Christmas in Australia

Where is Australia? Australia is the only country that is also an entire continent. Australia is often referred to as being “down under” because it lies entirely below the southern hemisphere.

What is it like to live there? The climate in a lot of Australia is hot. Hot at the beach and hot in the desert. Australians celebrate Christmas when it is summer.

The Australian Flag

Facts about the Flag Australia's National Flag In 1901, the Commonwealth of Australia was formed.  Until this time, Australia used Britain's flag, the Union Jack.  A competition was held to find the design for Australia's own flag.  Five designers shared the prize because they came up with similar ideas for the Australian flag. In the top left hand corner is the Union Jack.  This shows that Australia is part of the British Commonwealth.  Beneath the Union Jack is a large white star with seven points.  The points represent the six states and the territories.  Originally this star had six points.  The seventh point, for the territories was added in 1908. On the right hand side are the stars of the Southern Cross. The southern Cross was chosen because it can always be seen in the Australian sky at night.

Australian Animals Australia is home to kangaroos, kookaburras, wombats,wallabies, lyrebirds,taipan snakes, platypus, and Australian frilled lizards

How do people celebrate Christmas? They decorate with lots of flowers!

Lollipops for everyone Local firefighters throw lollipops for all the kids throughout the city.

Plants and trees Eucalyptus or gum trees are everywhere in Australia. Koala bears like Eucalyptus trees. Acacia trees or wattle trees grow a lot. At Christmas time, people like to decorate live trees and many people have Christmas trees just like us!

Christmas Caroling and Candlelight 'Carols by Candlelight' is a tradition which started in 1937. It is held every year on Christmas Eve at the Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne when thousands of people gather to sing their favorite Christmas songs, lighting up the night sky with candles. This is now broadcast throughout the world.

Cold Food at the Beach Australians like cold cuts and sea food and a picnic at the beach.

More About Boxing Day…… A Christmas box is, in English tradition, a clay box used in artisan shops. the box, like a piggy bank, and then, after Christmas, the box would be shattered and all the contents shared among the workers of the shop. Employers would donate money to the box and the workers would gladly break it open.

Boxing Day Boxing Day is a public holiday in Australia and many people either relax and watch the annual Boxing Day Test Match or begin travelling to their holiday destinations. Boxing Day also marks the beginning of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Christmas Food Christmas Day is a time for families to get together and exchange gifts . Due to the diversity of cultures within Australia, and the fact that the weather is so hot at this time of year, many people now have cold meat or seafood with salads and it is often taken as a picnic either to the country or to the beach.