Christmas Day is the one day of the end year that we all prepare for and look forward to. A chance for families and friends to get together, eat, drink, exchange gifts, catch up, and talk about what’s happened throughout the year.
In Australia, though, Christmas is a particularly special time.
Because we’re used to a hot climate at this time of the year, a white Christmas like that experienced in the northern hemisphere is foreign to us. However, that doesn’t stop us from enjoying all the trimmings of a traditional Christmas.
We still go to Church, trim the tree, put up decorations, play carols, and cook a turkey (well, some of us). We generally celebrate in the same way many of our northern neighbours do.
In fact, we still cling to the traditional idea of a white Christmas with plenty of snow, reindeer, sledding, snow-capped Christmas trees, snowmen, fur-lined coats, beanies and the like.
That said, Christmas varies remarkably from country to country. There are some other customs that also contribute to the magic and meaning of Christmas. Here are just a few of them.
Iceland: For 13 nights before Christmas, Icelandic children place their shoes by the window. Supposedly, they are visited by 13 mischievous Yule lads who either leave candy if they’re good or shoes full of rotten potatoes if they’re bad! The Icelanders also celebrate Jolablokaflod, the tradition of giving/receiving a gift of a book and spending Christmas Eve reading, eating chocolate, and drinking cocoa.
Sweden: The Yule Goat is a Swedish Christmas symbol dating back to pagan times. The Gävle Goat is a traditional Christmas display erected annually in Gävle, Sweden. The massive straw goat is more than 42 feet high, 23 feet wide, and weighs 3.6 tons. Each year, the goat is constructed in the same spot and each year, someone tries to burn it down.
Japan: Although only 1% of Japanese are Christian, and there is no national holiday, they still celebrate on the 25th with a dinner of KFC! The tradition started in 1974 after a successful marketing campaign and has continued with people ordering finger-lickin’ good chicken months in advance.
Austria: Austrians have the legend of Krampus, a devil-like creature who joins their St. Nicholas festivities on December 6. The children are asked for a list of their good and bad deeds and are rewarded with sweets, apples, and nuts if they’re good. Bad children, however, worry about what Krampus might bring on Christmas morning.
The Netherlands: Sinterklaas is the Dutch name for Saint Nicholas, the man recognised by children by his long white beard, red cape, and red miter. After putting a shoe by the chimney or back door, children wake on Christmas morning to find goodies like gingerbread men, marzipan, and chocolates in their shoes.
Denmark: In Danish, the word for Christmas is Jul. Before Christianity, Jól was celebrated by Danes and Scandinavians on the coldest full moon of the year. Today, homes are decorated with superstitious characters called Nisser (red-hatted Gnomes), who are believed to provide protection. Christmas is traditionally celebrated on December 24. Danish families place their Christmas tree in the middle of the room and dance around it while singing carols.
In Australia, we also have many quirky traditions unique to an Aussie Christmas. We’ve covered off just a couple, but we’re sure you also have some of your own.
Prawns: It’s almost a given that it isn’t an Aussie Christmas without a gigantic tub of prawns on the table. This can be either as an entrée or as the main meal itself.
Summer Santa: The big bloke in the red suit, pom-pom hat, and big black boots is an image associated with a white Christmas. Here, you’re likely to see him in Christmas-themed board shorts, bad Hawaiian shirt, thongs, sunnies, and riding a surfboard…especially in the mornings.
Cricket: Revered as an after-Christmas lunch sport, cricket matches are commonplace for families with wheelie bins for wickets, with mums and girlfriends taking up the bat for the first time, everybody fielding, one hand one bounce, over the fence and out, and if you’re lucky and had a pool, Classic catches into the deep end.
Christmas Beers for Santa: Along with the bowl of water and a customary carrot for the reindeer, Santa could expect a cold stubby of beer (or two) that happened to be exactly the same as the ones Dad likes to drink.
Christmas at the beach: Christmas Day celebrations will always be a big affair. More so if your family loves Christmas at the beach. Mums and Dads up at the crack of dawn heading to the beach with eskies of food and drink, beach shades, tables and the like, with the day spent playing beach cricket and building sand snowmen between quick dips in the sea.
Carols by candlelight: Whether in the city, at a local council reserve, or on the TV, Carols by Candlelight herald the start of Christmas proper. We’re treated to celebrities who can sing and those who can’t, all getting up to have a crack at the traditional favourites that pretty much all feature something to do with snow.
Secret Santa: Many Aussies opt for a secret Santa, where gifts (often novelty) are bought for a specific budget and exchanged amongst friends and work colleagues at Christmas parties. This is usually a preamble to another Australian Christmas tradition of drinking, partying and karaoke.
Boxing day: While most people tend to take it easy, there are some who spend most of the day in front of the TV watching the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, followed by the Boxing Day test from the MCG. Others are interested in the bargains at the Boxing Day sales that kick off straight after Christmas Day.
The magic and meaning of Christmas are different for each and every one of us. Whether we’re old or new Australians, we all celebrate in our own way with our own traditions. But whoever we are and whatever we do, the way in which we celebrate is the same. And that’s by spending quality time with the people we love.
At McGrath Real Estate Group, we love this time of year. Our sales and property management staff have donned their Christmas hats and are full of festive spirit. If you’re thinking of selling over Christmas, buying to invest, putting a property up for rent, or looking for an appraisal, give us a call.
Phone our office on 8350 4200, or drop into 42 Brighton Road, Glenelg.