Christmas in New ZealandChristmas Day starts here in the sun !
While today we have a mixture of religions and ethnic races, our Christmas in New Zealand is based mostly on English traditions. We have Santa Claus rather than St Nicholas, as the central Christmas figure. Do you have special New Zealand Christmas traditions. A favourite memory? Some decorations you are proud of? Share your best Christmas stories and pictures with us(end of page).You will build a web page you can share with friends and family Pohutakawa-New Zealand Christmas TreeChristmas in New Zealand is heralded by our very own Christmas tree bursting into bloom.The native pohutakawa tree flowers in Novemember, and is a mass of bright red.
Santa Delivers to New Zealand First!Our shopping Malls have beautifully decorated areas, where Santa resides in his huge chair....rather like a throne. Small children line up, waiting for their turn to tell Santa what they would like him to bring.Not all of us have chimneys, and those that do, at least won’t have their fires going, ready to burn Santa’s suit and cover it in soot! As New Zealand is the first country to see the new day......Santa starts his deliveries here! 
If you can imagine Santa in his sleigh with all his hot winter clothes, long white beard, hat and big black boots and white gloves, you can imagine that poor old Santa finds his work in New Zealand very hot! My children would always put out a bucket of water for the reindeer, and we, like many families, left out a Christmas mince pie (see note on Christmas food) and a can of beer, to revitalise Santa before he carried on around the world. We decorate our homes with traditional pine Christmas trees, and these days we have access to the gorgeous selection of lights found in USA, so many homes are beautifully lit. I will take a city tour in the next few days .........we have area competitions, and certain city streets participate, drawing thousands. Christmas CardsWe send Christmas cards to family and friends wishing them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.It is somewhat bemusing,as invariably these cards are decorated with snow scenes, or cosy fires burning, with stockings hanging from the mantelpiece, rather than traditional scenes of Christmas in New Zealand on the beach. Christmas Carols and Santa Parades!All the main cities entertain their people with Carols in the Park, which is an exciting event for children and their families.Well known local singers, and a Choir entertain, singing Christmas songs and carols, and everyone can join in. Santa arrives to greet his supporters at the end of the night, in various modes of transport............ably supported by his merry band of reindeer and perhaps a few elves. Christmas Day FestivitiesEvery family has their own special way of celebrating Christmas in New Zealand. It is invariably a family affair.Some will start by attending a church service, celebratig the true reason we have Christmas. Others will just have a holiday. They may eat inside or out, on a warm deck or under a tree in the garden, at the beach, or even in a tent or caravan. This is the start of our main summer holiday season. If you can imagine having to pack up and go away on holiday the next day as many do, Christmas in New Zealand is a very busy time for mothers!
Traditional Christmas Dinner in New ZealandStrangely, Christmas in New Zealand may be hot, but we generally adhere to the traditional cool weather Christmas dinner, though often with a unique Down Under twist.If the day is warm and fine, my family always eat our Christmas dinner outside. This may be followed by a swim, or at least a walk on the beach. Christmas dinner is traditionally turkey or a baked ham. Some family’s prefer chicken or a leg of lamb. Roast vegetables......potato, pumpkin, kumara( sweet potato), peas and/or beans are the standard. There are variations as some people now prefer simpler, cold meals. Often meat will be cooked on a BBQ rather than in the kitchen where it is so hot. Christmas in New Zealand Special Desserts!Dessert is traditionally English Christmas pudding, brandy sauce and custard. Many families will also have
Christmas cake.....another tradition brought from England..... is also cut. Many families have a special recipe. It is a rich, heavy fruit cake which may or may not be iced with almond icing, and decorated with festive Christmas icing decorations. You are supposed to enjoy one month of good luck for the following year, for every different cake you sample.
........Boxing Day !Boxing Day....26th December.....like Christmas in New Zealand, follows English tradition............. and is also a public holiday. These days there are big Boxing Day Sales.It is rather a strange day for New Zealander's to celebrate! It came about when the owners of large farming estates in England, boxed up all the remains from their luxurious and extravagant Christmas dinners, distributing the leftovers to their staff. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you...............I hope you enjoy my website and have bookmarked it so you can return........Gail
Are you Looking for Holiday Reading?If you are looking for some interesting holiday reading, you might like to browse the page of New Zealand Holilday Reading HERE CLICK HERE to go to New Zealand Holiday Reading CLICK HERE to leave Christmas in New Zealand and return to Home Page
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Not only does it remind us Christmas is coming...........but it is an excellent indicator of the summer we will enjoy. If it flowers early, we can expect summer early........flower late.......oh dear, summer may not be all we are wishing for!
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