What do Australians have on their Christmas cards?

[TheIckabog]

Discussion with DH brought about by watching a TV program based in Australia where they were celebrating Christmas. DH remarked he’d feel a bit discombobulated celebrating Christmas when it’s hot.

It got me thinking- what do Australians put on their Christmas cards? In the UK and Europe and I suppose in America/Canada too they would have snowy scenes, robins nestled in holly bushes etc etc. What about down under where it’s Christmas during their summer? A scene of Santa on the beach in a red fur trimmed speedo?

If anyone can enlighten me I’d be grateful

Kiwi here. Re Xmas telly - we don't have TV ads on Xmas day. (At least this always used to be the case... perhaps other Kiwis can verify).

No, still no ads on Xmas Day.

It’s not weird if you grow up with it. It’s the long summer holidays and many people take Jan off as well - so it’s quiet workwise. We used to go to my grandparents for BBQ Christmas night and play outside in the garden for hours with the cousins.
We had prawns, smoked salmon, charcuterie, salads, iced lollies etc.

It was only when I moved here that Christmas ‘made sense’ though. Rich, warm spiced food and drink. Christmas lights, Christmas telly.

Xmas dinner is usually seafood - BBQ salmon, prawn, lobster, Moreton Bay bug. Cold ham. It's peak cherry and mango season, so there's heaps of those. Everything shuts down for at least two weeks, sometimes more, because of the summer holidays.

Anything goes. I’ve chosen traditional, fun, simple etc. some had santa, some had religious themes, some had penguins! It’s Christmas, I don’t stick to any on thing. I’m not limited by living in the Southern Hemisphere. I don’t send them anymore. Never get around to it in time.

*one thing

In parts of Australia where the winter does get genuinely cold/grey, do people find some other excuse for a bit of "cold-weather festivity" in July or August? For me, a big reason for Xmas is that it brightens up the cold grey days a bit. But of course, in much of Oz the winter may not get very cold, so maybe it is a non issue?

There are some santa in board shorts on beach type cards around but I'd say 95% of the cards feature Santa (normally dressed), snow, Christmas tree, reindeer, wrapped presents, etc.

As pp pointed out its no weirder than people the UK buying these cards. It doesn't snow in most places in the UK on Christmas day, certainly not the fluffy snow blanketing the village as depicted on the cards. Nor will UK residents be looking out the window and seeing reindeer, elves or Santa.

[quote mbosnz]**@allpushkinsinsanity - this was in Papanui/Redwood![/quote]
Not even high then!

People saying about there being nothing good on tv in NZ, there never is much that's good !

I doubt if Tony Abbott is on them.
No, that would be Halloween

never a sunny, beachy kind of card.never a sunny
They are a fairly newish thing and even here you gotta look for them in newsagents or the like. Most chain stores stock standard christmas images and if your lucky a handful of Aussie theme

Id go with
Steve Irwin as Santa
A picture of a Ute with a tree on it
Obligatory Kangaroo as an elf
Maccas
Pictures of Fairybread or something with Vegemite on

Summer Christmas cards are all really garish - I've never found anything beautiful, so often end up sending something more traditional and "English'.

Some years I do a full English Christmas lunch, and whack up the air con to chilly, some years we sit outside at relatives, in high humidity, 40 degree heat, and warm pasta salad.

I love having fresh cold seafood on Christmas Eve though

I do actually like the idea of a summer Xmas. I’ve had Xmas day in Aus twice, and both times it poured with rain all day

Nor will UK residents be looking out the window and seeing reindeer, elves or Santa.

I hate to break this to you but no one will

Lots of us do ‘Christmas in July’ in the colder weather as well as a proper Christmas. But yes - where I live I can swim in the ocean year round so there’s maybe less reason to break up winter.

I do a mix of religious cards (for religious people) and cards with Australian animals on them, usually from charities.

I’m a migrant and don’t find Christmas less Christmassy because it’s hot. I know there’s no one way to do a celebration like Christmas and happily fit into whichever hemisphere I’m in.

@greenteafiend

In parts of Australia where the winter does get genuinely cold/grey, do people find some other excuse for a bit of "cold-weather festivity" in July or August? For me, a big reason for Xmas is that it brightens up the cold grey days a bit. But of course, in much of Oz the winter may not get very cold, so maybe it is a non issue?

i think its a difference of light - the winter light is still so so bright. i live in southern aus, it doesnt snow but we have cold (nights reg into minus c, low day time temps) but still most days bright light/big blue sky. overcast days occur but a just a day or two until weather shifts. i think this makes a massive difference.

we have lots of wine festivals where we live in the winter months which are great for getting out socializing.

regarding christmas in Aus. i am 37 and very much remember as a child alot of northern hemi christmas cards/symbolism - snow scenes, holly, we did the fake snow etc etc but now - especially over the last 15 years a very distinct shift has occurred - there is much more representation of our southern hemi chrissy, in christmas cards (native flora/fauna, beach scenes etc) also an strong summer christmas aesthetic (thanks donna hay!) and our own food traditions. i think this is from the changing demographic of Aus (ie, 3rd/4th generations from UK migration) and just finally embracing our summer experience.

i love Aus christmas, last year we ate home grown cherries and stone fruit between swims in the pool and watching the koalas (babies so cute!) in the gums.

we do get some christmas telly - ABC usually delivers but generally we are too busy outside on the day to bother (but do watch on catch up on boxing day).