Some True Blue Aussie Christmas Traditions

Weather temperatures around the world during thethe weeks leading up to Christmas at many venues
Christmas holiday break varies dramatically. Here inaround towns and cities of Australia.
Queensland Australia it's hot and humid as we prepareChristmas lunch here in this great southern land is a
to welcome back that jolly big guy in the red woollydifferent experience. As Christmas Day closes in the
suit, except here he's in boardshorts, hat andtemperature 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 theyou 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 littleI know many still insist on cooking the turkey, other
girl. There was the smell of cinnamon, nutmeg androasts as well as roast vegetables and gravy in the
gingerbread biscuits, and my parents drinking eggnogstifling 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 withcool breeze is often top of the wish list.
their lanterns alight could be heard singing ChristmasSo what is a traditional Christmas lunch down this
Carols as they moved from house to house inway?
exchange for chocolates and sweets that residents1. Prawns (prawn: shrimp) for the barbecue - on ice
would throw out their window. That's when the madand with lemon wedges;
scramble began trying to look for sweets in several2. 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 yearswhat I mean when you do);
and reminisce especially when I listen to Bing Crosby's3. 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 cold4. Snags (snags: sausages), lamb chops - lamb cutlets
weather in December is by having Christmas in Julyif you can afford it;
celebrations with all the trimmings including weather5. 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 beenrubber 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 andalcoholic drinks - on occasion you may get lucky and
ice scenes, people ice-skating on frozen lakes andfind room for other items but don't get too excited);
pictures of cute reindeers. Not only would Santa melt7. A few bottles of drink coolers for the girls;
from the heat wearing his red winter woolies, his8. Wine for the more refined;
reindeer would die of heat exhaustion working in such9. More beers for the esky; and
sweltering heat!10. A laid back attitude.
No reindeers and sleighs for us - we have 'six whiteWith lunch done, we look forward to our the great
boomers' (boomers: large kangaroos) thanks to a songtradition of spending Boxing Day watching the start of
by Rolf Harris from the '60's. I've seen our Santa pullingthe 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 indown the beach.
the back of a ute (ute: utility vehicle) in the countryHaving been outside once today, I'm very aware of
many years ago. Last seen swigging on a long neckhow hot and humid it is and apparently it's not going to
(long neck: tall bottle of beer) trying to articulate "ho hoget cooler any time soon. So as I sit here looking at the
ho and a Merry Christmas to all" as the ute slowlycloudless 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