Australians are blessed with gorgeous summer weather over the whole Christmas break. There is ample opportunity to embrace the outdoor lifestyle and celebrate the warmer weather. Whilst Australians may not have the same traditions as the Northern hemisphere, they certainly have ones many are envious of.
Head to the beach at all hours
Even if Australians don’t live near the beach, you’ll often find them traveling to the beach at all times of the day over Christmas. Whether it’s for an early morning surf the sun rises, a day at the beach with the kids, or an evening swim to cap off the day – these traditions are very much part of the Australian Christmas. The white sands, crystal clear waters, and ice-cream sellers roaming the sand truly make Australians sit back and give thanks for the wonderful country they live in. Kids are frolicking around in their new environmentally-friendly swimmers, teenagers are floating out on their new lilos, and parents are setting up their new beach gazebos (and trying to flex their cooking skills at the BBQ).
Seafood BBQs and pool parties
It doesn’t quite feel like Christmas unless there has been some seafood consumed, and Australians know it tastes better if it’s been cooked on the barbie. Australians are known around the world for their mateship and relaxed nature, and so a seafood BBQ with friends or neighbours is without a doubt one of the best Australian Christmas traditions. They often start at midday and carry on well into the evening, as the balmy weather and access to a pool often carries the day forward. Australians play Marco Polo in the pool, catch Christmas beetles, eat ice-blocks with their feet dangling in the pool, and often play a competitive game of Klopp in the backyard.
Christmas activities with the kids
Christmas traditions in Australia also include special moments that are made just for the kids. Getting the family dressed up in their matching summer Christmas pyjamas and putting out Santa’s snacks, letting the kids open their ‘Christmas eve present’ that’s hidden in the Christmas tree, and having a gingerbread house competition are just a few! For the organised parents, kids often enjoy advent calendars for the month of December – whether they have been store-bought or DIY-style. For the younger kids, many families sit down for Christmas craft time, adding these to the tree.
Christmas movies under the stars
Watching Christmas movies is not a unique tradition, however Australians are able to watch their Christmas movies under the stars and often do. Many families set up makeshift outdoor cinemas, with projectors and sheets as the backdrop, for a memorable Christmas tradition. The outdoor setting is usually filled with rugs, bean bags, popcorn and plenty of mosquitoes.
Family photoshoots
Whilst many families are able to create magical moments throughout the Christmas holiday on their phones, many Australians now book in for a proper family photoshoot with a professional photographer, and don’t leave capturing those beautiful photos to chance. Capturing their family as they grow, and being able to put up beautiful family photos around the house, is important to Aussie families. It’s also a nice experience to share with the family – as photoshoots are often now outside in beautiful environments like fields, parks or the beach.
Orphan invitations
Whether their family celebrates at home, at the park, at a restaurant, or at the beach, the most Australian Christmas tradition is to extend the invitation to the friend that doesn’t have anyone else to share Christmas with. Australians are a ‘more the merrier’ nation, who embrace this Australian tradition without a second thought, and for the benefit of others.
