Australia

In Australia, Christmas comes in the middle of the summer holidays! Children have their summer holidays from early to mid December to early February, so some people might even be camping at Christmas!

One of the big celebrations of Christmas in Australia is a Carols by Candlelight service that is held in a big stadium in Melbourne and broadcast all over the country on television.

In Australia, Father Christmas sometimes arrives to towns and cities on the coast in a boat or even on water-skis!

On Boxing Day a famous Yacht race is held. The boats race from Sidney to Hobart in Tasmania.

The Flying Doctor Service has to work all though-out Christmas and on Christmas Day all the people in the outback send Christmas greetings to each other over the radio network.

Most families try to be home together for Christmas and the main meal is eaten at lunch time. A lot of families have a traditional ‘English’ dinner of roast turkey. Although some might have a cold turkey and salad picnic at the beach or even a barbecue!