By Patricia Newell-Dunkley
SHELLY BEACH REVIEW SNIPPETS Christmas Greetings from down under where the weather is warming up for the summer months. Christmas in Australia has changed vastly over the years.
Decorations now start going up in October, and people start buying early. The longest set of school holidays is in summer, and they last for weeks. Universities take a three-month holiday, and many businesses shut down for a yearly break. There is a real holiday atmosphere at Christmas and the New Year.
SHELLY BEACH REVIEW
Christmas lights are everywhere, with competitions being held for the best light display. Tours are organized to see the lights, and all things festive are visible. With shop window displays featuring stories with Santa for the children.
This is also the time for popular beach holidays, families and friends book a house by the seaside, and all live together sharing Christmas and New Year in true Aussie fashion. With a Christmas tree on the beach, and decorated in the usual manner.
Festive food instead of the traditional hot Christmas roast. Cold ham chicken and turkey, plus masses of seafood with prawns and lobsters galore. Many Asian dishes also make an appearance.
SHELLY BEACH REVIEW
Desserts are in keeping with the weather, and pavlovas are the most popular, with strawberries and cream. Trays of fresh summer fruits such as watermelon, mangoes, cherries, pineapple, and passion fruit, which are all in season, with heaps of ice cream.
SHELLY BEACH REVIEW Carols by Candlelight is still the largest event to take place.
Popularized in Melbourne in 1938 it still takes place in Myer Music Bowl and features celebrity performers with profits for Vision Australia.
It is broadcasted throughout Australia. Sydney hosts Carols in the domain.
Brisbane, The Gold coast, and Perth, all have carol-singing concerts.
Ever since 1933, South Australia has held the Adelaide Christmas Pageant, with floats, bands, and entertainers, plus Santa. It is the second-largest parade of its kind in the world.
Boxing Day is when retailers hold massive sales, and their doors open early. It is also the day when cricket fans gather at Melbourne Cricket Ground to watch the annual Boxing Day Test Match. In Sydney, it is the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Here on the Central Coast of N.S.W., we have an influx of tourists, The Lakes are full of people fishing and catching prawns, and the beaches are busy with surfers and sunbathers.
At Shelly Beach, all is well, with the birds arriving early for their breakfast. Charlie the Pomeranian watches them out of the window and would dearly like to give chase.
I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Cheers.
Patricia
