meal times. Children have their summer holidays from mid December to early February, so some people might even be camping at Christmas. Christmas is a splendid time of year in Australia. For festivities that are truly unique, a Christmas camping trip is a real option in Australia. Read ahead to know more about Australian Christmas preparation 2020-Also Read | Prosenjit Chatterjee's new film 'Kakababu Protyobortan' to release on Christmas 2020. Austrian Christmas tradition has it that it is the Christ Child himself who decorates the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and brings the children their Christmas presents, and it is to him that their letters and wish lists are addressed in the weeks before Christmas. The Christmas Eve dinner is the main event of the night often served with fried carp. But if you … Christmas Starts Early in Australia. In each State capital city there is a large Carols by Candlelight service. Australians hang wreaths on their front doors and sometimes go out Christmas carol singing on Christmas Eve. The 12 Days of Christmas - This carol has a few variations, but try singing the song with these Australian animal lyrics. Because it's so hot at Christmas time in Australia, there are quite often massive bush fires across the country. The Adelaide Christmas Pageant attracts 400,000 people and, according to the site, “is the second-largest parade of its kind in the world, following only Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.”. Later on in the day, Australians indulge in Pavlova covered in fresh fruit, Christmas Pudding with a scoop of cold custard, mince pies and White Christmas, which is a no-bake slice beloved by children. As Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere over Christmas, some of the longest days of the year will happen around the holiday season. 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