Australians were good at old fashioned English Christmases. And many still do 'em. "England" was Home (note the capital) for generations of Australians. 15 years ago my father's cousins (third generation Australians in their 60's) asked me if I had been Home. No, I said, I've never been to England.

Baking turkeys, vegetables & chickens, & christmas cakes, boiling puddings in cloths - all in a heat wave!! And let us not forget the Christmas bushfires adding their bit to the season.

Crackers & party hats & silly mottoes, large family gatherings, excited kids running amok and/or getting sick from too much food & excitement, female rellies washing up, male rellies drinking beer & sleeping after lunch, cricket in the yard - madness in a hot climate.

Oops, I forgot Santa in his red suit, & all the cards & decorations - snow-decked scenes, robins, Victorian villages & toyshops ...

bah humbug

To round out the picture, many Australians have a mix of hot & cold food & spend time at beaches or pools.

sandra