by Kiall Rowberry

Created on: November 13, 2008

Aaah, Christmas in Australia. A time of year where Northern Hemisphere inspired traditions meet the Southern Hemisphere weather!

Christmas in Australia, particularly in the northern areas of the country, is often extremely hot. Temperatures in excess of 35 degrees Celsius are not uncommon at this time of the year.

Yet many Australians continue to follow the English traditions of the festive season. A big, fat roast turkey and a honey glazed ham form the centrepiece of a meal that contains more food than is physically possible for those at the table to eat in five sittings.

But to compensate for the heat, the turkey and ham are usually cooked in advance - usually the night before while the family sits around the television and watches the annual carols by candlelight' telecast.

The next morning is dominated by the unwrapping of presents, the kids tearing at paper and squealing with delight when the contents of the box is finally revealed (even if that particular gift is way off the mark, kids are surprisingly good at faking gratitude!)

When it comes time for the major event of lunch, out comes the cold turkey and ham and a large arrangement of summer salads, fresh seafood and plenty of beer! There will always be an initial pause to pop the crackers and read a few dodgy jokes that are hidden inside.

Post dinner traditions are varied from household to household, but one constant tends to be the obligatory Christmas day game of backyard cricket.

This usually begins when one of the kids picks up the new bat he unwrapped that morning and convinces a sibling or parent to bowl a few balls. This is the cue for all the aspiring Bradman's to take the field and wait for a turn to bat. After the kids have played for a while, it is the adults turn to show them how it's done', albeit one handed as the non-preferred hand must be supporting a fresh Beveridge!

When the fun and games of the cricket die down, it is time for anyone over the age of 35 to sit in the air-conditioning, or under the shade of a tree, and enjoy their afternoon nanna nap' while the kids continue to pull apart the wide selection of toys they unwrapped in the morning most of which were only seen momentarily before attention was shifted to the next festively wrapped surprise.

That night, the exhausted kids will be carried off to bed, having fallen asleep in front of the inevitable screening of Miracle on 34th street'. The parents will pack away most of the mess, stare down a seemingly infinite stockpile of leftover food and swear blind to each other that they will not go to so much trouble next year.

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