Top 10 Christmas Traditions In Australia

Christmas in Australia is unlike Christmas in many other countries. For starters, it's summer, despite the fact that many Christmas traditions in Australia still reflect the wintery celebrations of the Northern Hemisphere. But what else distinguishes Christmas in Australia from the rest of the world? What are some Christmas traditions in Australia? The nicest part about Christmas in Australia is that it falls in the middle of summer, which means you can spend the majority of the time on the beach. One of the many ways the Land of Oz sets itself apart from other nations during the holidays may appear out of the ordinary to those who are used to snowflakes and chilly noses. Read on to learn about how you can celebrate Christmas Down Under

1. Carols by Candlelight

Carols by Candlelight has been one of the most spectacular Christmas traditions in Australia since 1938. Carols by Candlelight are held in most major cities across Australia and are a great way to start the holiday season. They frequently feature a few celebrity performers, with all proceeds benefiting charity. Pack a picnic, sit on the grass, and enjoy the angelic heralding and the balmy summer twilights. 

2. Set up a Seafood Barbeque

Christmas day is not the time to slave over a hot stove, making a roast. Instead, one well-known Christmas tradition in Australia is to light up the barbecue! A barbecued prawn lunch has become an Aussie tradition as a much more relaxed way to spend time with the family. It also means you can relax in the summer sun, crack a cold beer, and talk while the seafood sizzles on the grill.

3. Enjoy Beach swim & Backyard Cricket

While other parts of the world celebrate Christmas with snow and reindeer jumpers, the summer weather in Australia draws many to the beach for an after-lunch dip or to try out the new stand-up paddle board. This has been the favourite Christmas tradition in Australia as the beach is the most lively place to be during this festive season. It's the perfect way for the family to refresh before returning home for a few rounds of backyard cricket as the barbecue heats up for round two

4. Christmas Street Parties

Summer nights are best spent outside under the stars, with a few drinks and some laughs. Throwing a street party if you live on a cul-de-sac is a great way to have fun with your neighbours and is a great Christmas tradition in Australia to follow. Because it's so close to home, you can pop the cork and let the bubbles flow! 

5. Enjoy a traditional roast

Due to Australia's British heritage, many familiar dishes will be piled high on holiday tables. Almost always on the menu are turkey, ham, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, tarts (both savoury and sweet), rum balls, and mince pies. Although many Australians still celebrate Christmas with a traditional roast in December, the intense heat at this time of year can make it difficult to fully enjoy the meal. This is why, in July, you should surely go to the Blue Mountains to celebrate Yulefest, a traditional Christmas tradition in Australia complete with a roaring fire.

6. Celebrate Boxing Day

Watching a boxing match with your family and friends is one of the unique Christmas traditions in Australia. Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26th and has it's British origins. It is a public holiday in Australia and a day when many activities take place. The Boxing Day test match, which takes place on the Melbourne Cricket Grounds, is one of the most important events. Another significant event is the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, which is broadcast on television stations throughout the country and draws more viewers than any other yacht race in the world.

7. Santa Claus in Flip-Flops

Australian children believe in Santa Claus more than anything and stay eager for gifts. However, because it is summer the famous Santa Tradition in Australia has a little twist. Here Santa may be dressed in a lighter, cooler version of his infamous red and white suit. Anddd when delivering gifts to children in Australia, Santa does use reindeer to pull his sleigh. (through the beach sand). 

8. Beer for Santa

Do you treat Santa to eggnog and mince pie like they do in England during Christmas? Maybe milk and cookies too? Well, each nation's version of this custom varies widely. Even while they too give Santa cookies to nibble on, Australians give Father Christmas a cold beer instead of milk to sip while he enjoys a slice of fruit cake.

9. The ‘Kris Kringle’ tradition

'Kris Kringle' or 'Secret Santa' - a type of gift exchange between work colleagues or friends - is a popular Australian Christmas tradition. Typically, you will agree as a group on a gift price, such as $15, and then each person will purchase a gift for someone else in the group after drawing their name from a hat. This means that everyone in the group can enjoy a gift without breaking the bank! And if you forgot to get your friends and family some gifts, you can easily find 30 Christmas gift ideas here.

10. Native festive decorations

Because of the differences in weather and climate, Australia does not have the "traditional" snowy backdrop and blossoming poinsettias. Instead, the Christmas tradition in Australia is for families to decorate their homes with bunches of native Australian trees. Around the Christmas season, the Ceratopetalum gummiferum blooms with small green leaves and bright red flowers. Apart from the tree, the house entrances are decorated with bouquets and wreaths, as well as Christmas bellflowers, ferns, and palm leaves. Local families in Australia enjoy decorating their homes with large display lighting as well. If you need more ideas for Christmas decorations on a budget, we got you covered. With dinners, dances, and parties, New Year's Eve is always a special occasion. There is one last party to end the Christmas season on Twelfth Night, January 6.

Conclusion

Christmas is a festive time of year that is enjoyed by many people around the world and it is celebrated differently in each culture. We hope you enjoyed our article about Aussie Christmas traditions  and how to celebrate it like a local. From the way the day is celebrated to the food, drinks and pastimes enjoyed on the big day, it's a day like no other!