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Original poster

Christmas in the sun

27 replies

Kingoftheroad · 18/12/2019 17:30

Any other mumsnetters in a warm country. Where are you? Do you have the Christmas feeling? I just cannot get into it or feel a thing just feels like run of the mill days.

I’m on a Spanish island where Christmas is celebrated but not in any big way. Feels great actually to be away from it all

OP posts:
YorkieTheRabbit · 18/12/2019 17:41

I lived on Spanish island for several years, it was far more low key than here. Spanish and South American friends celebrated Christmas Eve night more than Christmas Day. We used to have a meal on the sea front and would enjoy the peace and the sunshine Xmas Grin

Nonstopbuttmachine · 19/12/2019 18:05

I'm in Cyprus, still very warm here (although chilly at night) Yesterday afternoon was spent at my friend's party drinking mulled wine and eating mince pies in her garden, it was glorious 😎🎄🎅

Christmas is celebrated here although it's just not quite 'the same'; Easter is the bigger celebration in the orthodox calendar. Really, really looking forward to returning to the UK for Christmas but I'm going to miss the sunshine!

chillykiwi · 19/12/2019 18:08

I grew up with Xmas in the sun, it's brilliant.

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Events & celebrations
habibihabibi · 19/12/2019 18:16

In Qatar ,where it's winter but still 23c. Very much enjoying it not being as baking hot as usual and having children at home playing outdoors . The Christmas countdown is on but very low key due to a predominately Muslim community.

NeedAnExpert · 19/12/2019 18:18

I’m on a Spanish island where Christmas is celebrated but not in any big way. Feels great actually to be away from it all

Me too. Still too much bloody Xmas here for my liking though. #Scrooge

mnahmnah · 19/12/2019 18:18

My brother has lived in Australia for a few years now and has never got used to Christmas in the heat. They don’t make it a big deal over there either. He gets homesick particularly at Christmas!

JillGoodacre · 19/12/2019 18:20

In Kuwait where it's 19degrees and I'm definitely feeling Christmassy! Tree up and we've bought loads of Christmas chocolate. This is the first year I've felt Christmassy since we got here (this is our 6th Christmas here). I've noticed that it's getting more Christmassy in the shops and malls this year than when we first got here which helps! Off to Dubai on Monday so we can have a drink with Christmas lunch 🍾

Original poster
Kingoftheroad · 19/12/2019 18:25

I NEED AN EXPERT you’re a woman after my own heart - comment has me rolling around laughing

OP posts:
isseywith4vampirecats · 19/12/2019 18:30

My daughter flew to Jamaica yesterday and she said last year the hotel made a big thing of Christmas im jealous of her wish I could afford to go to the caribbean for Christmas

supercee · 19/12/2019 18:36

I spent Christmas in Australia once and once was enough. Didn't think I was a massive Christmas fan until that year. So weird walking in the sun going to lunch. Like a PP said it wasn't a big deal to the Aussies at all.

chillykiwi · 19/12/2019 18:40

Go to NZ, the climate is nicer than in Australia, depending where you are you'll get a rainy day and feel right at home Xmas Grin

janj2301 · 19/12/2019 18:42

Spend several Christmases in Singapore. Brilliant. The expats went overboard but i think the local population aren't Christian as really ony the shops do Christmas presumably to make money from expats and tourist.

Nonstopbuttmachine · 19/12/2019 18:43

It is strange seeing Christmas lights everywhere but walking around in summer clothes.

A few years ago our municipality had the bright idea of building an outdoor Christmas skating rink; it was an unusually warm winter so the ice melted after three days 🙄😂

Dowser · 19/12/2019 18:44

Got back from Tenerife last night...we do this every year..go for the two weeks before Christmas
Just love it
There’s a nod to Christmas...but they don’t go berserk
And come 3-30 when it was starting to get dark here..there’s still almost another three hours of glorious sunlight
Spent Christmas in Florida once.
Was nice but weather was temperamental.
One day nearly 80 other day get your scarves and jackets on

Neolara · 19/12/2019 18:51

I've spent lots of Christmases in South Africa. Quick jump through the waves before breakfast outside in the sun. Morning spent back on the beach. Xmas meal cooked on the braai. Gin on the stoep overlooking the sunset. Lots and lots of family. Happy days.

habibihabibi · 20/12/2019 06:58

chillykiwi
Had Christmas in NZ when it was really cold and windy. Not British cold but not warm in the slightest.

MrsT1405 · 20/12/2019 07:38

I live north of Barcelona so its warmer than the UK but not all that warm. Christmas is pretty much just another fiesta. There are a lot of national and local fiestas in December,. The post office and bank seem to be closed more than open. The big festival is Kings on 6th January ,celebrating the arrival of the 3 wise men. Otherwise Christmas is ok but not all that big. I'm not really a fan so that suits me.

MinnieMountain · 20/12/2019 08:09

We're going to Spain on Monday to spend it with family who live there. I'm looking forward to doing it differently.

Cruddles · 20/12/2019 09:23

My brother has lived in Australia for a few years now and has never got used to Christmas in the heat. They don’t make it a big deal over there either. He gets homesick particularly at Christmas!

As an Australian who has lived in the UK for 13 Christmases, 1st - 24th December are so much better in the UK: People are just so much more into celebrations, get togethers, Christmas related outings (lights, Santa etc). But the 25th December is so much better in Australia as you don't get in each others hair, the kids have space to run around, people don't stress about the small stuff so much.

In Australia it's peak summer holiday time. New Years Eve is almost as big a deal.

MerchantOfVenom · 20/12/2019 09:30

Christmas in the sun is the business.

It depends on what you're used to. I get that it's weird to northern hemisphere types, but if it's all you've known, then it's fab.

The year is winding down, schools are breaking up for the end of the year, there's lots of parties and get-together, it's summer and Christmas.

As a PP said, it's so much easier to have big family gatherings if people - especially kids - can spill outside and play with all their new stuff. And it doesn't start getting dark at some ridiculously early hour.

Putting Christmas to one side - New Year's Eve is definitely better in summer!

chillykiwi · 20/12/2019 09:33

@habibihabibi Had Christmas in NZ when it was really cold and windy. Not British cold but not warm in the slightest.

Storms can come in really quickly off the Pacific and bring some chilly, damp weather. They can go again just as quickly.

mbosnz · 20/12/2019 11:35

I remember my second Christmas back in NZ, in Christchurch, and it actually managed to snow a little. I was outraged!

chillykiwi · 20/12/2019 12:40

There was snow not far from Christchurch about 6 weeks ago so it doesn't surprise me.

mbosnz · 20/12/2019 13:40

It's one consolation, when I'm speaking with Mum back home, the weather is pretty much as bad as it is here. Then I feel bad for that making me feel better. . .

habibihabibi · 20/12/2019 13:48

It is brisk enough that we need gas patio heaters and a fire lit in NZ at Xmas (south island )
It definately was not summer wonderland. Maybe I have had too many years in the gulf.
The sea in NZ was absolutely baltic.