American Reacts to "What Christmas is Like in Australia"

[@Twedledum1]

As an Aussie I’m surprised she didn’t know where the reindeer being swapped for kangaroos might have come from. There’s a Christmas song called six white boomers where Santa’s sleigh is pulled by six large white Roos

[@DoubleDummy]

Suspect she isn't old enough to know it, since the singer has got himself in legal trouble, his name is hardly spoken anymore. I'm not commenting in any way on what he did just pointing out to others why he is possible not known by her.

[@Dragon4Gaze]

It was still sung at the last carols I went to, about 10 years ago, all my nieces and nephews (16-4) know that song even though I've never heard them listen to it. There are also tones of books about Ozzie Christmas that feature roos instead of reindeer. I've even seen ones where the sleigh is a ute (reference to Ozzi jingle bells maybe?).

[@frogmouth]

Age. Rolf Harris has been persona non grata for years now and you just dont hear 6 white boomers song any more

[@nathanjorgensen7350]

From Adelaide. Explains why things were missed

[@aeilahpi1207]

Lol i used to skip round the house to that song, Ralph Harris is a pedo now tho, so its frowned on >

[@nathanwhitmore2760]

I'm Australian and never went to a Christmas festival because they aren't really my style but my Granddad used to dress up as Santa and in his red hot car drive around the streets giving everyone a small gift or lollies (candy) and he did this for 22 years since I was born, this will be the first Christmas where he can't do that because he passed away this year but my dad is going to carry the mantle now which is exciting !

[@nevyn_karres]

Candy needs to be delivered ;)

[@evaadams8298]

That’s lovely!

[@libbypeace68]

What a great tradition for your family to carry on

[@uzetaab]

You know that means that one day it will be your turn right?

[@ac1dre1n99]

Another aussie thing to add is that we normally have our firefighters come out with a firetruck going around with a santa. Normally giving out lollies to people who they drive past. Not sure how common it is across Australia but in my hometown it’s a annual event.

[@nolasmith7687]

Glad you mentioned that. We have it in our country town too.

[@jodiellkrakouer2227]

I remember Santa in the firetruck when I was a kid living on Phillip island. It was one of my favourite parts of Christmas morning :)

[@so-b-itcustoms908]

Me too

[@louisestevenson5102]

They do

[@janeventur8919]

We had our local come around on Christmas Eve

[@lestat13666]

7:53 she forgot to mention that we cut soft drink bottles (soda bottles or pop bottles for those overseas) so can wedge in a long candle into the bottle so we don’t get wax on ourselves when it melts. No fancy candle holders, just a 1.25 litre coke bottle cut in half and a long candle bottom wedged into the spout of the bottle on the inside. We can then hold the candle without wax dripping onto us. We can hold the candle and not have to relight the candle if there is a wind as it is incased in a cut open coke bottle. Since all spouts of coke bottles are the same regardless of the size, depending on your type of candle, it may require different sized bottles. Like if you had incredibly long candles. Tea light candles are a hassle, but the long candles work best. No burns, wind resistant, can be held and waved around (responsibly) is the golden way to go! Also I remember for years had a cousin who had a pine tree farm, and we used to get a fresh tree every year. My job as a young child was to sweep up the dead pine leaves and then water the tree slightly, as we put it in a bucket to make it last for a few weeks. The smell was amazing and my best Christmas memories were of that. No spiders from what I recall. At the carols by candle light, because I WAS Lutheran growing up, we had the nativity story played out for us with a real donkey. Even as a family, the decorations under the tree woke have a porcelain nativity set, of Jesus being born. I don’t bother with that anymore as I lost my faith many, many years ago, when 2 family members out of 5 passed away with weeks of each other before Christmas, and one sibling got married and was obligated to do Christmas with her in-laws. So it was just my mother and I alone, with a little tree that had fibre optic lights. Christmas was never the same after that. No pine trees. No family. It was very dim and just became another day.

[@seanNZ91]

Christmas! ❤😁 Growing up down here, Christmas means summer to me. BBQ 🍖 and beers 🍺 , swimming at the beach 🏝️ , kayaking 🛶, surfing. 🏄‍♂️ The idea of a cold Christmas is so weird to me. But I still put fake snow on my tree 😂 I’ve never thought about how weird that is until now.

[@Rhythmattica]

Na..But Beers? Definitely...Mwhahahahahahahahaha

[@Bellas1717]

@@Rhythmattica haha under your comment - translate to English!

[@EmbraceThePing]

Christmas day = family Boxing day = Friends, beers, cricket. Preferably all outside either in the backyard or the local park/beach. Santa Claus = kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJqliGSqbtZ1esk Warning, explicit lyrics.

[@so-b-itcustoms908]

@@EmbraceThePing I remember finding my dads Kevin Bloody Wilson and Rodney rude on vinyl..😅 oh mate

[@James-kv6kb]

I often think that Australian kids would work out that the climate is the opposite much earlier than any other kid around the world because all of the shops putting snow on the windows and us putting snow decorations up around the house

[@mojojojo11811]

My experience of Christmas in South Africa was very similar to the one described in this video. It's basically a British Christmas adapted for summer conditions. We do the Christmas crackers with lunch which is usually a braai (barbeque), paper crowns etc etc same as in the UK. Most people will spend the day at a family members house relaxing around the swimming pool or at the beach. There will usually be an important cricket match on TV starting on boxing day. Boxing day is the same in South Africa as well.

[@jc-qd6be]

exactly the same in my house in Australia ..merry Christmas.

[@mehere8038]

Interesting, I've always wondered what it's like in South Africa & if it's similar to here in Oz, thanks for sharing :) With the food, do you do cold ham, cold turkey, seafood & stone fruits? Those things are popular in Australia. Also, do you have "carols by Candlelight"?

[@fugawiaus]

The Boxing Day test here in oz will be aust vs SA. We’ll be watching the same match😎

[@anta3612]

I spent my early childhood in Australia. Typical Christmas presents would be new summer clothes, beachwear and beach toys while Christmas lunch would be a bbq with friends round and the rest of the day would mostly be spent at the beach playing with our new toys. I still remember those Australian Christmases which, as a child, I'd associate with the smell of burnt grass, parched earth, summer school holidays and staying up late every one of those warm nights. Fond memories.

[@heritagehorsedrawncarriage1069]

The no religion group is huge here but we still celebrate Christmas because, to us, it's about family and friends.😄

[@chookie131]

Too right! No religion crap here! From the recent census 52% Athiest! (No religion)

[@tukicat1399]

@@chookie131 i would suggest less, only 22% go to church, many are 'cultural christians'

[@kcc-karenschroniccorner9432]

Not everyone celebrates Christmas. Haven’t had a tree in years and we only do presents etc for the sake of my mum. Each to his/her own.

[@Jade-ye1rp]

I'm atheist but the love I have for Christmas is INTENSE It's just such a wholesome lovely time of year and I will celebrate it every year till I die ❤🥺 Especially because I only got to have my first christmas in 2017 with my now Husband's family as my family never did it growing up.

[@chookie131]

@@Jade-ye1rp it’s amazing isn’t it! The best thing about Australia is Christmas is about family, food and drinks! Best time of year

[@michaelt901]

You can eat outside, but you have to battle a million flies trying to carry off Christmas lunch

[@Rhythmattica]

Not if you spray your food with Aeroguard! Mwhahahahahahahahaah

[@nicholascollins3012]

Very true and mosquitoes trying to bite you

[@braddley]

God this is so true

[@aluget7940]

We tried an outdoor thing a few years ago. We had to fight off the magpies who turned up for a free feed.

[@charlieboyok]

Yeah, you could have chrismas Lunch in the States then fly to Australia & have Christmas Lunch there as we are 9 or 10 hours ahead 😱😱😱😱😱😱

[@alisondawson5116]

I lived in Sydney growing up and my mum would always have a ‘baked dinner’ on Christmas Day. I remember so well her and I slaving away in a small kitchen getting ready for lunch. It was always the hottest day of the year. So we had a couple of baked chickens, (no one in our family liked turkey), a leg of ham and a leg of pork. Then freshly shelled peas and beans, Brussel sprouts, potatoes, pumpkin, parsnips and baked onion. Gravy and mint sauce. We always had, something she never mentioned was homemade plum pudding with money in it and homemade brandy sauce, custard, cream and ice cream ! I can tell you honestly, we were so buggered by the end of lunch, the only thing called for after lunch was a sleep, anywhere you could find to sleep ! This was really Christmas to me and as an adult I moved to Brisbane and continued to do all the things mum had done when she was alive. She passed away when I was 21. Now, my children are grown with partners and I ‘lost’ Christmas lunch along the way. I have had a lot of sadness in my life, but not having ‘my’ Christmas any longer is right up there with the saddest. God bless everyone and have a wonderful Christmas. 💕💕💕🐾🐾🐾🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🎅🏻🎁🛍️xoxox

[@jessbellis9510]

Plastic trees are the norm here in Australia. No shame here, and you just reuse the same tree every year. The "spiders aren't that common" applies to the city and human areas. Obviously if you're going up into the hills to cut down a tree that's outside, it'll have all the normal things that live in or near trees.

[@cosbit_]

No way, where I live in Australia, there's SO many spiders. It's not even summer yet but we've had to kill at least 5 spiders in our house within the past week!

[@matthewcullen1298]

​​@@cosbit_I just ignore them.i have no problem with huntsmans. I got bitten by what I think was a wolf spider last year. It hurt for a while but settled down pretty quickly. It wasn't it's fault. I picked it up in a rag.

[@frostyguy1989]

Chirstmas in New Zealand is much the same as Australia, but with the added bonus of the Pohutukawa. It's a tree that grows on the beach and blooms bright red this time of year, it's a sight to behold. It's often called the New Zealand Christmas Tree.

[@AmandaMitting]

We had a NZ Xmas tree on our farm, it took many years before it even produced blooms but they were truly beautiful!! The vibrant green against the bright red is truly amazing! Mum found it at a garden nursery one day and just decided to buy one as the picture looked nice on the label. We also have a native Aussie Xmas tree, well we do in Western Australia, but they are few and far between now. Unfortunately they are loved by white ants and being destroyed by housing developments when bushland is cleared. They also need bushfires to germinate their seeds. They have green leaves but the whole tree pretty much fills with the most amazing bright orange blossoms!! They only come out in blossom at Christmas time and mostly found in natural bushland. We also have these little star like spiders, which we call Christmas spiders as they only come out for a month or two around Christmas. They are quite cute and they too are in smaller numbers compared to when I was a kid.

[@barbaraharding7113]

The jacaranda tree in Australia blooms purple at Christmas time which carpets the ground around them purple is also a sight to see

[@theNeWo1]

2 things she didn't mention, companies usually shut down for 2 weeks over Xmas and new years as a compulsory holiday summer shutdown, and Australia is an early time zone, Australian's are sitting around having Xmas lunch while people in on the west coast of the us are finishing their work day.

[@figzor]

Most companies don't. If they do then you are in industry that can stand to have a break. Most others work through the break.

[@mjtunstall1976]

im getting my two weeks shutdown holidays starts this friday yippee!

[@michaeldudgeon]

My company is shutting down this Thursday, opening back up on the 3rd of jan but I’m taking almost a month off after saving up leave and RDO

[@Gamesta100]

I work at SALVOS (paid not volunteer) and we only close on public holidays. So no Christmas period for us. The best we get is going home at 3 on Christmas Eve instead of 5.

[@fransmith3255]

SOME companies, not most.

[@aaronf1078]

17:56 I love how her sarcasm went straight over your head, you’re probably thinking damn this girls easily amused😂

[@optimusmaximus9646]

Whilst the northern half of Australia had heat-wave conditions earlier this week, the southern half experienced its coldest December for decades with overnight lows below freezing. Parts of the south east (mostly in the high country) have seen snow every day this week, despite being less than one week away from the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.

[@Blurp3]

Yep! I'm in the Hunter Region. I have been wearing a jumper and trackies for this whole week and on and off through spring and summer so far. Christmas for us will only be top of 25°C. I'm a massive fan of cold weather, so I'm loving this. But, next year will be El Nino weather again.

[@psychokitty9325]

Perth here, first December in memory haven't needed the air con! Yet... 😂

[@optimusmaximus9646]

@@psychokitty9325 I am originally from Western Australia and as strange as it sounds I do miss the hot Christmasses we used to have. Christmas in NSW isn't near as hot as WA and it just doesn't feel the same, especially in a cool climate like Canberra where I've been living for the last 14 years 😥

[@taniyascott5369]

@@psychokitty9325 not YET! But 👍hopefully👍 we will! I hate the cold! Best Christmas ever was in Karratha! It was like 46C in the shade under the patio with the fan screaming it's butt off! The water in the pool was like swimming in warm soup! Best Chrissy EVER!

[@cariaus3758]

At this rate we'll be having a White Xmas in Sydney lol, I'm freezing!!!

[@Mr4dspecs]

Christmas fruits for many Aussies are cherries and mangoes. Cold cuts of ham and turkey are also popular. And a Christmas booze apart from beer is Sparkling Shiraz (sirah for the Americans) - a red-wine champagne, so full of histamines you get a hangover before you get drunk.

[@lesliedavis2185]

It’s yum though. I make a sparkling Shiraz and rasberry sorbet for xmas

[@psychokitty9325]

Ice cold cider for us! 👍

[@caylem00]

@@lesliedavis2185 oh recipe please :)

[@Tinkerbellstune]

As an Aussie I simply can’t grasp having a cold Xmas. Xmas for us is about gifts, alcohol, lots of food and family and friends. Our Xmas lunch consists of a hot roast dinner even tho it’s hot

[@LuvNickynGina4ever]

As a European i can't grasp having a hot xmas. As much as i enjoyed the experience It's just too weird to me, having spent one Christmas in oz while on my working holiday visa

[@mrmadness2699]

As an American I can wrap my head around a hot Christmas. I have family in Florida and friends from Hawaii and Southern California so that’s conceivable. What weirds me out is the thought of an Australian Halloween with children trick or treating while tulips and daffodils are blooming!

[@ManiKais]

We have spiders in our house all the time. When someone who's funny about spiders says, "There's a spider in the bathrooom - can you kill it?" the usual response is, "Nah, just leave it alone." It's like Mum was freaked out recently by this giant wasp/hornet that was buzzing around us while watching a movie. She'd keep saying, "There's a wasp there," as if someone ought to do something about it, and everyone just goes, "Yeah, okay," ignoring it. We sometimes get snakes and giant goannas and toads in the house, so keeping the screen doors closed is a good idea. Less snakes in recent years because we have more kookaburras.

[@jeanetteyuile2851]

Here in New Zealand Christmas it is exactly like Australia except it can be slightly hotter in summer in Australia . As Australia is as we call it “just across the ditch “ (close to NZ on the map ) our traditions are pretty much the same. Love watching your videos, Hope you get to travel to Aussie (Australia) one day. Their beaches are amazing .

[@taniyascott5369]

Oy Jeanette Yuile watcha talkn' bout??? NZ beaches are beautiful too!

[@jeanetteyuile2851]

@@taniyascott5369 not in Wellington where I have lived most of my life, but you are right. Auckland and further north the beaches are beautiful. Haven’t seen the South Island so can’t comment. What I loved about the Australian beaches was the fact that they are virtually trash free. 😀

[@taniyascott5369]

@@jeanetteyuile2851 I was born in Cambridge MANY decades ago. We moved to WA in 1978. I've visited NZ a few times since coming here & every time visiting lovely beaches, mosty in the North. Mt Maungauni & Coranandel & many others. I remember going to 1 beach, I don't remember what it was called, I was only about 13 at the time, but the sand was soft & black & when you dug into the sand to make a kinda pool, it was SOOOO hot, you had to get water from the ocean to add to it just so you could sit in a warm/hot "bath" on the beach. That was REALLY cool! Especially when rain is falling down around you 😁

[@mjtunstall1976]

across the ditch is a good termology bloody oath!

[@danhicks684]

Full of sharks too. Yuk.

[@makersarmory5989]

In Australia we literally have a Christmas carol called "Six White Boomers" which is about Santa switching his reindeer for kangaroos. great children's song u should check it out on KZbin.

[@Dr_KAP]

Growing up in country towns, I had 24 first cousins and we would all have Christmas on the farm. There would be a big BBQ, pony rides, a jumping castle, games.. and then in the afternoon we would all go to the beach to swim and play cricket! Everyone would end up sunburned and cranky.

[@Pil2t]

As an Australian, I've never really thought how our Christmas must really look to people from other countries. I always think about how theirs would but, but not how they see our Christmas.

[@kevo6190]

A few years back, mum had to work so she told my brother, my mate and I to put the plastic tree up and decorate it... It was buried in the back of the shed so we gave up and just decorated her exercise bike!🤣🇭🇲

[@peterjf7723]

One year I decorated a one metre tall cactus for Christmas.

[@douglasthompson296]

​​@@peterjf7723 did the same with an indoor Weeping Fig tree for a few years. BTW I'm UK. Cheers

[@artwithmaureenmaureensexto199]

Hi Here in Perth Western Australia, The maximum temperature on Christmas Day last year, 2020, was 42.8 degrees Celsius. In 2020 the maximum temperature on Christmas Day was 40.4 degrees Celsius. Too hot to go to the beach. Over summer, it's bushfire and cyclone season. In 1974 Darwin was flattened by Cyclone Tracy. So, emergency workers don't get much of a break at Christmas generally. Just a tip for when you do visit Australia. Don't park your car under trees for shade, or you may end up with spider/s in your car. Park under a carport, or you can buy car shades to cover your car. BTW Western Australia is a beautiful place to visit. We have beautiful beaches along the coast. In the South-West we have great surfing beaches, especially around Margaret River area. That area and all around the South-West is known of its wineries. Other produce as well of course. The forests are magnificent, especially the Karri, Marri and Tingle Tree Forests. They're huge! You can't come to WA without visiting the Dryandra Woodlands to see local fauna, and of course Rottnest Island to see quokkas, and the amazing beaches there. The rugged coastline of the South is beautiful! Must go to Albany for The Gap and so much more. Perth itself is amazing with its huge Swan River and its tributories snaking through and around the city, suburbs and outer metro areas. Kings Park is huge area, spectacular, overlooking the city. A forest and gardens in the city. There's so much more. I hope you do come here one day. You won't be disappointed.

[@Zxe-yo5ij]

Fun fact! This year (for some reason) it has actually snowed in Tasmania and Canberra in December which is obviously very odd, because it’s meant to be summer. Very pretty though

[@taniyascott5369]

Wow cool! No snow here in WA! But then again, it NEVER snows here in Perth 🤣

[@Zxe-yo5ij]

@@taniyascott5369 I’m actually from SA…. Just seen lots of pics and videos from tassy. Wish it snowed here :(((

[@Illyriad]

That big tent looking thing she showed for Carols by Candlelight is Sidney Myer Music Bowl, it's actually metal and a permanent structure, I do the P.A for those XD funny story, one time I nearly accidentally headbutted the singer of Gang of Youths on that stage, right before they were about to start their set 😂 came like 2 inches from slamming my forehead into his nose when we walked around a corner in opposite directions at the same time. We also do Christmas in July, which I doubt you guys would do, so we can have a Christmas in winter too 😂 Also yeah, you gotta but your prawns at least a week before Christmas.

[@rebeccatompkins]

Boxing Day sales is like Black Friday after Thanksgiving. It's crazy

[@luscus9754]

Temperature here in Geraldton, Western Australia on Christmas Day 2021 was 47c or 117F. Beautiful .

[@annejohnson491]

Hi from Australia, l have never had to spray for spiders in the tree. It can get up to 40 to 45 degrees, we had Santa in the mornings and huge family (up 100) ate and played all day. The house changed ever year and everyone brought food. As our family died out so did the large family Chritmas. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[@jayandhopes]

I love watching your Australian videos because im Australia

[@kennethdodemaide8678]

We'll be having BBQ, salads, some cold beers, and going to the beach.

[@DaquaviousFriggleton]

Some aussies also do christmas in july. Which is when you celebrate christmas in the middle of winter.

[@laurendaly5423]

On the 1st or 2nd day of December we have a Christmas pageant where many roads in the city are closed and beautiful floats decorated in many different themes will go down these streets (eg. gingerbread, snowflakes, toys, snowmen). There is also child dancers and child marching band groups that also participate in the pageant. It is extremely popular with many parents sleeping on the side of the road to secure front row seats for their child.

[@zalired8925]

What's Christmas pageant?

[@jacquelineross7598]

Oh my gosh spiders are SO common in Victoria Australia 🇦🇺 not sure who is saying they are not! My friends and I took our boards to the lake on the weekend and had mini spiders being blown in off the water 🤣

[@Lana-Moran]

They everywhere, the vacuum is always handy for catching them. Victorian spiders are unbelievable

[@Scooterboi60]

Sydney to Hobart yacht race starts in Sydney 26 December and finishes in Hobart about 4-5 days later depending on how fast the boats are and the weather.

[@Mr4dspecs]

All the yachts in full sail speeding through Sydney Harbour to The Heads and into the Tasman Sea is one of the most beautiful sights of the year.

[@madenabyss6981]

Love getting up that morning and watching yacht race and see who gets out the heads first

[@Scooterboi60]

@@Mr4dspecs I used to watch it from my balcony. Truly a beautiful sight.

[@belleellis8833]

Yes it's actually a beautiful sight to see watching Sydney Harbour alight with boats & people celebrating around the foreshores enjoying the holiday period! Not sure why she seemed to poo poo the idea but maybe she's never experienced it from S.A. but it's really something great to see! Then we would head down the Coast many years to Gerroa and watch the many small boats go by from The Fishos club (with binoculars).

[@vladtheimpalerofyourmom-ag5112]

Australian here spiders are super common, so common we hardly notice them…but at any given time we could find one fast if we wanted

[@zalired8925]

They're everywhere but will only bite you really if you make them bite on purpose basically.

[@nabstablook22]

Where the heck do u guys live I see any spider I’m running away lmao (I’m Australian too)

[@zalired8925]

@@nabstablook22 That's the point, there's probably three or four different species within a metre of you wherever you are. Also I forget the actual figure, but on average twenty four spiders will crawl over your face while you sleep in your bed. But if you don't go looking for them you would never know they are there. And just remember, a spider doesn't bite the wall, ground or your lounge when it crawls over it, so why would it bite you if it crawls over you. You have to poke a spider to make it bite you.

[@geetee4459]

For a young woman, she pretty much describes the history of Australia in less than an hour. Good job Sheila! :)

[@Thecosybooknook]

Another fun Aussie Xmas tradition is Santa driving around in fire trucks and waving to people as he comes past.

[@phunkmonkeycookiegarage7773]

Ahh yes, Santa in the shopping centre .... cue Kevin Bloody Wilson lol

[@PiersDJackson]

I guess I should mention the two most common spiders (visible) for Australians are the "Daddy Long Legs" and "Huntsman" - both are harmless house spiders, the two you kind of worry about are the Funnel Web and Red Back - which are respectively a trapdoor tarantula and black widow type, also highly venomous. Also the white tail can be bad with a necrotising bacteria in it's venom.

[@79zoey]

Whitetail venom is a neurotoxin, the cause of bacterial infection is from bacteria on the fangs and inflammation/ulceration "flesh eating" is due to that not the venom. Any spider bite can cause it, in North America they do have the brown recluse/fiddleback which I believe has an enzyme in its venom that does something similar. Merry Christmas.

[@andrewhall9175]

An ex employer of mine…a devout Jewish person and diamond dealer obviously does not observe Christmas but he still finds a way to spread the joy at this time of year. This is only because he loves his adopted country and he loves belonging here.

[@johnmoyle4195]

I live in a country town, and on Christmas Day, everything is closed except the brothel. You can’t buy a Thai salad, but you can rent a young woman from Thailand.

[@belleellis8833]

😂😂

[@aussiebornandbred]

🤣🤣🤣🤣sounds perfect🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@marypevitt174]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@GrethCunnington]

In the big Christmas parade in Adelaide, Santa collapsed from heat exhaustion one year. Luckily close to the biggest hospital.

[@mariestreeting4213]

Shouldn’t laugh but….😆😆😆

[@auraraine]

"Woolworths Carols in the Domain" is one of the biggest (from what I know living in Tasmania) televised Christmas carols.

[@dragonfly_86]

In Tasmania, where I live, you never know what the weather will be like. Sometimes we will have snow, particularly in the highlands, or it can be very hot. We don't have consistent summer until Jan and Feb.

[@martinjenkins6467]

Oh lovely cool Tasmania. It's so hot here in Perth at Christmas. One year was driving to the country It was 43c and the car broke down And I had a husky dog with me.

[@exuletempus]

the scariest thing around Xmas is spotting Santa in a speedo

[@mariestreeting4213]

😆😆

[@MajorMalfunction]

I've had my plastic Christmas tree up for a decade. Comes a week before xmas, I flick one switch, the lights go on, I dust my hands. Job done. If any new visitors ask why I have an xmas tree all year, I just say, "It's Christmas all year in this house, baby!" They don't ask again.

[@mariestreeting4213]

😆😆😆

[@samuelhoffmann162]

My dads side is German and a little on my mums side too. I used to always open presents from my grandparents, aunties and uncles etc. on Christmas Eve, and then on Christmas morning presents from parents. I thought this was something everyone did, but I learnt it was the German tradition.

[@Preview43]

A lot of people put so much effort into their Christmas lights but it doesn't get dark enough here until about 9:30pm and by then it's a bit late to take young kids out to see them.

[@feechuh7131]

Just watched this after having a spider come down onto my shoulder in the shower and hearing you saying that lots of people say they're not common, they're definitely common, especially this time of the year.

[@belleellis8833]

YES!! I don't know how some people say they're not common or don't seem to see them! Last Xmas even alone It was about 12:30am I was about to start putting the presents out and go to bed when the hugest Huntsman I had even seen was on the wall. So I dealt with that, steadied my heart a little, then went to start putting the presents out in sacks and voila 2nd Huntsman on another wall!!! It ran down the wall when I sprayed it and under the Xmas tree onto the presents from family! By the time I managed to deal with the spiders and get presents I got to sleep around 2:30 & my youngest woke around 3oclock and tossed and turned & finally got up at 5am. So sick of Huntsman's honestly!! Gets my heart and adrenaline pumping more than I would like!

[@Blurp3]

Couple of days ago, I had a 20 cent coin sized huntsman run up the shower wall whilst I had shampoo on my head! Both the spider and I were freaking out trying to get away from each other 😂😰. My son, had the BIGGEST huntsman I've ever seen in my 35 years of life. It had the biggest body, most likely a female. My son, kept spraying it, it just wouldn't die! I've had plenty of baby huntsmans hatch and spread all in my room. My mum has a yard full of overgrown trees and plants. I look forward to moving to a different state next year, never living in her house ever again! I know huntsmans are meant to be "friendly." But, I just can't 😩.

[@Classic-Ov3rThinker]

@@belleellis8833yes the 1yr I had a real Xmas tree we had to put a bomb under it as it was full of huntsman spiders 😱😱. Needless to say Boxing Day I went and bought a new fake Xmas tree!!

[@kazaj88]

as someone from far north Queensland it is very common for kids to be told that santa swaps out his reindeer for kangaroos up here as its way too hot and dry for his reindeer to cope. there is even a song about it called 6 white Boomers.

[@peaceful3250]

Six White Boomers is about Australian Christmas, not just Nth QLD.

[@kazaj88]

@@peaceful3250 I’m aware but the lady in the video stated she was from SA and that it wasn’t common for her, I might not have been clear enough but I was simply stating that it is common in QLD where I’m from and speculating if it because of how humid and hot it is up here around Christmas.

[@nickislade5533]

Six White Boomers was written and performed by Rolf Harris in the 80’s

[@davidberriman5903]

@@nickislade5533 I thought it was well before then but I wasn't sure so I just searched and it was in the 60s.

[@nickislade5533]

@@davidberriman5903 he release a 45 in the 60’s but the later television shows showcased it

[@soroushm9820]

im moving to australia in 2 months and your vids are the best way of getting to know the country!

[@belleellis8833]

Perfect time of year! Last month of summer is February. It's hot so you can get straight into the beach lifestyle & enjoy it when you arrive.

[@p_3ater160]

It'd be interesting to see you react to some Aussie Christmas Carols

[@ReinventingTheSteve]

Oh! Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Jingle all the way Christmas in Australia On a scorching summer's day, hey Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Christmas time is beaut Oh, what fun it is to ride In a rusty Holden Ute

[@savagexeno2549]

Santa Claus has got a new truck!

[@neilgayleard3842]

Christmas in Australia is great. I did it twice visiting family. It also made me enjoy a English Christmas more the following year.

[@AnthonyCJW]

@MoreJPS - You think Christmas day would be great?? Wait till you do New Years Eve here!! In Melbourne, you have summer time, and a public holiday the following day with Public Transport being free from 6pm on Dec 31st till 6pm January 1st - meaning you can go to a NYE party, stay out all night and party, and then take the train back home at dawn, and still have time to get out to the beach if you want!!

[@kristalcornwell]

Mate you really seem to appreciate Aus, Ive seen alot of your Australia vids you really should come experience it first hand its all true

[@stevedavis2473]

You should watch Bondi rescue Christmas. That's shows how Aussie's celebrate Christmas day.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I saw an interview with Margot Robbie on Jimmy Kimmel’s show and she talked about Australian Christmas. It sounds awesome with the beaches and prawns. I’ll leave the beer to Joel.

[@jax_xotic]

On the Gold Coast it generally storms every Christmas day. It's hot, humid, black sky rolls through, buckets down, then back to being hot again. We usually have the air con pumping so we don't melt. No ugly christmas sweaters here, but we have the Santa/ christmas themed Hawaiian style shirts. 👌🏻✨️

[@vickierobinson396]

My Santa always had a beer left out for him with arnotts Tim Tam's or Mint Biscuits. He was tired to and deserved the best. Our Christmas catch ups rock. We have an unwritten rule about catching up with everyone you know at Christmas.

[@rikhellum5652]

Yeah mate what she is saying about being hot is right. At this moment I am sitting on my verandah in Townsville. It is 31 degrees celsius humidity through the roof and it is 8.30pm. Sweating with the fan on. Merry christmas to you.

[@BomberFletch31]

Hot. Very hot. Last year in Perth, Christmas Day was about 40C. I don't know if it's just my imagination, but Perth tends to get extraordinarily hot on Christmas Day. The last time it actually rained on Christmas Day was in 1991. Personally, I can't stand the heat. Give me a white Christmas any day of the week. There's just something different, something special about a white Christmas that Aussies don't get to have. As for spiders - anywhere there are trees, shrubs, hedges etc, you'll find spiders. Spiders inside homes, however, are comparatively rare, but they do occur, especially if you have lots of plants in your garden. And I get pest control done annually, where someone comes to spray down the house with some insect killer, which seems to help with minimising the number of bugs that manage to get into the house.

[@danielsimpson6885]

Christmas in Perth is super hot but then Perth has some awesome swimming facilities

[@madenabyss6981]

I live in WA I had 43 where I was

[@jessbellis9510]

Usually Boxing Day is hotter though. I swear most of the time BD is even hotter than Chrissie.

[@MeganWhamGMfan]

It is not just your imagination (trust me) I live in Perth and I know how HOT it got in 2022s Christmas Holy cow I had to stay inside with the ac blasting 😢

[@gregmccallum3124]

I bought a fibre optic tree in 2002 and still have it to this day. Set it up, put a star on top and turn it on. It glows and spins. Best $80 I spent.

[@goatsmilk11]

Here's my experience with Australian Christmas. Santa struggles with our heat, so he comes wearing bather shorts. Instead of his sleigh, he chooses between a variety of vehicles, such as a jet ski, surfboard and even a rusty Holden Ute. Jingle bells is different to what your probably used to(have a listen some time). And finally..... It's HOT

[@Demigod_Toast7]

My dad actually makes a different DIY Christmas Tree every year, last year he got a long piece of wood and drilled holes in it to stick sticks in it.

[@aluget7940]

Here in Perth, Western Australia, we hope the temperature gets to 42.5C (109F) like it did last Xmas

[@PhillipLWilcher]

Christmas is very much a quiet time for me. This year - my first Christmas without my dad in 64 years - I'll be spending it with my good neighbours. They are my second family. Italian, grand and such good cooks! Years ago - many years ago now - I was Santa in one of our major department stores. I kid you not, after going to Santa Training School, I graduated and along with all the other Santas decked out in our Santa suits, we were presented with our Santa Certificates at a graduation ceremony. It's true! The following year, I became what was known as a recycled Santa! Hardest job ever, I have to say 🎅🎅🎅

[@whocatalogue]

Awww. Very sorry about that. Hope your Christmas is still as enjoyable and lively as ever!

[@PhillipLWilcher]

@@whocatalogue Thank you. I wish the same for you. Blessings!

[@jenniferharrison8915]

We have the World Record for surfing Santas! 👏🧑‍🎄 Catholicism is probably the most common religion now, it was usually Anglican (Church of England, Protestant, Uniting!)

[@mickybaus6848]

In South Australia, SA Proclamation day public holiday (actually 28 Dec) is on 26 Dec. Adelaide also has a pretty big Christmas pageant.

[@kjau7928]

Christmas day in Australia is usually stinking hot, then come the afternoon, we have big summer storms, or it's stinking hot, and it's raining, which makes it even hotter. In our family, everyone comes from far and wide to eat a hot lunch. Our homes are open to all. We have friends of all religions that come and enjoy our Australian lifestyle and Christmas day with us. My grandmother started 2 traditions where everyone received a present 🎁 no matter who you are. So we all chip in with extra gifts marked male or female, child or baby. Just to make sure everyone gets something and the other was welcoming in anyone who was alone on Christmas day. I always look forward to Christmas with my family and friends and sometimes new friends. Merry Christmas from Sydney Australia 🇦🇺

[@pluto2397]

This was a good one, she was pretty much spot on, all the best from Sydney Australia 🇦🇺

[@Precisa72]

We often used boxing day as a day to catchup with your mates to have a xmas with them after they all celebrated the day before with their families, and help each other eat the leftover food

[@jaimeebeaman9804]

During Christmas my region/town (whatever you call it) will have a Santa Claus on the back of this big truck throwing lollies (candy) out to kids and their families on the streets. One of my favourite memories as a child was waiting on my front lawn for Santa to come down my street and throw me lollies :) Not sure if other places do it too

[@juliettestofmeel]

😂 ours goes around in the back of a Ute

[@samanthapeters8314]

In Valencia, Spain. They have a Christmas parade in which three wise men hand out lollies to people of all ages watching the parade.

[@entireaustraliandefencefor2783]

My family gets Chrissie trees from the RFS (Rural Fire Service.) A fire house near us sells the trees, and the money they gather goes toward funding the underfunded Firey's. That's how most city Aussies get real trees I'd wager. Never encountered spiders from said trees. As for spiders in general, most of the species in Australia are insignificant ones. Very small garden and house spiders, (Like Daddy Long Legs.) that are easy to ignore or grow accustomed to. Bigger ones like Huntsman Spiders (The freaky big brown ones.) hunt other spiders, and the other spiders follow insects. Basically keep insects like flies out, you keep the food chain somewhat lacking for spiders and they'll be a fairly uncommon sight, maybe even rare. In summary, cleaning your house regularly keeps most of your problems away, making the place very liveable for an arachnophobic.

[@doctorcrusher2918]

Schools don’t finish the year one week before Christmas, never have. At the latest, about 2-3 weeks before. School year is calendar, end of January - beginning of December. Oh now I understand, she’s a South Australian that explains it 😂. The British invaded Australia, remember terra nullius (empty land). Traditionally, Christmas food is roast meat (lamb/pork), ham, turkey, and vegetables, Christmas pudding and pavlova. Seafood is often eaten on Boxing Day with leftover cold meats. Trifle is very English and not done so much anymore, but Aeroplane Jelly - Frog in a pond (it’s not jam either).

[@Donna.Walmsley101]

New South Wales PUBLIC schools do not go on holidays until 21st December thereabouts, at least the ones I taught in didn’t … although private and catholic schools go on holidays a bit earlier ..

[@jamesdean2185]

A popular Christmas song here is Kevin Bloody Wilson’s ‘Hey Santa Claus!’ Tells you everything about what Australians think of Christmas. (For some reason, we don’t hear it on the radio that much)

[@kdavies3105]

A lot of people go the plastic tree route in Australia because of the heat. It's quite difficult in some parts to keep a fresh pine tree 🌲 looking green & healthy. I use to live in a hot area & we used wet beach sand for the tree, but even then you had pine needles all over the floor from about day 3 & you could never have a tree up for more than 6 days in total.

[@xCliffs]

Yeah, a hot Christmas.... not this bloody year! I live in Tasmania and we have the heaters going at a time we'd normally be turning the AC on for the first time of the year...

[@BrookeWatson-y6u]

My family spend the week before Christmas camping by a river or lake to go waterskiing everyday. My family and I are actually currently getting ready to spend the week by the Murray, it’s a great time, we invite family and friends to spend the week with us, and typically we watch movies outside with the mozzies, play some games, and watch carols my candlelight together. Its my favourite time, always get to have some fun during the summer, meet some fellow campers, and get thrown off the back of a boat😌

[@stevendurick9441]

🎵Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut (b-ute)🎵 🎵Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden ute🎵 Chorus for the Australian version of jingle bells

[@procrasin1]

I have a Flyscreens security screens and blinds business ,I love the fact that it’s not been so hot as it is normally at this time of year ,normally my season starts in mid October and this year it hasn’t started till about mid November, Usually my work clothes are dripping with sweat at the end of each day from about mid October but this year probably only about three times I’ve come home and my clothes are still wet with previous years they’d be still dripping in sweat,I am loving this cooler weather and people on here talking about a heatwave up here, they simply don’t have a clue, it’s almost 10pm the 16th of December and I have a cool breeze comin through my house and it’s normally like an oven …. Seriously like an oven at this time of the year….. I’m fucking lovin it! 🥳

[@geofreyharbour5375]

Growing up where I did cupple hundred km west of broken Hill we didn't have prawns. We had yabbies, they were always my favourite

[@greenhouse3505]

My grandfather was a store/mall Santa my entire childhood. Sadly, cancer took him 28 odd years ago. But I have his traditional Santa costume, dry cleaned & in the wardrobe. Not these modern fake felt units. But actual real looking gear. I'm quickly approaching 60. Turning very white, and am looking forward to taking the mantle back up in a number of ways. For my grand kids... and yours. Merry Christmas & love to you all xxx

[@davidberriman5903]

I am seventy and most of the colour has gone from my hair but I only weigh 62 kilos so I would need a lot of padding.

[@BassMatt1972]

In Adelaide, South Australia, it can be 30c (85f) at 12AM in Summer

[@Bellas1717]

Great fun video again, great commentary, thank you. More great things for Aussie kids at Christmas: school has finished for the year, so no worrying about homework, tests, grades etc., just relaxation and enjoyment. Christmas Day is long and so there is a lot of time to play, and to play outdoors. Hearing you say you’re disappointed about plastic trees, then just waiting for her to mention spraying the natural tree for spiders - priceless!!! They are common in the bush, that’s where they live, but they are the small, harmless varieties usually - annoying, not worrying. I think the comment about different religions is a lovely thing about Australians. I know my non-Christian friends have no issue with me wishing them a merry Christmas time, just as when I wish them joy at times for their celebrations and they respond. We do have our own Christmas carols. One of those is “Six White Boomers”, a very famous but older Australian song, where Santa DOES swap his reindeer for six white kangaroos (boomers). Another had lyrics “Christmas in Australia's hot, cold and frosty's what it’s not.” Another is “Santa's moving to the South Pole.” Our Boxing Day is your Black Friday shopping.

[@marydotjpeg]

lmao I just moved to Australia from New York and my fiance showed me this hilarious parody song "6 white boomers" XD and we actually saw someone's lights replacing the deer with Kangoroos on santa's sleigh. Can't wait to see his nan and pop with their awesome pool on boxing day (not sure what boxing day is still sounds like black friday all over again?) :) im excited for my first hot christmas.

[@jaynedavis3388]

I loved choosing a living Christmas tree as a kid. We have a couple of fake ones now because Christmas trees are poisonous to cats & dogs (idk if it’s all Christmas trees but I suggest looking it up before next Christmas). We did that window spray too & I loved my childhood Christmases. These days we have multiple parties each year because there are a lot of family & friends, we usually do a BBQ for at least one of those gatherings. It’s like 3 Christmases, one for friends a week or so before Christmas, a family Christmas as close as we can organise it (it’s been in November before) & then on Christmas Day we just have our household plus whoever else doesn’t have other plans. Prawns cocktails are big, my mum loves them. I still believe in Santa but I remember going to sit on his lap at the shopping market (mall)

[@mil_thecoolestcat]

for me, christmas is just exchanging gifts, having lunch or dinner with my family (always bbq or roast) and just having a good time with your loved ones

[@aphex82]

Cannot understate the importance of cold lunch. Every household I've been in around Christmas celebrates with cold ham, chicken, turkey, roast beef. Then you have the hot meats from the BBQ (sausages, rissoles, kebab skewers). You'll always see a potato salad, pasta salad and garden salad. And seafood is a must, lest there's an allergy. Prawns, oysters, lobsters, Balmain Bugs, crabs. Tables will often be setup outside in the backyard or on the verandah. People will be in and out of the pool, playing cricket in the yard or trying out the new kids toys so there's a lot of grazing before and after the main sit down meal

[@lestat13666]

Yeah, summer is so fucking hot and it is humid in most parts, as well as tropical cyclones to really screw things up. Getting very sunburnt, or just not caring and sleeping all day in air con.

[@veronicaleonard6370]

Speaking of Trifle.... I was in the US last Christmas and made a trifle for the family that I was staying with. First off, you guys don't have pouring custard, or even powdered custard. I finally found a tin of custard powder in the Australian International food section of Wegners. I also couldn't find crushed nuts or a slab of plain, un-iced sponge cake anywhere, so I used pound cake instead. Trifle consists of (my recipe) cubed cake on the bottom, sweet sherry poured over that, sliced peaches and a little juice from those, cubed, pre-set red and green jelly, custard (I added a cup of sugar, as per the instructions), a layer of whipped cream with no sugar added, sprinkle with crushed nuts (I had to use slivered almonds, which work fine), dotted the top with fresh raspberries and sprinkled it all with hundreds and thousands. When the family tasted it, the expressions were of puzzlement firstly, and then they all commented that it wasn't sweet, like they were used to desserts being, but they loved it. I was gobsmacked... not sweet? The American palette is used to a far sweeter diet than Australians are. I also found your bread was very sweet to the taste, like cake or Brioche.

[@080gina080]

Being Australian myself celebrating Christmas on Christmas day, my family eventually decided to celebrate on Christmas eve. As the younger ones got older, married and were under pressure to do Christmas "day" with in-laws, this was the perfect solution. It was also cooler at night and more romantic with all the Christmas lights, candles etc doing Christmas dinner and present opening at night ❤️

[@myopinion69420]

For Christmas, we plan on having a roast pork cooked on the spit in the back yard, I'll be cooking it while watching the kids play in the back yard. Santa actually drives around in a fire truck Christmas morning throwing out lolly bags (bags of candy) for the kids.

[@uknowispeaksense7056]

Growing up it was always a big Christmas breakfast with ham and eggs followed by opening presents. Lunch was always a bbq plus plenty of seafood including Moreton Bay bugs, mudcrab, oysters and prawns. I had a big family so we then played backyard cricket and swam in the pool. Some years for dinner we would do pig on the spit but mostly mum would roast something. Now as an adult with no kids living at home my partner and I start Christmas day with a champagne breakfast. The kids usually arrive mid morning so we open presents and then its a big seafood lunch. Again with the bugs, crab, oysters and prawns. We then head down to the beach for the afternoon a have a bbq at the beach for dinner. Boxing day usually is spent recovering from hangover and hanging out in the backyard pool watching the cricket on our outdoor tv.

[@corev4lues]

We celebrate with immediate family, a big lunch (including cold ham which is another popular christmas food) lots of beer, sports, music and party the rest of the night. Then eat leftovers for the next 2 days, have a hangover day and then play a round of golf on the third day.

[@JeffBurn-b1i]

I'm from Perth Western Australia and the last 2 Xmas days were 44 degrees Celsius or 111 degrees Fahrenheit. Also I'm a plastic tree household and keep the tree decorated inside a closet until December 25th, before pull out.

[@timclancy871]

As an Australian living in the northern hemisphere, I can tell you that a cold Christmas day sux in comparison to a hot one . There's nothing like celebrating an Australian Christmas with a couple of cold beers before Christmas dinner or a couple of cleansing ales after a huge Christmas feast, not to mention a nice swim in the morning or a game of back yard cricket after lunch. You have to experience it at least once.

[@johncarmen9963]

Christmas to our family is sitting around the pool drinking beers having a BBQ, mums potato bake and a Christmas ham then having a swim, love our summer christmases! And yep my family is all atheist like most Australians but we love celebrating Christmas as a fun social thing and the kids love all the Christmas stuff and the Santa Claus mythology.

[@bronte7972]

Spiders are very common here in Oz. It’s not a home without a huntsman living in the corner 🤣 I’ve been saving the same spider from a watery death in my shower for a solid week now. I put him in my plant in the bathroom. And without fail, he’s right back under the shower head every day, struggling to get out 😱

[@margaretbennett8261]

Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut, Driving around Australia In a rusty Holden Ute!