How do we celebrate Christmas in Australia?

It's December 10th and we're in the middle of the Advent season! However, here in Australia, with a cozy 35 °C in the shade and wearing swim trunks by the pool, it hasn't really sunk in yet.

But I want to share some of our experiences with the pre-Christmas season in Australia with you. Last week, it officially started here in Noosa with the big:

Christmas Tree Lighting

We gathered at the big roundabout at the beginning of Hastings Street (Noosa's shopping and promenade) around 6:30 p.m. First, a ballerina from Brisbane danced out of the Nutcracker as the Sugar Plum Fairy, and then with a countdown of 'Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven ... One, Zero,' the Christmas Tree was festively lit. However, it was not a Christmas tree with baubles, but a huge eucalyptus tree adorned with fairy lights.

Afterwards, the children's choir from Sunshine Beach State High School, where Maximilian & Moritz also go, sang some catchy Christmas songs ('Rudi the Rednose Reindeer,' 'Jingle Bells...') in shorts, singing about 'Christmas in the Snow' that most Australians will probably never experience. There were also a few extravagant walking acts by two illuminated - umm - fairy floss fairies and roasted almonds at the beach.

On Sunday, we were invited to a public Christmas celebration at Perigian Beach, where the highlight was supposed to be Santa Claus landing on the beach by skydiving.

During these days, we also saw a Santa Claus with a bushy beard, red and white board shorts, sunglasses, and a surfboard walking to the beach.

It seems that Australians are not entirely sure whether they should celebrate the Christmas festival of their mostly British ancestors with snow-covered fir trees and sledding Santa or with a Santa Claus in shorts and a surfboard.

Christmas parties and bonbons

This Friday, Günter and I had a Christmas lunch with my artist colleagues from Wallace House (report will follow) at the 'Barefoot Grill Restaurant.' We sat on the terrace in sweaty 35°C weather, enjoying light dishes such as prawns, steak burgers, Caesar salad, and Asian delicacies, along with light beers and light BYO (Bring Your Own) wines. Traditional English bonbons were placed on the tables, where two people pull until they make a loud noise, revealing a fun little trinket, a Christmas joke, and a paper crown.

So, everyone sat at the table adorned with their colorful paper crowns, and stories in the best Aussie or New Zealand English came from all sides.

On Saturday, I celebrated Christmas on the terrace of Wallace House with my acrylics group. Everyone contributed something to the buffet (I made a Tirol nut cake with thick chunks of chocolate), there were more bonbon crowns, a delicious light buffet, and then the auction of the small 'pressies' that everyone had brought. Each person wrapped a present worth around 5 AUD for someone else. I wrapped one of my small acrylic paintings (worth: naturally priceless!) and received a set of 4 acrylic brushes. It was a perfect fit!

We also planned our group meetings for next year and said goodbye to each other with hugs, kisses, and warm words for the Christmas 'summer break.'

Yes, those were beautiful and completely different celebrations!

But the big celebration is yet to come...