While many living in the Northern Hemisphere enjoy a white Christmas every now and then, it is something that Australians don’t get to see, at least not when they are in their homeland. After all, Christmas takes place in summer Down Under. But it’s still one great holiday season for all Aussies, with some marked differences, of course.
Christmas Shopping in Summer
Shopping malls and stores across Australia start selling Christmas-themed items beginning October though most generally only put up Christmas decorations and lights from November onwards. Halloween isn’t a big thing in Australia. So retailers and shoppers head straight to Christmas while their counterparts in America are busy with Halloween preparations.
Summer Attire at Christmas
Instead of thick winter jackets, snow boots, scarves and gloves, the commonly worn attire often shows a fair bit of skin. Hey, it’s summer! Why hide under layers of clothes in sweltering heat when it’s a lot easier and cooler dressed in casual tops and shorts? Needless to say, tank tops, summer dresses, T-shirts, boardshots and, most certainly, sexy beach wear are high on the list of things to buy and wear!
Lots of Sun Protection
The Australian sun, particularly in summer, can be very harsh on the skin. So not surprisingly, many Australians associate Christmas with wide brim hats and sunscreens with an SPF of at least 30. In fact, some of the best Christmas bargains are on sunscreens and skincare products formulated to counter ultraviolet ray!
Cold Dishes Preferred
The temperature can soar quite high during Christmas. In the hot weather, cold seafood, ham, chicken and salad platters are popular. So are ice cream and chilled soft drinks and beers. Some families like to cook all the main meats the day before and serve a cold lunch with salads on Christmas Day. To prevent building up heat in the house, many families also prefer to cook outside, especially using a barbecue to grill pork, chicken, beef and lamb.
Fun in the Sun
There won’t be anyone ice-skating, throwing snowballs or building snowmen. There will be, however, many summer fun ideas in Australia during Christmas. The beach is of course the best place to cool down and get some healthy tan. Families also love packing a picnic and enjoy Australia’s sunny days and balmy nights at parks, gardens, city spaces and along the waterfronts in Melbourne and Sydney. Instead of ice sculptures, those spending Christmas in summer get to view interesting sand sculptures such as those displayed at Docklands, Melbourne.
Christmas certainly has a different flavor in Australia. But it’s still Christmas – there are family gatherings, exchanges of gifts, Christmas parades, huge Christmas trees adorning certain spots of big cities as well as sounds of carols feeling the air. And Santa will definitely be out and about, although he does have to sweat it out a bit under the thick red costume!
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