Aussie Christmas Traditions We Love, by Laura Rancie.
Surfing & Skydiving Santa:
We’ve all seen surfing Santa, somewhere over the years but last year while at the Coolangatta Christmas Carols on the beach, Santa actually skydived out of the plane and made a stunning landing right in the heart of Queen Elizabeth Park.
Eating Prawns & Seafood:
Moreton Bay bugs, prawns, lobster rolls, salmon fish cakes, grilled barramundi, garlic and lemon sauce! How good is an Aussie seafood Christmas!
Street Parties & Festivals:
Most neighbourhoods and streets will have that one neighbour, who will do the letterbox drop and invite everyone to the park or as was our case for many years, the train car park across the road. Everyone brings a plate to share and something to drink, pop-up chairs and trestle tables go up and you finally get a chance to talk in person to Karen, rather than see her from the safety of her curtain behind the glass.
Fake Trees:
For years and years, I would get a home-delivered freshly chopped Aussie Christmas tree. They were gorgeous, smelled incredible and were a huge talking point for when guests would come over. Then every single year, in the ensuing days…suddenly one or two massive huntsman would appear. That’s as Aussie as it gets. These days, I have settled for the next best thing with a Balsam Hill. Guaranteed no nasty spiders.
Native Australian Summer Flora:
Waratahs, Christmas Bells, Christmas Bush, Mistletoe (yes it grows here, commonly found in NSW), Bottlebrush, Christmas Orchids and Kangaroo Paw.
Attending Carols by Candlelight at Your Local Park:
Can you get more Aussie than a hot Summer night singing carols in public with a guest appearance from Hi-5?
Myer and David Jones Christmas Windows:
One of the best traditions and memories of growing up in Melbourne. This year the theme unfortunately isn’t Christmas-themed – boo to you Myer, but alas we still love Bluey. David Jones Sydney Christmas Windows are at least attempting to be Christmasy, with the ‘Twelve Dogs of Christmas’.
Christmas Lights:
Whether you drive by or park far away and walk through the streets, it’s one of the best signs that it’s December, it’s Summer in Australia and Christmas is near.
Volunteer Firefighters Driving through Suburbs Delivering Reindeer Food:
I absolutely loved visiting my sister in regional country Victoria, where each Christmas Eve the volunteer firefighters would cruise through the town, carols blaring and distributing ‘reindeer’ food to the kids that would come rushing out to meet them down their long driveways, barefoot and excited.
Christmas Crackers/Bonbons:
Depending on where you come from you may call this table setting either Bonbons or Christmas crackers. Which do you go by?
Christmas Markets:
Unlike the grand European markets with hot mulled wine and twinkling lights with snow, ours are more beachside, selling homemade jewellery, toilet cosies and herbal teas in cute glass jars.
Watching the Nain Christmas Eve Carols by Candlelight from Sydney or Melbourne on TV:
THE BEST thing ever to have on in the background on December 24th, while the family is over.
Outdoor Christmas Lunch:
This will depend on where you live – yes in Queensland. Big unsure, if you live in Melbourne and it could be 40 C or hailing with chances of getting hit by lightning.
Boxing Day BBQs:
Along the river, at the beach, in the park, in your backyard and of course in the outback. It’s all the leftover Christmas Day food, roast ham sangers, day-old potato salad, heaps of desserts and a cold drink. The kids are playing footy or cricket in the background and for a few hours all the hustle and bustle from the previous week…melts away.
Cricket (including Beach Cricket, Backyard Cricket):
Love it or not – it’s the Aussie thing to do over the Summer holidays.
Christmas Camping over NY Holidays:
Where are you going this year?
New Year Road Trips:
With so many scenic road trips in Australia, we are spoiled - the Great Ocean Road, the drive up or down to Sydney, the overnight on the way to the Gold Coast, the wine regions of South Australia and the stunning vistas on the way to Margaret River. We drive hours to get to our boats for jet skiing and sleepouts and enjoy the long Summer nights with quick stops at the petrol stations along the way.
