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How do Canberrans celebrate Christmas? From Christmas Markets, Carols, St Nikolaus to Turkey on Christmas Day, discover traditions celebrated in Canberra?

Christmas in Canberra is often very hot. Whereas the northern hemisphere is in the middle of winter, we are baking in summer hea well into the mid 30 degrees. A traditional meal includes a turkey dinner, with ham, and pork. Some of us will have Christmas lunch at a beach on the South Coast. Others will enjoy their day by having a picnic, playing Cricket out the backyard, and other outdoor activities.

In Germany Christmas starts on December 6th with Nikolaustag, children leave out a shoe or boot outside the door Dec. 5 and the next morning they find presents (if you were a good kid) or sticks (if you were bad). Most cities host Christmas Markets with traditional gifts and food not available in the stores. 

Christmas in Ireland lasts from Christmas Eve to the feast of the Epiphany on January 6, which is referred to as Little Christmas. Ireland’s Christmas is more religious than a time of fun. Lighted red candles decorated with sprigs of Holly are placed in windows on Christmas Eve, as a guide that Joseph and Mary might be looking for shelter. After the Christmas evening meal, bread and milk are left out and the door unlatched as a symbol of hospitality. For children, the Wren Boys Procession is their big event. Boys go from door to door with a fake wren on a stick, singing, with violins, accordions, harmonicas and horns to accompany them. The reason for the ceremony is to ask for money ‘for the starving wren’, that is, for their own pockets.

Indian Christians decorate banana or mango trees, light small oil-burning lamps as Christmas decorations and fill their churches with red flowers. In India, the poinsettia is in flower and so the churches are decorated with this brilliant bloom for the Christmas Midnight Mass.

Visit Canberra Online’s Christmas 2007 website for more great ideas this Christmas in Canberra. For more Christmas Traditions click here. 

Merry Christmas from everyone at Canberra Scene and Canberra Online!!

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