If you plan on coming to study in Sydney during the Christmas season you are in for a treat. Christmas in Australia is celebrated during the summer months. We don’t have any snow or chestnuts roasting on a fire, but our Christmas cards tend to depict colder climates. Many of the Christmas traditions are from Britain, but as Australia is a multi-cultural country, Christmas has become a melting pot of Christmas fun. You just might even see Santa Claus on the beach!
Australians still have the Christmas tree, reindeer and the Christmas feast. The Christmas dinner may be a barbecue in the backyard or a picnic on the beach. Many families serve the traditional Christmas food but the turkey, ham, and beef tends to be served cold.
The Sydney Fish Market is a great place to get Christmas prawns
Another popular Christmas treat is seafood, prawns on the barbie are very popular at Christmas time. And don’t forget about dessert, a popular Australian Christmas dessert is Pavlova. A famous Australian chef made this Russian dessert in honor of a Russian ballerina in 1935 and it has become one of Australia’s favorite desserts.
Carols in the Domain
So what about our other Christmas traditions? Carols in the Domain is a popular free musical concert that takes place in Sydney in the Royal Botanic Garden every year. It is the biggest Christmas Concert in Australia and over 100,000 people every where flock to hear the beautiful carols and experience the magic of Christmas. If you’re in town this year don’t miss this special event taking place Saturday December 17th. Go to this link to learn more: http://www.carolsinthedomain.com/
Boxing Day Sydney to Hobart Race
Australia, being part of the Commonwealth also celebrates “Boxing Day”, the day after Christmas. It is a public holiday in Australia, and many important sporting events take place on this day such as the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. It is also a popular day for the after holiday sales to start, many stores sell items at signficantly reduced prices.
Christmas in Australia is a wonderful holiday, if you’ve never experienced Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere Sydney is a great place to do it while learning English at the same time! It wouldn’t be Christmas without Jingle Bells, so please enjoy the Australian version:
Australia Jingle Bells
Dashing through the bush,
in a rusty Holden Ute,
Kicking up the dust,
esky in the boot,
Kelpie by my side,
singing Christmas songs,
It’s Summer time and I am in
my singlet, shorts and thongs
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut !,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.
Engine’s getting hot;
we dodge the kangaroos,
The swaggie climbs aboard,
he is welcome too.
All the family’s there,
sitting by the pool,
Christmas Day the Aussie way,
by the barbecue.
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.
Come the afternoon,
Grandpa has a doze,
The kids and Uncle Bruce,
are swimming in their clothes.
The time comes ’round to go,
we take the family snap,
Pack the car and all shoot through,
before the washing up.
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.
oisesydney 
:p