Head to Australia for a Very Different Christmas

Although the crux of the Christmas celebration is the same around the world, the way in which they are celebrated differs widely. This largely depends on the geographical location and the history of the place. Over time, people start embracing the local rituals and customs of the place and incorporate them into their own way of living. This after all, has been happening from time immemorial and gradually the customs undergo a change, which again after a period of time become absolutely normal and usual to the people residing there. And one such place where Christmas is indeed celebrated a bit differently is Australia.

• Geographical Dissimilarity: The first thing that comes to our mind when we think of Christmas is a cold weather on the outside, a warm fire on the inside, and all of us wrapped cozily in woolens and red Christmas caps. It is completely opposite in Australia. Situated in the southern hemisphere of the globe, the continent experiences summer in December, and Christmas here is a time of blue open skies and lots of bright sunshine. For the people of Australia, Christmas is all about beach picnics and frolicking in parks rather than indoor parties. And there is the traditional dinner at night.

• Different Food Items: Instead of hot chicken soup, children savor ice creams and instead of warming up with wine and champagne, the adults enjoy cool fruit juices. And the traditional dinner of roast turkey has been done away quite some ago because it is obviously impractical in the hot weather. Instead light chicken salad and sea food is what people feast on, along with the traditional Christmas cakes, pies, puddings and other seasonal food items, indigenous in this part. Moreover, since over the years, people from all over the world have migrated to Australia at some point of time, there is a variety of food that is prepared.

• Different Customs: One of the most important and perhaps the most popular symbol of Christmas is Santa Claus. His bright red jacket, flowing white hair and beard, his sleigh pulled by reindeers and his large sack of goodies is one of the most potent images in the world. And yet in Australia, the characteristic symbol of Christmas is the “Swag Man”. He wears a brown “Akubra”, a blue singlet and long, flowing, baggy shorts and drives his cart around. It is said he lives all winter in Uluru and that Santa Claus had suffered a heat stroke in the warm climate and send his distant relative here.

However, in spite of these differences, the spirit of Christmas is the same. There are candles lit all over the house and carols are sung in praise of the lord and his son. There are lots of celebrations and here too, Christmas is looked forward to with as much anticipation as anywhere else.