What is Christmas like in Australia?
Christmas in Australia falls in summer, so many people celebrate with outdoor activities, barbecues, seafood and trips to the beach. Traditional decorations and Santa are still popular, despite the hot weather.
Many Australian families enjoy a Christmas lunch with seafood, especially prawns and oysters, alongside roast meats, salads and pavlova. Some families still have a traditional hot roast dinner, even when temperatures are high.
Christmas Day is often spent at home, in parks or at the beach. Bondi Beach in Sydney is famous for its Christmas crowds, including many international backpackers.
Carols and decorations
Carols by Candlelight events are held in parks across Australia in December. The largest, in Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl, is broadcast on television on Christmas Eve.
Christmas songs with Australian themes, such as Six White Boomers, in which kangaroos pull Santa's sleigh, are popular with children. Many homes are decorated with Christmas lights, and some streets become famous for their displays.
Christmas marks the start of the long summer holidays, and many families go camping or to holiday homes. Boxing Day, on 26 December, is known for sales, the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and the Boxing Day Test.