Lyla Lindsey
Christmas in Australia falls during the summer, and Australians have put their own spin on the holiday. Santa Claus is a huge part of Christmas in Australia, with children leaving out snacks and beverages for him and his reindeer. While some parents choose not to push the myth of Santa onto their kids, others embrace the tradition. Santa Claus is typically depicted with a sleigh pulled by reindeer, wearing a thick woollen coat, and going down the chimney. However, some Australian variations include Santa arriving by boat or surfboard, or with kangaroos pulling his sleigh, as seen in the popular song Six White Boomers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Santa's mode of transport | Sleigh pulled by reindeer or six kangaroos; sometimes a boat or surfboard |
| Santa's clothes | Thick woolly coat |
| Santa's drink | Beer |
| Santa's snack | Cookies |
| Santa's arrival time | Christmas Eve |
| Santa's entry point | Chimney |
| Santa's gifts | Presents, stocking full of gifts |
| Santa's companions | Reindeer, elves |
| Santa's surveillance | Watches children, judges them |
| Santa's songs | Six White Boomers, Carols by Candlelight |
| Santa's activities | Surfing |
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What You'll Learn
Santa in summer
Christmas in Australia falls during the summer. This means that Santa Claus has to adapt to the warmer weather. While in the Northern Hemisphere, Santa is typically depicted wearing a thick woolly coat, in Australia, he might opt for a more summer-friendly outfit, such as a short-sleeved shirt and shorts. Some companies have even tried to market a Surfing Santa, reflecting the popularity of outdoor activities like swimming and surfing on Christmas Day in Australia.
Despite the different season, Australians have largely retained the traditional British concept of Santa Claus, including the idea of a sleigh pulled by reindeer. However, some local variants do exist, such as the song "Six White Boomers", which depicts kangaroos pulling Santa's sleigh. This song reflects the unique Australian Christmas experience, combining the familiar imagery of Santa with the summer weather and native wildlife.
The hot Australian summer also influences the traditional Christmas dinner. While some Australians still enjoy a traditional English roast dinner, others opt for a barbecue on the beach or a cold meal with local seasonal produce, such as seafood and salad. Despite the heat, Australians still embrace the Christmas spirit, decorating their homes with lights and Christmas trees, and gathering with family and friends to exchange gifts and sing carols.
The lead-up to Christmas in Australia also differs from that of the Northern Hemisphere. Advent calendars are still popular, but television specials are less common, as people tend to spend more time outdoors. Christmas-themed markets and events, such as the Adelaide Christmas Pageant, are also popular ways to get into the festive spirit. Overall, while the specifics may vary, the joy and magic of Christmas and Santa Claus are alive and well in Australia, even during the summer months.
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Australian Christmas traditions
Christmas traditions in Australia share similarities with those in the UK, Ireland, America, and Canada, including traditional Christmas symbols like a red-fur-coated Father Christmas or Santa Claus riding a sleigh, songs such as "Jingle Bells", and various Christmas scenes on cards and decorations. However, the occurrence of Christmas during the Southern Hemisphere's summer has resulted in some unique traditions.
In Australia, Christmas Day on 25 December is the biggest event of the season. The day involves parties with lots of food and gifts shared with family and friends. Some popular dishes include turkey, ham, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, tarts (both savoury and sweet), rum balls, mince pies, and plum pudding. A unique Australian dessert is the pavlova, a meringue cake topped with fruit and served as dessert. Many Australians also have a modern tradition of hosting a huge barbeque in their backyard or on the beach.
Carols by Candlelight is a popular Christmas tradition in Australia, which started in Melbourne in 1938 and has since spread worldwide. On Christmas Eve, people gather outdoors to sing carols by candlelight in a large-scale concert. The Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight in Melbourne is televised nationwide, and it has become a tradition for many Australians to watch the performance.
Another Australian Christmas tradition is leaving out a cold beer for Santa instead of cookies and milk, along with carrots for the reindeer.
Gift-giving is also a custom during Christmas in Australia, with gifts exchanged between close family and friends. Secret Santa or Kris Kringle activities are also common, where participants draw names from a hat and buy gifts for the person they choose without revealing their identity.
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Children's beliefs
Many Australian children are told about the traditional British concept of Santa Claus, which includes flying reindeer, going down the chimney, and wearing a thick, woolly coat despite the hot Australian summer. They sing Christmas carols about winter wonderlands and decorate their Christmas trees with fake snow, all while knowing that their Christmas Day will be spent at the beach or swimming.
Some Australian parents choose to be honest with their children about Santa Claus when asked directly, while others try to prolong the magic for as long as possible. One parent shared that they told their child that Santa doesn't bring presents to those who don't believe in him, encouraging their child to maintain the belief a little longer. Another parent shared that their child figured out the truth about Santa but was asked to keep the magic alive for their younger siblings and friends.
The age at which Australian children stop believing in Santa Claus seems to vary. Some sources suggest that believing in Santa past the age of 6 or 7 years old might be uncommon, while others share anecdotes of children as old as 9 or 11 years still believing.
Overall, while there may be some variation in how Australian children and their parents approach the belief in Santa Claus, it remains a fun and magical part of Christmas for many families.
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Parenting approaches
In Australia, there is a range of beliefs surrounding Santa Claus, and parenting approaches vary when it comes to teaching children about Santa. Some parents choose to actively encourage their children to believe in Santa Claus, engaging in traditions such as leaving out milk and cookies, and later beer and carrots for the reindeer, as the children grow older. They may also visit Santa and encourage their children to write letters to him, while also maintaining the magic of Santa by telling their children that Santa doesn't bring presents to those who don't believe.
Other parents take a more neutral stance, allowing their children to believe in Santa Claus due to peer influence and the general festive atmosphere, but not actively pushing the idea onto their children. They may answer their children's questions honestly, but also encourage them to maintain the belief for as long as possible, for the sake of their peers.
On the other hand, some parents choose not to lie to their children about Santa Claus, instead encouraging critical and logical thinking, and not wanting to introduce mythology at a young age. They may still engage in Santa-related activities, such as visiting Santa, but their main focus is on teaching their children how the world works, without the "magical" elements.
The decision to include Santa Claus in Christmas celebrations is influenced by the unique Australian context, with some adaptations made to the traditional British concept. Santa's reindeer, for example, may be replaced by kangaroos in Australian songs and stories, reflecting the country's wildlife. The hot summer weather during Christmas also leads to adaptations, such as Santa arriving by boat or surfboard, and parents may embrace this irony with their children. Overall, Australian Christmas traditions centre around family and creating a festive atmosphere, with Santa Claus playing a role that varies depending on each family's beliefs and values.
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Irony and humour
Despite Christmas falling in the summer months in Australia, the country has adopted many of the British and Northern European Christmas traditions, including the concept of Santa Claus. Santa is a huge part of the Christmas tradition in Australia, with children leaving out snacks and beverages (often milk and cookies, or a beer) for him and carrots for his reindeer. However, some Australians have pointed out the irony of celebrating a winter Christmas in the middle of summer, with songs about snow and a Santa Claus dressed for the cold.
There is a general understanding that the Santa myth is primarily for very young children, with one source stating that believing in Santa past the age of 6 or 7 would be "fodder for bullies". Some parents choose not to push the Santa myth on their children, instead encouraging critical thinking and allowing them to arrive at their own conclusions. Others play along with the tradition for the sake of their children's enjoyment, even if they personally find it uncomfortable.
The unique Australian twist on the Santa tradition involves kangaroos pulling his sleigh, as depicted in the popular holiday song "Six White Boomers" by Rolf Harris. Some companies have also tried to market a Surfing Santa to reflect the Australian beach culture.
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Frequently asked questions
Australians celebrate Christmas in the summer, and some Australians maintain the British concept of Santa, including his thick woolly coat, flying reindeer, and going down the chimney. However, some Aussies find it odd to teach their children about Santa, and prefer to focus on family rather than the mythology of Christmas.
Australians celebrate Christmas with beachside barbecues, Carols by Candlelight, and summer-specific Santa costumes, such as Surfing Santa. They also decorate their homes with Christmas trees, lights, and ornaments, and leave snacks and beverages for Santa, such as milk, cookies, or beer.
Some Australian children believe in Santa and visit him to state their present wishes. Others are told by their parents that Santa is not real but are encouraged to keep the magic alive for their friends. The age at which Australian children stop believing in Santa varies, but it is generally considered unusual for a child over 6-7 years old to still believe.
