Christmas in Australia is a wonderful, magical, exciting time of year. Summer holiday season is beginning and students are not only happy because it is Christmas but because school is closed for six weeks holiday. For many students this means surf, sun, shopping and spending time with their family and mates.
Because Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas takes place in their summertime. Depending on your location in Australia, the temperatures range from the high seventies to over one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, so there is definitely no chance of a white Christmas. From Christmas Eve until January 26, which is the Australian Day Public Holiday, many professionals close their doors to spend time with their family over the holiday season. Offices and stores close for Christmas and Boxing Day while some of the major retailers open December 26 to start their big clearance sales.
Because Christmas falls in Australia's summer months and is an extremely hot, people spend a lot of time surfing, swimming and fishing. Many people head for the beachside caravan parks and coastal resorts for some of the Christmas holidays.
Many of Australia's Christmas customs and traditions go back to their British beginnings but later European and American traditions also had an influence. Since Australia has such a harmonious mixture of ethnic groups with varied backgrounds they bring with them their festive rituals and customs. This variety is certainly one aspect of Christmas that Australians appreciate. At the beginning of December families start decorating their homes by bringing out and setting out the Christmas ornaments and decorating their artificial Christmas trees, unlike the American tradition of real trees. Often the children help their parents decorate the family Christmas tree although few people do decorate gum tree branches.
Many people also decorate the outside of their homes and yards with lights and decorations. A few even go to great lengths to make fabulous Christmas displays that become local attractions appreciated by many locals and tourists.
Children sit down and write their letters to Santa Claus including a list of toys and items they would like. People Christmas shop, buying gifts for family and friends, which they wrap and place beneath the Christmas tree. Because it is hot this time of year, many shop wearing shorts and t-shirts instead of winter coats and boots like in many other parts of the world. Friends and family get together and visit. People mail Christmas cards to family, friends and relatives that they may not have been in contact with since last Christmas. Many enclose pictures and letters catching up on the news and events of the last year.
Many of the cards sent follow the western tradition and picture people iceskating, winter scenes and Santa wearing his traditional Santa suit pulled in his sleigh by reindeer. Children hang their Christmas stockings and leave out cookies or cake and milk for Santa. They believe that Father Christmas will leave them sweets in their stockings and gifts under the Christmas tree.
Christmas is a time to remember the spiritual meaning of Christmas for many Australians. Approximately 70% are Anglican, Lutheran or catholic. There are midnight church services held Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
One of the Christmas customs that a radio announcer by the name of Norman Banks started in Australia in 1937, was an evening Christmas carol service lit only by candles. Each year on Christmas Eve "Carols by Candlelight" held in Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl, attracts crowds of well over thirty thousand people. For people that are unable to attend, they now televise it to over two million Australian homes. They sing carols by candlelight while holding candles that illuminates the sky. Performers at Carols by Candlelight perform both traditional and contemporary favorites. These Christmas customs have become very popular across Australia with many places holding Christmas carol, candle lit events leading up to Christmas.
Christmas morning is an exciting time, with children waking up early and opening their stockings and gifts. Family and friends get together and exchange gifts. Many make early morning phone calls to friends and relatives that are often scattered worldwide. For Christmas dinner, which many people have at noontime Christmas Day, the whole family gathers to give thanks and share food. Traditionally they served roast turkey, ham, Christmas pudding and pies but because of the very hot weather, many prefer lighter meals, such as cold turkey, seafood or barbeques.
On Christmas day, many people spend it out of doors and head to the beach for either the day or camping grounds for a longer Christmas break. Up to forty thousand international visitors in Sydney head for Bondi Beach on Christmas Day. Although Christmas in Australia is very warm it is still a wonderful, magical time of year and they really enjoy their Christmas customs.
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