Christmas in Australia

Like South Africa, Christmas in Australia is often very hot.

A traditional meal includes a turkey dinner, with ham, and pork. A flaming Christmas plum pudding is added for dessert.

In the Australian gold rushes, Christmas puddings often contained a gold nugget. Today a small favour is baked inside. Whoever finds this knows s/he will enjoy good luck.

Another treat is Mince Pies.

Some Australians and particularly tourists often have their Christmas dinner at midday on Bondi Beach, in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, which attracts thousands of people on Christmas Day.

Other families enjoy their day by having a picnic. If they are at home, the day is punctuated by swimming in a pool, playing cricket and other outdoor activities.

The warm weather allows Australians to enjoy a tradition which commenced in 1937. Carols by Candlelight is held every year on Christmas Eve, where tens of thousands of people gather in the city of Melbourne to sing their favourite Christmas songs. The evening is lit by as many candles singing under a clean cut night sky. The sky with its Southern Cross stars is like a mirror.

Sydney and the other capital cities also enjoy Carols in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Australians surround themselves with Christmas Bush, a native plant which has little red flowered leaves.

At many beaches Santa Claus arrives on a surfboard, or even on a surf lifesaving boat.

Information taken from https://www.santas.net