Two friends celebrate Christmas at Bondi Beach, near Sydney, in 1959. Each hopes to be the recipient of good luck if she can get the bigger part of the wishbone they’re about to break.

Merry Christmas, Mate!
Sweating It Out At Christmastime In Australia

The holidays Down Under usually arrive at the height of summer swelter, and so instead of chestnuts over an open fire, seasonal parties are customarily held around the backyard barbecue or a well-stocked cooler down at the beach.

Of course, a white Christmas is out of the question. But other joyous traditions usually center around the Australian version of the Christmas tree--the native Christmas Bush. On Christmas Day many families will happily gather for a ham or turkey dinner complete with Christmas pudding. As elsewhere, Australians are meanwhile shopping the popular holiday sales for everyone on their Christmas list.

Obviously, then, the weather outside isn’t frightful and fires may not be so delightful during the Australian Christmas season, but Christmas Down Under has its special charms and honored traditions.

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The Christmas tree at Martin Place, Sydney (Photo: zibbypozzo)

CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

The heat of early summer in Australia has an impact on the way that Australians celebrate Christmas and on which northern hemisphere Christmas traditions are followed.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas houses are decorated; greetings cards sent out; carols sung; Christmas trees installed in homes, schools and public places; and children delight in anticipating a visit from Santa Claus. On Christmas Day family and friends gather to exchange gifts and enjoy special Christmas food.

Many Australians spend Christmas out of doors, going to the beach for the day, or heading to camping grounds for a longer break over the Christmas holiday period. It has become traditional for international visitors who are in Sydney at Christmas time to go to Bondi Beach where up to 40,000 people visit on Christmas Day.

CAROLS AND MUSIC

The tradition of an Australian Christmas Eve carol service lit by candles was started in 1937 by radio announcer Norman Banks. This outdoor service has now been held in Melbourne every year since then. Carols by Candlelight events today range from huge gatherings, which are televised live throughout the country, to smaller local community and church events. Sydney's Carols in the Domain has become a popular platform for the stars of stage and music.

Some uniquely Australian Christmas carols have become popular and are included alongside the more traditional carols sung at carol services and at Christmas church services: John Wheeler's “The Three Drovers” is perhaps the best known of these.

John Wheeler’s ‘The Three Dovers,’ sung here by the Sydney Philharmoic Motet Choir, is a favorite Australian traditional carol sung at Christmas church services.

Many light-hearted Australian Christmas songs have become an essential part of the Australian Christmas experience. These include Rolf Harris's “Six White Boomers,” Colin Buchanan's “Aussie Jingle Bells” and the Australian “Twelve Days of Christmas” (see lyrics below).

Many native Australian plants are in flower over the Christmas season. A number of these have become known as “Christmas plants” in various parts of the country, including Christmas bells, Christmas bush and the Christmas orchid.

When Europeans first arrived in Australia they were delighted that they could pick wildflowers resembling bells and bright green foliage covered in red or white flowers to use as Christmas decorations. This was a huge contrast to the bare trees and dormant gardens they had left behind in Europe.

Colin Buchanan’s ‘Aussie Jingle Bells,’ written and recorded in 1992, is a Down Under Christmas classic

FOOD

Christmas in Australia comes at the beginning of summer and many people no longer serve a traditional hot roast dinner. Cold turkey and ham, seafood and salads are often served instead. It has even become acceptable to serve the traditional Christmas plum pudding with cold custard, ice cream or cream. Pavlova, a meringue base topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit, and various versions of the festive ice-cream pudding have also become popular Christmas desserts.

Pavlova, a meringue base topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit, a popular Australian dessert served at Christmastime.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Coles company are engaged in a project to cultivate native foods. They are working with Mandawuy Yunupingu (of the band Yothu Yindi) and Aboriginal communities to grow sufficient quantities for sale in supermarkets across Australia. The aim is to offer all Australians a Bush Tucker Christmas.

MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS

The Christmas break is an opportunity for sports fans to enjoy two major sporting events. The 26 December is the opening day of the “Boxing Day Test” between the Australian Cricket Team and an international touring side at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This has been well attended since the first match in 1950, and watched by many others on television. In Sydney one of the world's most prestigious ocean races, the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, starts on Boxing Day from Sydney Harbour.

INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS

Indigenous Dreamtime stories obviously do not include Christmas. However, this date in the calendar coincides with other seasonal changes. In Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Yolngu Aboriginal people will observe the last season of their six-season cycle. Gudjewg, the wet season, begins in late December.

Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities include Christian groups within them that celebrate Christmas. The Ntaria Choir at Hermannsburg, via Alice Springs, Northern Territory, has a unique musical language from mixing the traditional vocals of the Ntaria women with Lutheran chorales--the hymn tunes that were the basis of much of J.S. Bach's music.

Last Ferry Home Choir sings ‘Baby Waiyar,’ a popular traditional Torres Strait Islander hymn.

“Baba Waiyar,” a popular traditional Torres Strait Islander hymn, is featured on Lexine Solomon's debut album This is Woman (2003). It shows the influence of gospel music mixed with traditionally strong Torres Strait Islander vocals and country music. Significantly, Torres Strait Islanders celebrate the “Coming of the Light” on 1 July, the day the London Missionary Society landed at Erub Island in 1871.

Modern Indigenous Christmas celebrations are beginning to take on elements of traditional Indigenous culture.

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‘11 numbats nagging…’
THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, AUSSIE STYLE

On the 1st day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
An emu up a gum tree.

On the 2nd day of Christmas
My true sent to me,
2 pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the 3rd day of Christmas
My true love sent to me,
3 kookaburras laughing,
2 pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the 4th day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
4 koalas cuddling,
3 kookaburras laughing
2 pink galahs
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the 5th day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
5 kangaroos,
4 koalas cuddling,
3 kookaburras laughing,
2 pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the 6th day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
6 brolgas dancing,
5 kangaroos,
4 koalas cuddling,
3 kookaburras laughing,
2 pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the 7th day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
7 possums playing,
6 brolgas dancing,
5 kangaroos,
4 koalas cuddling,
3 kookaburras laughing,
2 pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the 8th day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
8 dingoes digging,
7 possums playing,
6 brolgas dancing,
5 kangaroos,
4 koalas cuddling,
3 kookaburras laughing,
2 pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the 9th day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
9 wombats working,
8 dingoes digging,
7 possums playing,
6 brolgas dancing,
5 kangaroos,
4 koalas cuddling,
3 kookaburras laughing,
2 pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the 10th day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
10 lizards leaping,
9 wombats working,
8 dingoes digging,
7 possums playing,
6 brolgas dancing,
5 kangaroos,
4 koalas cuddling,
3 kookaburras laughing,
2 pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the 11th day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
11 numbats nagging,
10 lizards leaping,
9 wombats working,
8 dingoes digging,
7 possums playing,
6 brolgas dancing,
5 kangaroos,
4 koalas cuddling,
3 kookaburras laughing,
2 pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the 12th day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
12 parrots prattling,
11 numbats nagging,
10 lizards leaping,
9 wombats working,
8 dingoes digging,
7 possums playing,
6 brolgas dancing,
5 kangaroos,
4 koalas cuddling,
3 kookaburras laughing,
2 pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

Thank you and Merry Christmas to our friends Down Under:

Click here for our Christmas in Poland feature.