Christmas in Australia

When it comes to Christmas, Australians celebrate with Christmas trees, roasted turkey and presents, but don't expect to see snow during the holidays. Instead, plan on blue skies and warm weather - that is unless there happens to be rain, a hail storm or even brush fires!

Lots of people travel to Australia around the holidays simply to enjoy Christmas in warm weather. Sure, they can enjoy warm Christmas weather in places like California, but then they would miss out on the experiences, sites and joys of the holidays down under.

If you're planning on traveling to Australia for Christmas, plan on crowded shopping malls, children caroling, and images of Santa everywhere - but don't count on sitting by a toasty fire or going skiing! Instead, if you're visiting friends or family, plan on being invited to a traditional Christmas dinner or maybe an outdoors barbecue - even a picnic! Other dishes served may include seafood, cold chicken, duck, deli meats, pasta, salads, pavlovas, fruit cake and shortbread.

Although there are many places that display a Christmas tree - malls for example - not many homes go through the ritual of chopping down a tree, or shopping for one, and placing it in their homes. Some people do put up gum tree branches and even decorate them.

Don't be surprised if you hear lots of the same Christmas carols that you'd hear at home, but you may be surprised at some of the lyrics, particularly the ones to 'The Twelve Days of Christmas". Included in the lyrics are references to 'a kookaburra in a gum tree', 'two snakes on skis', 'three wet galahs' or four lyre birds! Also included in the song are kangaroos, 'sharks-a-surfin', dingos that dance and 'crocs-a-snoozin'.