13 November 2016

One Day. 6 Ideas For An Aussie Christmas

I had a heart-breaking epiphany yesterday. This year there will be no Christmas markets for me. After 2 years of being spoilt in Europe with Winter Wonderland and the incredible markets of Bruges, Prague and northern Italy – 2016’s festive season will hold no snowflakes and mulled wine for this Aussie elf.

How depressing. But never matter. When life gives you lemons, ask for tequila and salt… right? So, I thought I’d better compile a list of some traditionally Aussie Christmas alternatives.


Now let me just preface this by emphasising the huge Christmas fan that I am. I bought a tree and decorations for my new flat a month ago and have been chomping at the bit to put them up ever since. I’ve only been restrained by the social construct that this is not acceptable behaviour until the start of Dec.

Just between you and me, I’ve told myself the 20th of November will be fine.


There’s nothing I love more than wrapping presents. And unwrapping them for that matter. I know all the words to every carol ever sung. Michael BublĂ© or otherwise. And mulled wine is probably my favourite drink. Besides an espresso martini of course.

Now, perhaps you have a sense of my desolation at that fact that this Christmas I will not be walking in a winter wonderland. But I suppose these alternatives seem ok too…

  1. Get tickets to your local carol night. Whether it’s Carols by Candlelight or in the Domain, these evenings are like an Aussie rite of passage. Nothing says festive like an outdoor picnic and the strains of ‘Walking In A Winter Wonderland’. The combination makes zero sense but it says Christmas to us.
  2. Take a drive round the ‘burbs’ to see the Christmas lights. Sure it’s no Oxford St but some neighbourhoods really do go all out. South Yarra and Toorak, I’ve got my eye on you.
  3. Replace that mulled wine with chilled champagne then when you’ve finished the bottle, sleep it off in the afternoon sunshine and get a tan. It’s called Christmas multi-tasking.
  4. Gorge on seafood. When the air conditioner is on full boil, the last thing you want is a roast. The only way to do your Christmas meal is to pop down to your local market, buy your weight’s worth of oysters, prawns and crab, then get set for a cold lunch of epic proportions.
  5. Light a dozen citronella candles in order to enjoy your meal outside, without the mozzies. Ahhh the scent of Christmas.
  6. Order-in Messina gelato for dessert. Because a 35+ degree day is no time for pudding and eggnog.

Happy Christmas planning! I’m off to assemble my tree…

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Photos by Krissie.