Merry Christmas from Down Under!
Posted by
Conrad and Louisa
Tuesday 27 December 2011 at 19:16
2
comments
For the last 4 consecutive years Louisa and I have been away from Canada for Christmas. With work, it was easy to get away and a perfect time to decompress before “what we in the biz call ‘busy season’”. However, it wasn't just good timing that drove us to get away; it was what Christmas has become in North America that pushed us to jump on a plane – consume, buy, consume, repeat…
Our time in Australia has been amazing (less a few minor nuisances), Christmas especially. Australian Christmas is very different from North American tradition. There is less emphasis on presents and more emphasis on the three F’s – family, friends and fun:
Our time in Australia has been amazing (less a few minor nuisances), Christmas especially. Australian Christmas is very different from North American tradition. There is less emphasis on presents and more emphasis on the three F’s – family, friends and fun:
- Families tend to spend Christmas Eve together in Australia. This is very similar to Canada, however instead of turkey or ham, Australians BBQ prawns and kangaroo steaks in the many public parks. It is a festive event that involves a lot of booze (as does everything in Australia) – here is us trying to fit in with our KPMG Calgary friends living abroad!
- Christmas day is very different from Canada. Presents are opened early Christmas morning, and instead of making a nice breakfast, the family is rushed off to the nearest coast to claim a spot on the beach with their closest friends. Instead of the parents nursing their hangover, they continue to drink and BBQ in the sun until their melanoma starts to appear again. This is the view of Bondi Beach, Sydney – we were the only ones not drinking. The ONLY ones!
- Instead of Rudolf, Dancer, Prancer. Comet, Vixen etc. (great stripper names) pulling Santa’s sleigh through the snow, Santa is pulled by six white Boomers – see video.
What we have discovered while spending Christmas in Australia (Sydney) is that Australians treat Christmas as just another stat holiday. They seem super relaxed and don’t stress about buying gifts, Boxing Day sales, etc. They would much rather spend their free time with friends and family on the beach with a well-deserved beer or twelve. The next Christmas Louisa and I spend in Canada (if we do), we will ensure that our families have some drinks on Christmas Eve, exchange laughs instead of gifts and bbq at the closest skating rink…
2 comments:
- Greg D on 2 January 2012 at 16:32 said...
-
Put very well, the North American Christmas.
Miss you two. 4 days visiting was not enough after 7 months apart. Can't wait to see you in less than two months :) - Juliana on 3 January 2012 at 16:10 said...
-
I completely agree with your comment about Christmas here. Consume, buy, consume... It's overwhelming, unnecessary, and I would much rather have a simpler Christmas than the way it is now. Even Sawyer recognizes that it's too much and wanted to stop opening so many presents halfway through and go play by himself. That should tell you something when even a 3 year old knows he's getting too many gifts!
Now to convince the families, both sides, to ease up.. that's another story!
Great post!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)