Discover the Christmas Magic Down Under! 🎄✨ Travelling to Australia at Christmas is a unique experience that combines festive charm with the warm Australian summer sun. In this new post, we dive into the magical atmosphere of Christmas in Australia, where the festive spirit merges with the warmth of summer. From bright decorations on the beaches to delicious outdoor barbecues, you will discover how Australians welcome the Christmas season under the glow of the sun. Find out what Boxing Day is, too, this post-Christmas day famous for irresistible offers and exciting events such as regattas and sporting activities.
Don't miss the rest of the posts about Australia:
Christmas in Australia: Sunny and Festive Traditions
Australians love to celebrate, and Christmas is no exception. Christmas in Australia is not only celebrated by exchanging gifts, families usually enjoy large lunches with all the decorations you can imagine, either at home, in their backyards or in the parks as a picnic. As it is summer, outdoor games such as cricket are super popular. And of course, barbecues are popular all year round, so Christmas in Australia cannot be missed with a good barbecue in a park or on the beach.
Christmas Delights Under the Australian Sun
Traditional Christmas food in Australia often reflects the warm summer weather. Here are some typical dishes enjoyed during the Christmas season in Australia:
Pavlova: A light and crunchy dessert made with meringue and topped with fresh fruit such as strawberries and kiwis. It is a classic on Australian Christmas tables.
Seafood: Since Christmas falls in the summer in Australia, seafood is very popular. Shrimp, prawns and crab are often featured in Christmas meals.
Barbecue: The barbecue, or “barbie,” is an essential part of Christmas celebrations in Australia. Various meats such as sausages, steaks and lamb are cooked on the outdoor grill.
Fresh salads: Different types of fresh salads, such as potato salad, coleslaw and green salad, are common to accompany Christmas meals.
- Plum pudding: Even though it's hot, many Australians are still enjoying plum pudding, a traditional Christmas dessert served with cream or ice cream.
Barbecue Under the Stars: A Christmas Feast with a Difference
Christmas Day is when families and close friends gather from all corners of Australia. Some families enjoy a traditional British Christmas dinner with roast turkey or ham and a rich plum pudding soaked in brandy and set alight before being brought to the table.
Other families choose to have a backyard barbecue to roast their Christmas dinner in the sunshine. Many families even head to the beach or countryside and enjoy a picnic with cold turkey or ham and a salad. Santa Claus has been known to show up in shorts to greet children on the beach at Christmas time!
Christmas in Australia - Most Popular Events
Christmas celebrations in Australia are diverse and reflect the wide range of cultures and traditions present in the country. Some common events during the Christmas season in different parts of Australia include:
Sydney: The city is packed with fun, free events during the festive season. Highlights include Lights of Christmas, where amazing digital stories are projected onto St Mary’s Cathedral. If you’re looking to do some last-minute shopping or enjoy the tradition of a market, Rocks Christmas Markets take place every Saturday and Sunday in December. Expect plenty of live music and amazing decorations.
Melbourne: In December, Federation Square transforms into Christmas Square. There's Santa's Great Workshop to explore, live concerts, daily Christmas movie screenings and an unmissable 16-metre illuminated tree. Plus, there's a Christmas fair on the banks of the Yarra River with all the Christmas charm.
Las famosas proyecciones navideñas son otro punto destacado, con animaciones iluminando la Biblioteca Estatal de Victoria y el Ayuntamiento de Melbourne. Para algo un poco diferente, echa un vistazo al arte callejero en vivo en Hosier Lane, mientras los artistas decoran las calles con escenas festivas o puedes ir a Docklands a ver un super ciervo gigante navideño!
Brisbane: Grab some friends, pack a picnic and head to Festive Beats at South Bank Parklands for free live performances. Or enjoy a warm Queensland night at South Bank’s free Christmas cinema, which will be screening a variety of Christmas movies alongside recent hits.
Christmas in Australia - Boxing Day
There would be no Christmas in Australia without Boxing Day, in Britain and some Commonwealth countries, especially Australia, Canada and New Zealand, it is a public holiday (26 December) on which gifts were traditionally presented to servants, merchants and poor people.
However, this important day of Christmas in Australia has undergone changes and by the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, it ended up becoming a day of rest and the famous Boxing Day sales in Australia.
It is also the day of St. Stephen, the patron saint of horses, and Boxing Day has also become a day for sporting events.
Ultimately, Boxing Day is a day that Australians use for family barbecues, cricket matches and watching the iconic Sydney to Hobart yacht race. And of course, many Australians look forward to this day to scour the shops for the best deals.
We hope this information is useful to you.
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