Welcome back to another instalment of Blogmas! Today, we're exploring the distinctions between Christmas in Australia and Christmas in the US. Being separated from loved ones during the festive season can sometimes make Christmas feel somewhat less enchanting. Occasionally, yearning for home can surface when you encounter subtle variations in how different cultures observe the holidays. This will be my 4th or 5th Christmas in Australia, and over time, I've spotted some understated and quite obvious differences in the way Australians mark Christmas. Here are the five most notable differences between Christmas in Australia and Christmas in the USA.
1. Christmas Lunch vs Christmas Dinner
Throughout the United States, Christmas dinner represents a cherished tradition for countless families observing the festive season. Similar to Thanksgiving celebrations, families prepare and share elaborate feasts together. Turkey, ham, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, chocolate mud pie, and various other delicacies are typically laid out for everyone to savour. Our mornings are usually spent with close relatives (mother, father, brothers and sisters) before we head to another family member's residence for Christmas dinner. Certain families opt to celebrate their Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve instead. Regardless of which day is chosen, it's uncommon to encounter families who observe a Christmas lunch celebration.
In Australia, however, Christmas celebrations often centre on a midday meal. Rather than turkey, the spread typically features seafood and king prawns, perhaps accompanied by barbecued items and pavlova as a sweet finish. Given the warmer climate in the Southern Hemisphere, many households opt to dine outdoors. A number of my mates' families actually take their Christmas lunch down to the seaside.
Both a midday and evening Christmas meal come with merits and drawbacks. I've noticed that Australians might favour lunch over dinner partly due to the lovely weather and comparatively lower religiosity than in America. Many American families attend church on Christmas Day, making an evening meal impractical. Wrapping up the day with family is appealing, yet a Christmas lunch can feel somewhat anticlimactic.
2. Carolling vs Carols by Candlelight
Australia celebrates Carols by Candlelight, an event that has remained a cherished custom for approximately seven decades. Groups of families and mates gather in parks to perform seasonal songs and enjoy live performances. Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight represents the premier celebration held annually in Melbourne on Christmas Eve. Though I haven't experienced one myself, attending a Carols event is considered an essential Australian Christmas activity.
Across the US, carolling takes a distinctive form. Groups often unite and move between homes performing traditional Christmas melodies. Participants dress warmly in layers, enjoying steaming hot chocolate whilst distributing festive goodwill. At my school, the choir would visit classrooms to sing carols. My relatives frequently carolled through local streets. This consistently proved an excellent method for fostering community spirit and tranquillity in our neighbourhood. Belting out Christmas carols is invariably enjoyable! It's nearly impossible to keep a straight face whilst singing "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer".
3. Ornaments versus Absence of Ornaments
I've really struggled with this since relocating to Australia. Yes, certain areas do feature houses adorned with lights and festive decorations. However, in my experience, this is largely uncommon. Where I'm from, many neighbourhoods expect residents to decorate for Christmas. And I'm not talking about simply stringing up lights—I mean elaborate displays that rival some of those YouTube videos. I understand it's not for everyone and not all families celebrate Christmas, but I'd love to see more of that holiday spirit around Australia. The retailers certainly do their part pushing it here though.
4. Nativity Sets vs Surfing Santa
Back in the United States, many households decorated their homes with nativity scenes. In our family, the figure of the Baby Jesus couldn't be placed in the nativity until Christmas morning. Every December, we'd compete for the honour of positioning him into the display. My mates all had different nativity scenes at their homes too. To be honest, I was raised in a Catholic family and most of my closest companions came from Catholic families as well. This might not reflect the broader American experience, but within my own social circle, it was universal. Along with our advent calendars, we eagerly marked off the days until Christmas arrived.
Christmas down under certainly carries a more relaxed atmosphere. Coupled with the brilliant sunshine and the easygoing temperament of most Australians, it's hardly surprising that Father Christmas would embrace a more laid-back approach to his festive activities. Prior to Father Christmas distributing all the presents to the well-behaved youngsters across the globe, he enjoys a break and catches some waves on Christmas Eve morning. Truth be told, this is arguably the most excellent Christmas custom I've come across. I reckon Santa deserves a breather and some surfing time before his shift begins.
5. Warm Weather versus Cold Weather
There's a stark contrast between how these two nations mark the season. Australia sits in the Southern Hemisphere, so December brings warmth and bright skies. A white Christmas is virtually unheard of in Australia (unless Tasmania cops an unexpected cold snap). Growing up, I almost invariably had a white Christmas. My grandmother's place was tucked away in remote Michigan and felt like stepping straight into a Christmas card. Everything was magical—the house buried under pristine, powdery snow. Throughout the day you'd spot deer bounding across the snowy fields. Our household was pandemonium, with relatives dashing about and shouting. It was rather fortunate nobody came a cropper during our festive gathering. Over 35 relatives crammed into a single property. That sounds like the setup for a thriller. By contrast, Australia offers balmy, radiant weather, sandcastles instead of snow figures, and a noticeably cheerier atmosphere since nobody's risking frostbite.
Ultimately, the distinctions between how Australians and Americans celebrate the festive season aren't particularly substantial. I reckon it comes down to whether you're marking the occasion with people who matter to you. Celebrating the holidays in an unfamiliar country can prove quite difficult. What festive customs does your nation observe? Have you ever celebrated in a foreign country? How did you get on?
If you haven't caught day 1 yet, make sure you check it out! It'll give you some brilliant inspiration for presents for the travel enthusiasts in your life!
1. Christmas Lunch vs Christmas Dinner
Throughout the United States, Christmas dinner represents a cherished tradition for countless families observing the festive season. Similar to Thanksgiving celebrations, families prepare and share elaborate feasts together. Turkey, ham, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, chocolate mud pie, and various other delicacies are typically laid out for everyone to savour. Our mornings are usually spent with close relatives (mother, father, brothers and sisters) before we head to another family member's residence for Christmas dinner. Certain families opt to celebrate their Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve instead. Regardless of which day is chosen, it's uncommon to encounter families who observe a Christmas lunch celebration.
In Australia, however, Christmas celebrations often centre on a midday meal. Rather than turkey, the spread typically features seafood and king prawns, perhaps accompanied by barbecued items and pavlova as a sweet finish. Given the warmer climate in the Southern Hemisphere, many households opt to dine outdoors. A number of my mates' families actually take their Christmas lunch down to the seaside.
Both a midday and evening Christmas meal come with merits and drawbacks. I've noticed that Australians might favour lunch over dinner partly due to the lovely weather and comparatively lower religiosity than in America. Many American families attend church on Christmas Day, making an evening meal impractical. Wrapping up the day with family is appealing, yet a Christmas lunch can feel somewhat anticlimactic.
2. Carolling vs Carols by Candlelight
Australia celebrates Carols by Candlelight, an event that has remained a cherished custom for approximately seven decades. Groups of families and mates gather in parks to perform seasonal songs and enjoy live performances. Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight represents the premier celebration held annually in Melbourne on Christmas Eve. Though I haven't experienced one myself, attending a Carols event is considered an essential Australian Christmas activity.
Across the US, carolling takes a distinctive form. Groups often unite and move between homes performing traditional Christmas melodies. Participants dress warmly in layers, enjoying steaming hot chocolate whilst distributing festive goodwill. At my school, the choir would visit classrooms to sing carols. My relatives frequently carolled through local streets. This consistently proved an excellent method for fostering community spirit and tranquillity in our neighbourhood. Belting out Christmas carols is invariably enjoyable! It's nearly impossible to keep a straight face whilst singing "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer".
3. Ornaments versus Absence of Ornaments
I've really struggled with this since relocating to Australia. Yes, certain areas do feature houses adorned with lights and festive decorations. However, in my experience, this is largely uncommon. Where I'm from, many neighbourhoods expect residents to decorate for Christmas. And I'm not talking about simply stringing up lights—I mean elaborate displays that rival some of those YouTube videos. I understand it's not for everyone and not all families celebrate Christmas, but I'd love to see more of that holiday spirit around Australia. The retailers certainly do their part pushing it here though.
4. Nativity Sets vs Surfing Santa
Back in the United States, many households decorated their homes with nativity scenes. In our family, the figure of the Baby Jesus couldn't be placed in the nativity until Christmas morning. Every December, we'd compete for the honour of positioning him into the display. My mates all had different nativity scenes at their homes too. To be honest, I was raised in a Catholic family and most of my closest companions came from Catholic families as well. This might not reflect the broader American experience, but within my own social circle, it was universal. Along with our advent calendars, we eagerly marked off the days until Christmas arrived.
Christmas down under certainly carries a more relaxed atmosphere. Coupled with the brilliant sunshine and the easygoing temperament of most Australians, it's hardly surprising that Father Christmas would embrace a more laid-back approach to his festive activities. Prior to Father Christmas distributing all the presents to the well-behaved youngsters across the globe, he enjoys a break and catches some waves on Christmas Eve morning. Truth be told, this is arguably the most excellent Christmas custom I've come across. I reckon Santa deserves a breather and some surfing time before his shift begins.
5. Warm Weather versus Cold Weather
There's a stark contrast between how these two nations mark the season. Australia sits in the Southern Hemisphere, so December brings warmth and bright skies. A white Christmas is virtually unheard of in Australia (unless Tasmania cops an unexpected cold snap). Growing up, I almost invariably had a white Christmas. My grandmother's place was tucked away in remote Michigan and felt like stepping straight into a Christmas card. Everything was magical—the house buried under pristine, powdery snow. Throughout the day you'd spot deer bounding across the snowy fields. Our household was pandemonium, with relatives dashing about and shouting. It was rather fortunate nobody came a cropper during our festive gathering. Over 35 relatives crammed into a single property. That sounds like the setup for a thriller. By contrast, Australia offers balmy, radiant weather, sandcastles instead of snow figures, and a noticeably cheerier atmosphere since nobody's risking frostbite.
Ultimately, the distinctions between how Australians and Americans celebrate the festive season aren't particularly substantial. I reckon it comes down to whether you're marking the occasion with people who matter to you. Celebrating the holidays in an unfamiliar country can prove quite difficult. What festive customs does your nation observe? Have you ever celebrated in a foreign country? How did you get on?
If you haven't caught day 1 yet, make sure you check it out! It'll give you some brilliant inspiration for presents for the travel enthusiasts in your life!
Until we meet again...
Keep wondering!
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