With opposite seasons to the Northern Hemisphere, Christmas in Australia is quite different from the traditional European concept. Instead of white, snowy scenery, Australia is filled with blue skies and sunshine and intense heat sometimes up to 35 degrees Centigrade (100 degrees Fahrenheit). In Australia on Christmas Day, families might gather for a traditional Aussie barbecue surrounded by family and friends or spend the day at the beach. With the Australian Christmas  in the middle of the long summer school holidays, many families spend their Christmas Day away from home - in a caravan or flat at the beach, in a tent in the bush or with other family members in another city or state. 

Australia is now a multicultural society with many people from many different places. But nearly all celebrate Christmas by giving gifts and preparing special food to share with friends and family. Many Australian Christmas dinners look (and taste) like traditional English and European feasts - with roasted meats and vegetables, special fruit cakes and puddings. In the Australian gold rushes, Christmas puddings often contained a gold nugget and this tradition continues today with a coin (once upon a time, a sixpence) often baked inside.  However, lately, more Australian families are having Christmas Dinners which reflect the summers. Eating a hot meal in the middle of a 35 degree day isn't much fun so more people are beginning to eat cold meats and salads, seafood and tropical fruit like mangoes and pawpaws, rockmelons, watermelons and stone fruits like plums, apricots, cherries and peaches. Often the main meal is eaten at lunch time rather than at night, although it not unusual to share one meal with one side of the family at lunch time and another at tea with the other relations.

Australians enjoy  Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve which is broadcast on TV across the country. Traditional carols are sung as well as some Australian ones like "Six White Boomers" and "Santa Never Made it into Darwin". Many people attend  church services both on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day and celebrate the religious aspect of Christmas and the Birth of Jesus.   Santa Claus brings the children gifts on Christmas Eve and the children leave a piece of cake or biscuits and a glass of milk or bottle of beer for Santa to see him on his long journey. Early Christmas morning, the children eagerly wake tired parents to come and see what Santa has left them under the tree.

Australian shops and homes are decorated with tinsel and bright Christmas decorations and have Santa available for a chat with the children or for a photo.  City squares and other public places like Shopping Centres have many decorations and giant living Christmas trees. Most homes have a Christmas tree - with many people now having a pine tree growing in a pot which is brought inside once a year.  Some people decorate the exterior of their homes with special lights and displays to share Christmas with their neighbours and any cities have competitions for the best decorated house and street etc.

The Boxing Day Test Match (cricket game beginning on the day after Christmas) and the beginning of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race on Sydney Harbour (also on Boxing Day) are two sporting events of significance which happen each Christmas, so many Australians spend Boxing Day in front of the TV. Other people spend Boxing Day travelling to or from their summer holiday destinations.

Most Australian schools finish a week before Christmas for the summer break and recommence after Australia Day on 26 January. This is known as the Summer Vacation.

Australia's worst Christmas was in 1974, when Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin in the Northern Territory. More than 60 people were killed.

Click here to go back