Join me today, as we visit Renata, of Sunnyside Farm in Australia to learn what an Aussie Christmas looks like!
Tentatively Jack opened his eyes. The sound of a kookaburra laughing came from somewhere outside his window indicating that summer storms were likely to roll in later in the day. As memory came to him, excitement coursed through his body.
He threw of his thin sheets & ran down the stairs. Today was Christmas Day, one of the most
exciting holidays of the year!
exciting holidays of the year!
Christmas Day in Australia
As he bounded in the lounge room his eager eyes darted across the room. There under the Christmas tree was such a pile of presents, it would make any boy smile….
Christmas in Australia arrives on a hot, summers day, yet the excitement of this celebration is not lost on Aussie boys & girls! Many are up before daylight, (and as it is near the longest day of the year for the Southern Hemisphere, this is very early), excited about all the day will hold. Visiting relatives, swimming & water fights all await, but for most children, the gifts are the first thing they think about on Christmas morn.
Aussie Christmas Day Services
Australian churches of all denominations are filled to the brim over Christmas. Many Australian families hold onto the tradition of attending Christmas services, even if they don’t attend during the rest of the year.
Traditionally church services are on Christmas morning, although some churches also have Christmas Eve services or even midnight services. For Australian Christians, this is a very sacred time in their calendar, with the birth of Jesus being prevalent throughout their celebrations.
Most Aussie boys and girls are part of some kind of Christmas presentation during December. As this marks the end of the school year and the beginning of the long summer holidays, schools often put on concerts with Christmas themes.
Sunday school classes have Christmas presentations & many community groups have some kind of Christmas program. Outdoor carols by candlelight services are held all over Australia. The larger cities’ Carols by Candlelight presentations are shown on television across the country. Some country towns must celebrate with ‘flameless candles’ due to the fire ban in place at this time of year.
Australian Christmas Dinner
Food is a very important part of the Australian Christmas. Food preparations begin weeks before Christmas Day. Most families have a Christmas fruit cake, with secret family recipes being heavily guarded! Fudge, chocolate balls, white christmas & rum balls are all made early in December & hidden away from little fingers!
Christmas lunch is usually the main meal of the day. Some families have a traditional roast turkey or ham meal, while others prefer seafood or a barbeque. Some enjoy cold meats and salads, while others prefer hot meals.
There is always plenty of food, with leftovers being enjoyed over the next couple of days. Desserts such as pavlova, trifle & Christmas pudding are enjoyed. Ice-cream Christmas pudding is a widely enjoyed twist on the traditional puddings, being more suited to the hot climate.
Christmas Decorations
Australian homes are decorated with a myriad of decorations for the Christmas season. Plastic Christmas trees are usually chosen, as the heat makes it difficult to keep real trees alive. Garlands are draped & homes are covered in light displays. Many families make a special occasion of decorating the house, with the whole family being involved. Children always love to hang up their Christmas stocking awaiting the excitement of seeing what it holds on Christmas morning.
Christmas is a wonderful time of year and is enjoyed by Australian families all over this sunburnt land.
While the traditions, food & gifts may be well anticipated, the best part of Christmas is families stopping and spending time together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ!
Renata is a Christian, Wife, Mother, Foster Mother, Farmwife, Homeschooling Teacher, Homesteader & Homemaker. She journals when she finds the time at Sunnyside Farm Fun, but can be found more often on Instagram as Blossom Collector.