Christmas in Summer
I have to thank Maria for the suggestion to talk about an Aussie Christmas. To me, celebrating Christmas with sunshine and beach weather is normal. I grew up in a small semi-rural area about a mile from the beach and on Christmas Day a “Santa” would ride around in the back of a truck and throw lollies for the kids. I think he was actually a friend’s dad, but we never questioned this tall, lanky Santa’s visit.
If you want to imagine an Aussie Christmas feast, just think of your favourite celebratory summer treats. Then add more seafood! My neighbour is going out before dawn catching (or trying to catch – they’re evading him and his traps this year) rock lobsters – or what I call crayfish.
But I don’t want to talk about food – which is what I always end up talking about. What can I say? I love eating!
I popped into Fremantle, Western Australia, to show you the church where I like to attend a Christmas service – forget Midnight Mass! When it’s a sticky, hot night and you’re crowded into an unair-conditioned church, the magic vanishes. Or faints. I like to attend the very first mass of Christmas Day at St Patrick’s Basilica, Fremantle. It’s not my local church, but it is where my great-grandparents, nana and mum all attended. For me there’s a wonderful sense of belonging.
Christmas makes me nostalgic.
So this is St Pat’s. It has dragons on its presbytery roof. The red brick building is the presbytery. The photo is taken looking into town. Olive trees provide the shade.
This is St Pat’s.
Just down the road from the basilica is the port. Fremantle is a port city. You can see a cruise ship docked there in the next photo. Wind back sixty odd years, and this is where my great-grandparents, grandparents and mum disembarked from a ship from Germany and touched Australian soil for the first time. They were displaced persons, Poles transplanted from home to Germany by WWII. They came here to start new lives. Being in St Pat’s I remember all the people who’ve come here with desperate hope and I pray that somehow we can build a better world, one where people aren’t forced out of their homes by war.
Fremantle port – or part of it.
They’re not the best pics – sorry.
I was also hoping to share a video of our city’s Christmas pageant, but couldn’t find one. It’s normally broadcast. Think of a 4th of July parade but with a Christmas theme, or Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on a smaller scale with Aussie craziness, and you’ll have an idea of the Perth Christmas Pageant. Floats, marching bands, dance schools. It’s fun.
Christmas Giveaways
Sorry I forgot to mention these two giveaways earlier! Both are running till Christmas. The first gives you a chance to win a $100 giftcard. Woohoo! Thanks, Romancing the Dragon. The second from Paranormal Romance Lovers has a different couple of authors offering different prizes each day.
Trying to Catch Up
I’m a bit behind on my writing schedule, so I have to dive back into Fantastical Island because Storm Road is calling me – that’s the next book in the Old School series.
I hate having to share some photos and run – I’d love to hear your Christmas traditions – but unless I want to rely on chocolate (and for the sake of my waistline I don’t dare) I need to catch up on my writing before I hit some deadlines hard. Then chocolate will be inevitable! Chocolate, the secret magic of writing.
Consequently, I won’t be sending a newsletter next week. You’ll hear from me when Phoenix Blood comes out December 27, and after we’ve all survived the festivities. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
13 responses to “An Australian Christmas and Memories”
Thanks so much for sharing this Christmas post, Jenny. I particularly enjoying hearing about how your family came to make Australia their home. Have a wonderfully creative and successful 2017.
Thanks, Teena 🙂 A happy Christmas and New Year to you and yours – and a very happy and productive writing and publishing year for you in 2017 🙂
Oh! Jenny!!
I love your newsletters. I look forward to them. You always share the best stuff. Loved the pics. Of course, I had to Google everything you mentioned. I found a video of parade from 2013. Lotsa fun!!
Thank you for sharing!! Enjoy the holidays.
Google to the rescue! I’m glad you enjoy my posts, Mary. I’m always worried that I ramble, even with my photos!
I was born in the Northeast of England cold snowy Christmas was the norm came out to Australia in 82 this is my poem about my Australian Christmas
Christmas in Australia
It’s Christmas in Australia, Carols are being sung
The Sun’s shining brightly, Garlands have been hung
Barbies have been lighted, Prawns are on the grill
Beers in the fridge, The Wine’s been set to chill
No Snow on the horizon, the heat is climbing high
No Robins in the hedgerow, just Cockies in the Sky
No log fires are burning, The aircon is blowing cool
No kids sledding on the snow, They’re heading for the pool
We still have Santa and his sleigh even though it’s rather hot
Ice cold milk and cookies they’ll really hit the spot
Kids opening presents it’s really quite the same
Instead of throwing snowballs, beach cricket is the game
It’s Christmas in Australia, The Sun is shining bright
When the sun goes down, Christmas Lights shine all night
It’s blue skies and sparkling seas, Swimming cossies are the go
No bundling up in scarves and mittens, Definitely no Snow!
P. Dixon
Copyright 2016
Pauline, I just want to hug you. I got teary reading your poem. Thank you for sharing it. It’s beautiful. And “definitely no snow!” 🙂
Wow! That’s brilliant. Frankly, I’d like to celebrate not a British & Aussie Xmas.
*both a British & Aussie Xmas.
I love reading about British Christmas’s – Trisha Ashley’s 12 Days of Christmas is one of my favourite re-reads this time of year. But what if it snowed? I don’t like snow in real life!
The bassilica is gorgeous!
A big chunk of the US and Canada are suffering some frigid temperatures right now so Australia must sound pretty good about now. ?
envy
I envy your seafood dinner. Now that we don’t live by the Gulf of Mexico anymore, it’s hard to get good seafood.
Yeah, I think lots of the US will get their White Christmas (and now Bing’s singing in my mind, LOL).
Loved the pictures,Happy Holidays
Thanks, Leshea. Happy holidays to you too! I’ll send you some summer sunshine as well 🙂