Though this was our third southern hemisphere Christmas (NZ in 2015, AU in 2016 & 2017), celebrating in the height of summer still feels a bit strange (and probably always will). This year we relinquished some of the traditions we’ve always kept and looked to embrace new ones. The kids started the morning in their stripey Christmas jammies as ever, but had stripped down to their undies by breakfast time. It was just too hot for pyjamas! Instead of wool socks in their stockings, they each got a new swimsuit. And instead of the usual eggs for breakfast, we sliced up mangoes and papayas and enjoyed them with cold yoghurt. It was actually the tastiest papaya we’d ever eaten.
But some traditions are just too good to let go. With our desk fan futilely blasting air into our steamy kitchen, I insisted on making my mom’s butterhorns (cinnamon rolls) on Christmas morning. Michael thought it was crazy to turn the oven on, but I insisted. The dough was limp from the heat and humidity so rolling it out into spirals was a challenge, but we got there in the end, and they were devoured as usual. Our Christmas wouldn’t be the same without them.
We joined our friends for Christmas lunch, poolside. The kids swam while the grown-ups chatted and played table tennis. Everyone brought a dish and we enjoyed an assortment of cold salads, oysters and prawns–Christmas lunch the Australian way!
That evening, as we drove home, a big tropical storm rolled in with heavy rains, thunder and lightening. The storm brought cool relief to our sweltering home so the kids happily donned their Christmas pyjamas and played a board game they’d received from Santa. With Christmas songs on the stereo and candles alight on the table, there was a hint of the cosy Christmases we have always known. Just a hint. : ) We woke the next morning and spent all of Boxing Day at the beach. As you do….
P.S. Here’s the blog post from last year’s Christmas–my how little the kids look!
Sounds like you all had a lovely day and are slowly getting used to an Aussie Christmas. Growing up it was almost guaranteed that we’d all receive new bathers and a beach towel for Christmas haha, definitely no woollen socks for us! I have to ask though, why do you all still wear winter pjs if it’s so hot for you all? Especially since Hanna Anderson does summer pjs in the same pattern? I’d never even think to wear long pjs between November and March and I have air conditioning!!
Thank you so much for sharing! As a family that moves a round a lot we also have to ajust our tradition to the place we are staying. It is funny how we now have a collection of Christmas and New Years eve traditions from all over the world . Just a small question: what did your kids receive for Christmas? I am constantly running out of ideas and am always struggling when a birthday comes up… it would be extremely helpful if you could share some ideas.
Thank you, Antonia
Could you share where the tabletop christmas tree came from? It’s too cute!
Hi Alisa,
I wrote a post on Babyccino back in December sharing where I got lots of our Christmas decorations. You can find it here: https://babyccinokids.com/blog/2017/12/22/christmas-in-australia/
That wooden christmas tree is an old one from Muji. We’ve had it for 7 or 8 years now. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.
xx