In Australia Christmas Is Celebrated In Which Season
Okay, picture this: it's December 25th. You're probably thinking snow, right? Cozy fireplaces? Maybe a snowball fight or two? Well, chuck all that out the window if you're picturing an Aussie Christmas! Because down under, Christmas happens in the absolute dead heat of summer. Yeah, you heard that right.
Think about it. Instead of "White Christmas," we're singing about sweating it out under the blazing sun. Imagine Santa ditching the sleigh for a surfboard. Rudolph's nose is probably sunburnt, not glowing from the cold!
So, to answer the burning question – In Australia, Christmas is celebrated in summer! Specifically, the Australian summer which runs from December to February.
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Beachside BBQs Instead of Roaring Fires
Forget roasting chestnuts on an open fire. We're roasting snags (that's Aussie slang for sausages, by the way) on a barbie! Christmas lunch is more likely to be a seafood feast enjoyed on the beach than a heavy turkey dinner indoors. Think prawns, oysters, and maybe even a cheeky lobster if you're feeling fancy.
Instead of building snowmen, we're building sandcastles. And trust me, trying to convince a small child that a sandman is just as good as a snowman is a losing battle. Been there, done that, got the sandy t-shirt!
Christmas carols? Sure, we still sing them. But it feels a little strange belting out "Let it Snow" when you're dripping with sweat and trying to fend off flies. Maybe we should rewrite the lyrics to "Let it… Sunburn"? Just a thought.
Santa's Summer Outfit
You've got to feel for Santa, really. Poor bloke is dressed in that thick red suit, trekking across the country. I reckon he's got an ice pack hidden somewhere under all that fluff. He’s probably thinking “Crikey, it's hot!” (Crikey means surprise in Australian). He probably changes the milk and cookies offered by the kids for a cold bottle of water.
Some shopping centres even have "Summer Santa" – a more relaxed version of the traditional Santa, perhaps sporting board shorts under his suit. Or maybe he’s just given up and is wearing the whole suit in a pool filled with iced water behind closed doors. Now that’s an image!
The Magic of a Summer Christmas
Don't get me wrong, a summer Christmas is absolutely brilliant. There's something incredibly special about spending Christmas Day with family and friends, soaking up the sun, and enjoying the great outdoors. Plus, it feels like the holiday season stretches on forever since it leads right into the long summer school holidays.
We still have all the traditional decorations, mind you. Christmas trees adorned with tinsel, lights twinkling in the evening breeze, and presents piled high. It just feels… different. More relaxed, more laid-back, and definitely more sandy.
So, next time you're dreaming of a white Christmas, spare a thought for us Aussies, sizzling away down under. We might not have snow, but we've got sunshine, beaches, and a whole lot of Christmas cheer. And honestly, wouldn't you rather be swimming than shovelling snow? Just sayin'!
So, to summarise: Australia + Christmas = Summer! Get your sunscreen ready.
