| Weather temperatures around the world during the | | | | the weeks leading up to Christmas at many venues |
| Christmas holiday break varies dramatically. Here in | | | | around towns and cities of Australia. |
| Queensland Australia it's hot and humid as we prepare | | | | Christmas lunch here in this great southern land is a |
| to welcome back that jolly big guy in the red woolly | | | | different experience. As Christmas Day closes in the |
| suit, except here he's in boardshorts, hat and | | | | temperature continues to rise as does the humidity |
| sunscreen. | | | | here in Brisbane. You know Christmas is here when |
| Christmas would have to be my favorite time of the | | | | you start hearing the continuous shrill sounds of |
| year. | | | | cicadas (large winged insect) on hot, cloudless days. |
| I remember my white Christmases in Europe as a little | | | | I know many still insist on cooking the turkey, other |
| girl. There was the smell of cinnamon, nutmeg and | | | | roasts as well as roast vegetables and gravy in the |
| gingerbread biscuits, and my parents drinking eggnog | | | | stifling heat (I did until recently), as well as fruitcake and |
| as we decorated our tree. | | | | custard. Not everyone has air conditioning here so a |
| Snow glistened outside and groups of children with | | | | cool breeze is often top of the wish list. |
| their lanterns alight could be heard singing Christmas | | | | So what is a traditional Christmas lunch down this |
| Carols as they moved from house to house in | | | | way? |
| exchange for chocolates and sweets that residents | | | | 1. Prawns (prawn: shrimp) for the barbecue - on ice |
| would throw out their window. That's when the mad | | | | and with lemon wedges; |
| scramble began trying to look for sweets in several | | | | 2. Fresh Fish from the market - arrive very early (if |
| feet of snow. | | | | you've never had this experience before you'll know |
| I sometimes yearn for those magical, mystical years | | | | what I mean when you do); |
| and reminisce especially when I listen to Bing Crosby's | | | | 3. Tossed green Salad, bowl of beetroot with onion, |
| "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas". | | | | and some asparagus; |
| Our way of compensating for the lack of cold | | | | 4. Snags (snags: sausages), lamb chops - lamb cutlets |
| weather in December is by having Christmas in July | | | | if you can afford it; |
| celebrations with all the trimmings including weather | | | | 5. For 'afters' (afters: after lunch) Beach towel, togs, |
| close to that of the northern hemisphere (well almost - | | | | thongs, sunscreen, cricket bat and ball (thongs: cheap |
| anything north of the Tropic of Capricorn hasn't been | | | | rubber open sandals, togs: bathing costume); |
| included, sorry). | | | | 6. An esky full of beers (esky: receptacle to place all |
| In Australia many of us still write cards with snow and | | | | alcoholic drinks - on occasion you may get lucky and |
| ice scenes, people ice-skating on frozen lakes and | | | | find room for other items but don't get too excited); |
| pictures of cute reindeers. Not only would Santa melt | | | | 7. A few bottles of drink coolers for the girls; |
| from the heat wearing his red winter woolies, his | | | | 8. Wine for the more refined; |
| reindeer would die of heat exhaustion working in such | | | | 9. More beers for the esky; and |
| sweltering heat! | | | | 10. A laid back attitude. |
| No reindeers and sleighs for us - we have 'six white | | | | With lunch done, we look forward to our the great |
| boomers' (boomers: large kangaroos) thanks to a song | | | | tradition of spending Boxing Day watching the start of |
| by Rolf Harris from the '60's. I've seen our Santa pulling | | | | the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, The Boxing Day |
| a surfboard wearing sunscreen, board shorts and hat, | | | | Test cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), |
| zipping through the southern skies. Yes - he's our man! | | | | or by spending the day lazing at home or spending it |
| A far cry from the drunk Santa I remember riding in | | | | down the beach. |
| the back of a ute (ute: utility vehicle) in the country | | | | Having been outside once today, I'm very aware of |
| many years ago. Last seen swigging on a long neck | | | | how hot and humid it is and apparently it's not going to |
| (long neck: tall bottle of beer) trying to articulate "ho ho | | | | get cooler any time soon. So as I sit here looking at the |
| ho and a Merry Christmas to all" as the ute slowly | | | | cloudless sky and writing this article, I am indeed |
| drove down each street in my neighborhood. | | | | "Dreaming of a white Christmas, if only in my dreams! |
| Carols by Candlelight are a tradition 'down under' during | | | | |