The movies tell us that Christmas means cozying up by the fireplace, watching the snow fall, going sledding, and feasting on all the baked goodies.
But what if it’s outrageously hot out?
Welcome to Christmas in Australia, where everything is upside down and back to front. Yeah nah, fair dinkum, let’s just get on with it!
Spending Christmas Day at the beach.
Would you rather spend a warm, sunny day cooped up inside or outdoors with family and friends? If you chose outdoors, then you might just love Christmas in Australia.
Those who reside in coastal cities typically spend Christmas time on the beach, lounging in the sun or swimming to cool off in the warm weather.
Aussies who can’t make it to the beach (yes, there are some poor souls who live inland) make do by finding a pool, river, or lake to cool off in.
Spotting Santa on a surfboard.
Australia is quite literally a surfer’s paradise, thanks to its long and varied coastline.
So when Santa comes down to Australia to deliver presents, he won’t be dashing through the snow; it’s summer, remember? Instead, he gives his reindeer a break and hops on a surfboard.
Head on down to the beach during silly season and there’s always a good chance to spot Santa on a surfboard (or at least a particularly festive Aussie wearing a Santa hat while riding the waves).
Singing carols by candlelight.
An Aussie Christmas will certainly not be complete without carols by candlelight. This tradition, which began in Melbourne in 1938, has since spread across the country and even around the world.
Cities choose a date to gather at the park or any public space. Each person holds their candle and joins in singing carols.
There are live performances by local choirs and bands. Some big cities also invite famous singers to perform.
Holding Christmas Pageants and parades.
Another major Australian Christmas tradition is holding Christmas pageants and parades.
These pageants are done to officially welcome Santa or Father Christmas, as he’s more commonly called in Australia.
The Adelaide Christmas pageant, held on the first or second Saturday of November, is the largest in the world. It typically attracts over 300,000 visitors each year.
Santa riding fire trucks and handing out candy.
A few days or weeks before Christmas, firefighters bedazzle their fire trucks with lights and other Christmas decorations.
Then on the day chosen for the lolly run (candy drive), they come out dressed as Santa and ride through town handing out sweets and toys to children.
For many Australians, screaming and running out of the house into the street to chase down the lolly truck is a core memory.
But this is also special for the firefighters themselves, as they get to interact with the community and raise much-needed donations to get through the bushfire season.
Cold desserts instead of winter puddings
When summer temperatures can soar, heavy puddings and hot pies quickly lose their appeal.
Instead, Christmas desserts in Australia are all about keeping things light, refreshing, and easy to enjoy after a big meal.
Ice cream is a go-to favorite, and Ice blocks are another classic, especially for kids trying to cool down after running around outside.
Pavlova usually steals the spotlight, topped with whipped cream and fresh summer fruit like mangos, strawberries, or passionfruit.
Leaving a cold one out for Santa.
In the sweltering heat of the Australian summer, a glass of warm milk isn’t exactly refreshing.
So instead of leaving that out for Santa, some Australian families like to leave a cold can of beer out along with cookies.
But they don’t forget about his reindeer either: It’s also tradition to leave out some carrots for Rudolph and the rest of his team to keep them energized for the very stressful task of delivering presents.
Eating a whole lot of tropical fruits.
One of the best parts of Australia’s Christmas in summer is that you get to enjoy seasonal fruits like cherries and mangos.
Come Christmas time, it’s not uncommon to pick up entire boxes of mangos for little money!
You’d think it would be hard to get through them all, but once you start adding them to salads, eating them whole over the kitchen sink, and using them to top Australia’s iconic Pavlova (fight us, New Zealand).
Watching the Boxing Day cricket match.
Every year on December 26 (Boxing Day), a test cricket match takes place between the Australian national team and a visiting team from another country.
If you want to know just how much of a big deal this game is, attendance is in the hundreds of thousands, and some fans jokingly call Christmas Day the eve of the Boxing Day test.
Trust Australians to find a way to combine cricket and Christmas!
Backyard cricket and BBQ.
Aussies don’t just love to watch cricket: pretty much everyone loves to have a bat every now and then. So, it’s no surprise that cricket makes an appearance during Christmas celebrations.
It’s common for families to entertain themselves by playing cricket together in the backyard.
And for those in the know, there’s nothing better to pair a game of backyard cricket with than a BBQ.
Forget the turkey, Aussie Christmas Day BBQs are all about the seafood, grilled meat, and salads!
Celebrating Christmas twice.
If you’re feeling bad about Australians missing out on all the charm of a winter Christmas, don’t worry too much.
They certainly don’t, as some Australians jokingly celebrate Christmas again on July 25, when temperatures dip.
What started out as a joke often ends up being a full-blown affair, with friends and families getting together and copying all the cold-weather Christmas traditions.
An Aussie Christmas might not have snowmen and eggnog, but it’s not any less charming.
Sunny days at the beach, candlelight carols, and even cold desserts make the season all the more special.
And the coolest part? Australians don’t actually miss out on the joys of a winter Christmas because they get to celebrate it again in July when their winter arrives.