I was going to start the same thread - now 4 out of 34 christmas' in Australia. The day itself I am quite happy with seafood and BBQ and getting out and about (something didn't do much of in the UK) - what I struggle with is having some traditions for the run up to Christmas so are like a cue in my brain that Christmas is coming. Foods that are typical to eat in in run up to Christmas etc. The idea of Christmas being in the cold is so ingrained is hard to feel Christmas is coming without the cues of dark nights, cold etc of the UK. Carols by Candlelight we did once and was great but a bit chilly, and I think DD is a bit little for that - but am looking for a local one.
My mum thinks I need to make more of an effort with Christmas for DD, as this is what she will know as Christmas (we are unlikely to visit UK at Christmas time, as prefer to go in the warmer weather of the summer) - so any suggestions of things most welcome (preferably that don't involve much shopping as is not an activity I enjoy at all - in fact I think I have a slight phobia).
my grandma does a big day, roast ham turkey chicken and beef, you can go for either lunch dinner or both, she has 12 children who almost all have kids, and some of us have our own kids, so its a big busy day, but realy worth it! i started my own tradition the other year of stopping on the way and buying her the nicest bigest bunch of flowers i can get, she has loved it so im going to keep that one up!
Doh is 4 out of 33 Christmas' - I am not 34 yet - I seem to have a mental block about my age - I went a whole year once thinking I was a year older than I was - I know is simple do the math using year you born - but is weird how frequently I think I am a year older than I am.
I can imagine it must be really hard for it to be so different.
In my family we always had cold cuts, prawns, ham, chicken with salads. For me that's Christmas lunch. We also had trifle & plum pud with coins. I do that too. And a pavlova - always. Rum balls, white Christmas...
We get up & open the santa sacks - then we have a light breakfast always mangoes!
We then clean up the dishes & we hand out the presents under the tree.. The kids play with toys etc & we eat lunch about 1pm. That goes on all afternoon - we sleep on the couch/beds/floor...
Then we have left overs for dinner! We almost always have friends over or my exhusbands sister always spent Christmas at my place & did last year also so it will be interesting to see what happens this year!
Christmas Eve I usually have a house full of friends & we have drinks & prawns... I then wait until the kids go to bed & I make santa footprints through the house & put out the santa sack presents - take a munch out of the carrot etc etc...
Not much sleep is had that night!
I think the longer school holidays are the lead up to Christmas here.
I guess things don't seem as Christmassy if you've spent most of your life enjoying winter Christmas's.
One tradition a lot of people have been into in the past 20 years, is the outdoor Christmas lights, either making a display, or visiting them. But this is a worldwide tradition too.
Swimming a lot is something else that's popular.
Then there's Boxing Day traditions like watching the cricket, or picnics with leftovers.
Sorry I forgot to add, but a few years ago, Carols by Candlelight is often called Christmas under the Stars here as well.
Last edited by emc2; November 30th, 2010 at 07:25 PM.
Spending Christmas eve with the kids cooking treats for Santa and the next day, setting everything up with DH after the kids have gone to bed, last year I cut snowflakes from paper and we hung them from the ceiling and had fake snow everywhere.
Breakfast with croissants, champagne and orange juice, fresh fruit. Lunch with turkey, ham, seafood, salads and new potatoes (pink eyes) with butter and mint! Oh and fresh peas YUM
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I have never heard of them? I'm missing an aussie Christmas tradition...
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