Christmas in Sydney, Australia

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Sydney

How long have you lived there?

20 Years (thought I would come for two!!}

If locals celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah where you are living now, how is it celebrated differently?

Well of course a very big difference is that it is summer here and that effects the way Christmas is celebrated. In the past, families used to sit down to your traditional UK style dinner, but over the years and with strong multicultural influences many people will sit down to seafood (prawns/lobster), a leg of ham, fresh salads, and fruit (mangoes and cherries in particular). Santa seems to rein here although you may hear an occasional reference to Father Christmas. You can buy real trees, but they don't seem to last long in the heat. Decorations deviate from the traditional red and green and have more of summer tones ...pink purple bright greens and turquoise. It's still common to hear carols in shops/malls dreaming of a White Christmas which is pretty strange really as is all the imagery of snow reindeers and sleighs.

Christmas is a very outdoor event those of us near the coast may go dowm to the beach for "breakie" with friends {Bondi Beach here in Sydney will be full of UK visitors perhaps drinking too much and getting burnt!!!!} Christmas presents will focus on the summer Flip flops..swimmers..beach towels...barbeques..bikes ..surf and body boards and usually the weather is so nice you can use them straight away!!

Christmas lights are quite big here with some whole streets lighting up together..of course on a warm summer evening after dark families will come out to see them. Christmas here also means the end of school year so it's a busy time with concerts, presentation nights, end of year dinners, etc. On Boxing Day we usually take a boat trip out on the habour to see the Sydney /Hobart Yacht Race start. A week later we all gear up to see the fireworks on the habour they are truely spectacular and worth the effort to see. There is a 9pm show for families followed by a bigger display at Midnight

Do you mix your own traditions with those of your expat location? If so, describe.

We still do a turkey dinner although it makes the kitchen hot!! You can also put it on the Barbie!!!

I still say Father Christmas and when he visits the kids he puts his presents at the bottom of the bed. We have given up the Christmas pudding!

What is your favorite thing about celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah in your overseas location?

Very outdoorsy event and you can buy useful presents that they will use over the summer. Not such a "big" event here as in UK

Beside family and friends, what do you miss from home during the holidays?

Probably pubs and cosy fires!!!

How is New Year's typically celebrated in your expat location?

You have to ask ???? A wonderful display of fireworks...ringing in the new year for the rest of the world to follow!!!