Lexi Webster
Christmas in Australia is a unique affair, with the country's position in the Southern Hemisphere resulting in the holiday falling during the summer season. This has led to the development of local traditions such as barbecues, beach parties, and outdoor festivities. Australians also celebrate Christmas in July, allowing them to experience the winter-style Christmas often associated with other parts of the world. The holiday season in Australia is filled with festive joy, from carol concerts and community events to fireworks and family gatherings, making it a memorable and joyous time for all.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 25th of December |
| Season | Summer |
| Weather | Warm to hot |
| Food | Grilled prawns, lamb, steaks, turkey, ham, plum pudding, Christmas pudding, Pavlova |
| Dessert | Pavlova |
| Drink | Mulled wine |
| Activities | Beach picnics, barbecues, street cricket, swimming, sailing, riding bicycles, fireworks, visiting Santa at the mall, community events, shopping sales, sporting events |
| Decorations | Christmas trees, lights, tinsel, ferns, palm leaves, evergreens, flowers (Christmas bush, Christmas bellflower) |
| Events | Carols by Candlelight, Christmas pageants (Adelaide), Hobart, Perth, Christmas markets, Santa's Wonderland (Adelaide), Christmas in July |
| Traditions | Secret Santa, Kris Kringle, Boxing Day, Carols in the Domain (Sydney), Santa surfing |
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What You'll Learn
Santa Claus and Father Christmas
Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture. He is said to bring gifts to children during the late evening and overnight hours on Christmas Eve. The popular conception of Santa Claus originates from folklore traditions surrounding the 4th-century Christian bishop, Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children. Saint Nicholas became renowned for his reported generosity and secret gift-giving.
The image of Santa Claus shares similarities with the English figure of Father Christmas, and they are both now regarded as the same person. Santa is generally depicted as a portly, jolly, white-bearded man, often with glasses, wearing a red coat with white fur trim, black boots, and a red hat with white fur trim. This image of Santa Claus bringing gifts on Christmas Eve is said to have originated from the 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (better known as "The Night Before Christmas"). The poem describes Saint Nicholas arriving at the author's home on Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer.
Father Christmas is the traditional English name for the personification of Christmas. The recognisably modern figure of the English Father Christmas developed in the late Victorian period, but Christmas had been personified for centuries before then. English personifications of Christmas were first recorded in the 15th century, with Father Christmas himself first appearing in the mid-17th century in the aftermath of the English Civil War. The Puritan-controlled English government had legislated to abolish Christmas, considering it popish. Royalist political pamphleteers, however, adopted Old Father Christmas as the symbol of 'the good old days' of feasting and good cheer.
In popular culture, Father Christmas is often depicted as a jolly old fellow, with a big round belly, a red suit with white trim, and a long white beard. He is sometimes shown flying in the sky in a sleigh led by nine reindeer, bellowing a 'ho ho ho'. In earlier depictions, Father Christmas was a slim figure with no reindeer, and in some cases, he was portrayed as a shaman-like character carrying a broom.
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Carols by Candlelight
On Christmas Eve, people gather outdoors at night, often in large-scale concert settings, to sing Christmas carols together by candlelight. The stars shining above add a magical touch to the beautiful setting. Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight, held at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, is televised across the nation, and many Australians make it a yearly tradition to watch the performance.
Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight features some of the country's top performers and has been a longstanding tradition, marking its 87th year in 2024. Over the years, it has included performances by the Melbourne Gospel Choir, National Boys Choir of Australia, and popular entertainers like David Campbell, Bonnie Anderson, and Mitch Tambo.
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Christmas in July
Christmas in Australia falls during summer vacation, and so many of the traditions are centred around the warm weather. Australians love to spend Christmas Day at the beach, swimming, playing cricket, and enjoying a barbecue with grilled prawns, lamb, and steaks. Some families opt for a traditional British Christmas dinner of roast turkey or ham, and Christmas pudding, served cold to beat the heat.
However, some Australians long for a winter Christmas, and so Christmas in July was born. This tradition is believed to have begun in 1980 when a group of Irish tourists, nostalgic for a winter Christmas, celebrated in the Blue Mountains. The Mountain Heritage Hotel in Katoomba was decorated with tinsel and baubles, and a Christmas tree was dusted off. The menu featured a medley of roasts and plum pudding.
The trend has spread beyond Australia, with expats celebrating in New Zealand and even Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles. It's a chance to get an early start on Christmas planning and bring the cheer of the festive season to the middle of the year.
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Boxing Day
Several sporting events are traditionally associated with Boxing Day in Australia. The Australian cricket team has a tradition of opening one of its test matches on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, also known as the Bluewater Classic, is another iconic sporting event that starts on Boxing Day, covering a distance of 630 nautical miles.
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Australian Christmas songs
Christmas traditions in Australia are similar to those in the UK, Ireland, the US, and Canada, including songs like ""Jingle Bells"" and traditional Christmas symbols featuring winter iconography. However, the warm summer weather during Christmas has influenced some unique Australian Christmas traditions and songs.
There are a few original Australian Christmas songs that are recognised and enjoyed by Australians. One popular song is Paul Kelly's "How to Make Gravy", which parodies the original "12 Days of Christmas", replacing the various birds of the original with Australian birds like galahs, emus, and kookaburras. Another beloved Australian Christmas song is Colin Buchanan's "Aussie Jingle Bells", which replaces the snow and sleigh of the original with bush and a "rusty Holden ute".
Some other notable Australian Christmas songs include "White Wine in the Sun" by Tim Minchin, "Six White Boomers" by Rolf Harris, and "Santa Never Made It into Darwin" by Bill and Boyd, which was recorded to raise funds for the city of Darwin after Cyclone Tracy in 1974.
While these songs are uniquely Australian, they have not replaced mainstream Christmas iconography, and traditional carols like "Jingle Bells" and "Silent Night" continue to be popular during the festive season in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Some popular Australian Christmas songs include Paul Kelly's "How to Make Gravy", Colin Buchanan's "Aussie Jingle Bells", and Tim Minchin's "White Wine in the Sun".
The temperature during Christmas in Australia is warm to hot, ranging from 25°C to 35°C.
Australians typically eat grilled prawns, lamb, steaks, and a traditional Australian dessert called Pavlova during Christmas.
Australians celebrate Christmas by going to the beach, having barbecues, and playing outdoor sports such as cricket. They also decorate their homes with ferns, palm leaves, and colourful flowers.
Christmas in July is a trend in Australia where people celebrate Christmas twice a year. This allows Australians to experience a winter-style Christmas with roast meats, mulled wine, and festive decorations.
