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Christmas in Australia falls in the middle of summer, so it's no surprise that Santa Claus has to adapt his outfit to the warmer climate. While he still wears his iconic red and white suit, Santa might opt for a lighter version, perhaps even swapping his trousers for a pair of shorts. Santa Claus, or Father Christmas, also has to find a way to enter homes without a chimney, so it's believed he has a master key to every modern home in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Clothing | Lighter, cooler version of the red and white suit. Sometimes even shorts. |
| Transportation | Reindeer to pull his sleigh or six white kangaroos (known as boomers). |
| Food and drinks | Cold beer instead of milk. |
| Gift placement | Presents are placed under the tree as there is no chimney or fireplace. |
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What You'll Learn
Santa's summer outfit
To keep his feet cool in the Australian heat, Santa ditches his fur-lined boots and goes for a more open-toed option or even a pair of comfortable sandals. He might even be seen wearing a wide-brimmed hat to protect him from the strong summer sun.
The colours of his outfit remain true to the traditional red and white, but the fabric is lighter and more suitable for the warm Australian climate. Santa may also opt for a more casual look, with a red polo shirt or a lightweight cotton shirt paired with red or white shorts.
Accessories are also important for Santa's summer ensemble. He might carry a pair of sunglasses to shield his eyes from the bright sunlight, and a hand fan or parasol to keep himself cool while travelling from home to home.
Santa's transportation also gets a summery upgrade. Instead of his reindeer-drawn sleigh, Santa might ride a surfboard or even a motorised esky cooler to get around Australia's beaches and deliver presents to the children.
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Santa's mode of transport
In Australia, Santa is said to swap out his reindeer for a team of kangaroos, specifically, "Six White Boomers" (male kangaroos). This unique mode of transport is depicted in some Australian Christmas songs, such as "Six White Boomers" by Rolf Harris, and in various artworks and stock photos. The song "Six White Boomers" is a popular holiday tune for Australian children, and it imaginatively portrays Santa being pulled through the sky by these kangaroos.
While the kangaroo-drawn sleigh is the most well-known mode of transport for Santa in Australia, there are other variations in popular culture. Some Australian songwriters and authors have depicted Santa in a more "Australian-style", riding in a ute pulled by kangaroos or even surfing into Bondi Beach to delight a crowd. In one stock photo, Santa is shown doing a wheelie on a motorised esky cooler on an Australian beach, showcasing yet another creative take on his mode of transport.
The adaptation of Santa's transport in Australian culture highlights the country's unique twist on Christmas traditions. While maintaining the core elements of the holiday, Australians have incorporated their local flavour, resulting in fun and memorable depictions of Santa Claus and his travels in a summer setting.
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Christmas dinner
Christmas in Australia falls in the middle of summer, so it's usually very hot. Aussies celebrate Christmas with a unique twist, including beach barbecues, seafood, and outdoor activities. Santa Claus is also adapted to the warmer weather, sometimes depicted in "Australian"-style clothing, such as an Akubra hat, thongs, and an adapted cooler version of his iconic red suit.
For Australians, Christmas dinner is typically a lunch gathering held on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve. Families come together, often at the home with the biggest backyard or best seating arrangements, to enjoy a feast in the warm summer weather. While some Australians stick to traditional European Christmas dishes, others opt for a menu better suited to the hot climate, showcasing local seasonal produce.
A traditional Christmas lunch in Australia might include roast turkey, chicken, or beef, accompanied by roast vegetables, potato salad, and gravy. Decorated hams, salads, and seafood, such as prawns and oysters, are also popular choices. To cater to the warm weather, Australians might also opt for cold meats, salmon, or barbecue fare like prawns, sausages, lamb, and even kangaroo.
Dessert is a mix of traditional and modern treats. Traditional winter desserts like plum pudding with brandy butter, fruit mince pies, trifle, and Christmas cake are often served alongside local favourites like pavlova (a meringue cake topped with fruit), fresh berries, kiwifruit, and mangoes.
To beat the heat, Australians often enjoy cold beverages with their Christmas dinner. Adults might indulge in cold beer, wine, or cocktails, while soft drinks or non-alcoholic options are available for children and non-drinkers.
After the big Christmas lunch, it's common to relax and enjoy leftovers for a few days, with no need to cook again until the next week. So, while Santa Claus and Christmas dinner in Australia adapt to the unique summer setting, the spirit of the season remains, filled with family gatherings, festive cheer, and delicious food.
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Christmas tree decorations
Christmas in Australia is a unique affair, with the big day falling in the middle of summer. Aussies have their own spin on the Christmas holiday, blending cherished customs with a laid-back, outdoor celebration.
Decorating the Christmas tree is a tradition shared by Australians, with some unique additions to the usual wreaths, tinsel, and lights. One decoration unique to Australia is the ‘Christmas Bush’, a native tree with small green leaves and cream-coloured flowers that turn a deep, shiny red by Christmas time. The jacaranda tree is another popular choice, with its bright blue or purple flowers.
The traditional Christmas tree is central to Australian Christmas decorations, with strings of lights and tinsel being standard. Decorations appear in stores and on the streets starting in November and are commonplace by early December. Many homeowners decorate the exterior of their houses, with displays ranging from modest to elaborate, featuring hundreds of lights and seasonal motifs. Neighbours sometimes have little competitions to see who has the best light display, and often visit each other to view the lights at night.
In addition to the traditional Christmas tree, Australians also decorate their houses with bunches of 'Christmas Bush' and poinsettia plants. Some people hang wreaths on their front doors, and some neighbourhoods coordinate their displays to raise money for charity.
While the image of Santa Claus in a big red suit is common, there are some variations. Given the warm weather, Santa is sometimes depicted wearing shorts and a tank top, or even board shorts and a surfboard instead of his sleigh.
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Christmas songs
Christmas in Australia falls during the summer season, and the country has developed some unique traditions as a result of the warmer weather. One such tradition is the image of Santa Claus dressed in a lighter, cooler version of his classic red and white suit. It is not unusual to see Santa in shorts, or even wearing an Akubra hat, warm-weather clothing, and thongs.
This unique image of Santa has been depicted in several Australian Christmas songs, including the popular children's song "Six White Boomers", originally sung by Rolf Harris in 1960. The song tells the story of how the Australian heat is too much for Santa's reindeer, so six white kangaroos (a "boomer" being Aussie slang for a male kangaroo) take over pulling his sleigh through Australia. The song is often sung in schools and has become a beloved part of the Australian Christmas tradition.
Another popular Australian Christmas song is "How to Make Gravy" by Paul Kelly. This song is a bittersweet ballad about missing Christmas when you're in jail. While it may not directly reference the unique image of Santa in Australia, it captures the sentiment of an Aussie Christmas and is considered a favourite by many.
Other notable Australian Christmas songs include "White Wine in the Sun" by Tim Minchin, "Aussie Jingle Bells" by Colin Buchanan, and "Santa Never Made It to Darwin" by Bill and Boyd. These songs showcase the creativity and humour of Australian songwriters, who are not afraid to add their own twist to the traditional Christmas narrative.
While these songs are uniquely Australian, they exist alongside the traditional Christmas carols and songs that are commonly sung in the Northern Hemisphere. Australians also sing traditional songs like "Jingle Bells", along with other well-known carols as they celebrate the holiday season.
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Frequently asked questions
Santa wears a lighter, cooler version of his red and white suit. He sometimes even wears shorts!
Santa travels on a sleigh pulled by six white kangaroos, also known as "boomers".
Santa is left a cold beer instead of milk and cookies.
