So, it’s your first summer Down Under? Prepare for the beautiful experience of Christmas in Australia! Countries around the world have different traditions, and Australia is no exception. If you’re used to a frosty, white Christmas, Australian summer Christmas activities and traditions will surprise you — but you’ll quickly love them!
Importantly, many Australians celebrate Christmas regardless of their religious belief, ethnicity or age: it’s seen as an opportunity to take a break from work, unwind and bond with family, friends and colleagues. You might find it hard that you can’t return home for Christmas, but there are ways to make the most of it.
Below are 7 elements key to every Aussie Christmas, so you know what to expect as you plan and prepare for celebrations.
1. Aussie sunshine
If you’ve never lived in the Southern Hemisphere before, the Christmas weather will come as a shock! Rather than snowfall, expect blistering sun — Australians often flock to the beach or pool during the Christmas break. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen regularly during a beach day, as the Australian sun can be particularly damaging to the skin. Prepare to don light t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops during the Christmas weeks — summer is at its peak, and this is considered acceptable dress wear.
2. ‘Kris Kringle’ tradition
A common Australian Christmas custom is ‘Kris Kringle’ or ‘Secret Santa’ – a form of gift exchange between work colleagues or friends. Typically, you will agree on a gift price as a group, such as $15, and then each person will buy a gift for someone else in the group after drawing their name from a hat. This means everyone in the group can enjoy a present, but no one has to break the bank!
3. Christmas casual work
Due to the massive demand for shopping during the Christmas break, particularly during Boxing Day Sales, there are many openings for jobs during the break. These jobs are short contracts for the Christmas break and are often paid highly due to casual loading and inflated holiday pay rates. Many Aussie and international students work during the break to take advantage of these perks, and then choose to focus on their studies more during the semester. After the Christmas period, workers have the right to request conversion to full-time employment, so this is also an ideal way to land a longer-term role. Some handy tips for securing Christmas work can be found here.
4. Carols by Candlelight
Regardless of religious belief, many Aussies are well acquainted with Christmas carols, such as Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and more. These songs often play at shopping centres during the break, but more notably at ‘Carols by Candlelight’, an event held in most major cities where people gather outdoors and sing carols in unison. As the nationwide event has grown in popularity, celebrity performers and live bands often accompany the chorus. It’s a must-see, so research where your local event is!
5. Christmas lights
Some residents in Australia take Christmas lights very seriously, to the point that their houses become artworks, with shining inflatables and flashing lights galore. Often, there are specific suburban streets that host an annual competition for the best-lit house — research where these streets may be in your city or town for a unique, local experience. You’ll also find that councils put up light displays and towering Christmas trees in public squares, parks and shopping centres. They make for great photo opportunities, as well as a moment for mesmerisation.
6. Christmas shops and sales
If you’re a shopaholic, hold out for 26 December! Boxing Day is a public holiday and a momentous day for discount lovers — many products are half-price or more discounted. Most cities’ CBDs are bustling on Boxing Day, with chaos as shoppers try to purchase the limited stock on sale. Expect long queues, and prepare to shop early in the morning before the crowd hits. Even though most shops are closed on Christmas Day due to the public holiday, check out what you can do in your city here.
7. BBQ parties
A staple of Aussie Christmas traditions is the BBQ party. Whether with family, work colleagues or friends (known colloquially as ‘Friendsmas’), Australians are known to “fire up the barbie” to celebrate summer’s arrival. Christmas parties don’t always occur on Christmas Day, but often on the weekends and public holidays surrounding it, so you can enjoy parties for weeks!
