Monday, 23 December 2024

May you all have a wonderful Christmas

 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.  

Christmas in Australia is rather different to the Northern Hemisphere.  A few people have a traditional Christmas Dinner and Christmas Tea but it's usually too hot to have a big hot meal in the middle of the day.  The people have changed the times and many of us have a barbecue with prawns, all kinds of meat and salads.  
In my house we are having cold meat and salads with hot new potatoes including sweets.  The traditional sweets include a Christmas Pudding, Pavlova or Trifle, maybe a bit of each, I might also make a Mango Cheese Cake.
The temperature is predicted to be 27 deg C (F80.6) down here on the Island of Tasmania, Australia.

The first Christmas celebrations in Australia have their roots in late 1788 and were introduced by the convicts of the First Fleet, who arrived in Sydney Harbour early the same year.
Alabama in the USA was the first State to officially recognize Christmas in 1836, so I read.

Oh, I nearly forgot - Kangaroos pull Santas sleigh in Australia.😉  A link to Catarina's blog where she found a photo of Santa and the kangaroos is here .



Christmas Nails, nothing fancy.


80 comments:

  1. oh just wonderful..i want to buy a ticket to Australia right away..We have rain and rain terrible weather..I wish you a merry christmas :)))))

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  2. L'Australia à una terra meravigliosa.Potrei fare un biglietto e andare a trovare mio cugino che da anni si è trasferito dalla Slovenia nel tuo paese.Bellissimo post dove descrivi le usanze natalizie australiane.Buone feste da OLGA

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    1. Thank you Olga. Yes, you could buy a ticket and fly to see your cousin.

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  3. Thank you Margaret for stopping by to say hello and wish me Happy Holidays, a wish that I also repay for you.
    As we are at the same altitude it is also usually very hot and Christmas Eve dinners are usually light, cool, if possible families meet in cool places in the house.

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    1. You are welcome Norma, good to know you do similar at Christmas.

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  4. It's wonderful to know about Christmas celebrations there. It's really different than here. Merry Christmas!

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    1. Thank you Anne. Yes, very different type of Christmas to what you have., not that I've been to the northern hemisphere to know but from what I've been told and photos.

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  5. Kangaroos pulling the sleigh!!!! I never thought of that. I will tell that to my grandchildren!
    Have a wonderful Christmas!

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    1. Well it will cause a laugh I reckon for your grandchildren :)

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  6. Your nails look pretty fancy to me.
    We are having a cold meal for Christmas too. I will make a gigantic fruit salad tomorrow which I will probably live on for a week or so - and will cook a turkey breast for himself. I will make salads on Christmas morning. We are heading for a top of over 30. Happy Christmas.

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    1. Well keep cool on Christmas Day and a fruit salad sounds like a good idea, we normally have one for sweets on Christmas Day but having a change, but you can't beat a fruit salad.
      Thank you.

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  7. Hello Margaret, It's even hard for me to imagine Christmas during the summer and the longest days. But Australia is another hemisphere of the globe, so everything is different. Nevertheless, I wish you and your whole family a wonderful Christmas time, joy, health and beautiful moments together. Merry Christmas! I am happy that finally since yesterday the days are getting longer, and the night during the Christmas period is exceptionally long and cold :))) But we are used to it :))

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    1. We each get used to our own weather at around Christmas time, I now in our winter when the days start to get longer it also gets colder.
      Thank you and enjoy.

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  8. Christmas with a barbeque, that is hard to imagine. :) Do the kangaroos that pull Santa's sleigh have names? Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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    1. It would be hard to imagine having a hot Christmas when you are used to cold/snow, because that is all you know and the heat is all we know, so very different.
      Thank you.

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  9. I love your nails! Very festive.
    I'm making homemade tacos for Christmas dinner this year because my grandsons father requested them. lol

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    1. Thank re nails, just wanted them with Christmas colours.
      Well you will keep him happy then.

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  10. Christmas in Australia does indeed have its own unique charm, shaped by the warm summer weather and the vibrant outdoor lifestyle. The idea of having a barbecue with prawns, various meats, and fresh salads sounds delightful and fitting for the season.

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    1. Thanks and it's the Australian way of life having a barbecue etc for many of us.

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  11. No, nothing fancy at all about your nails. Merry Christmas and have a nice family celebration.

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    1. No nothing fancy Andrew, just wanted Christmas coloured nails, no art work.
      Thank you and same to you.

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  12. I think your nails look good :)

    Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan. Just Christmas coloured nails :)
      Same to you too. Even though there will be ones less person at your table this Christmas, he's still there watching you :)

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  13. Think my first comment wishing you a Happy Christmas has gone into spam?

    All the best Jan

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    1. Would you believe it did, there were two in spam but of course I got them out..lol

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  14. Siempre es lindo conocer de otras costumbres. Por lo general en mi casa en año nuevo comemos camarones. Te deseo una feliz navidad para ti y tu familia. Te mando un beso.

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    1. That sounds nice for New Year's Eve. Thank you and same to you and yours.

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  15. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Margaret. 27C...how wonderful!

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    1. Thank you Angie, same to you and yours. Just a good temperature 27 deg C, not too hot or cold, but of course when preparing meals it can be a bit warm.

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  16. Love that turquoise (teal?) nail!
    I'm having Christmas lunch at the twins house and haven't a clue what the menu is.

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    1. Well your lunch will be a surprise R, and 37 deg C I read, so enjoy and keep cool.
      I guess you could call that one nail a 'teal' colour, it's a Christmas green the colour of the nail. It's a beautiful colour and I've had all the nails done like that in the past as in this year.

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  17. I wish you and all your loved ones a Merry Christmas and above all a healthy 2025.
    Greetings Irma

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    1. Thank you Irma. The same to you and your husband and family.
      Take care.

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  18. Weihnachten bei 27°C und Kängurus ziehen den Schlitten ist klasse, wäre auch bei uns ein Abendessen am Grill mit der ganzen Familie. Aber es wird natürlich ein Familienessen geben. Wünsche Frohe Weihnacht und alles Gute für 2025.
    Gruß
    Noke

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    1. Thank you Noke. You have a good Christmas with your family too.

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  19. Have a wonderful Tasmanian Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

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    1. Thank you David, we sure will and the same to you and your family up there in maybe the snow!

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  20. Oh, how beautiful your post is... and the kangaroos pulling the Christmas sleigh and the 27 degrees Celsius... I think I'm thinking about summer vacation.
    Hugs for you and Merry Christmas.
    Viola

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    1. Thank you. Most people go on a holiday this time of year, maybe 1 week to 10 days, then others till late in January.
      Same to you and your family too, Viola.

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  21. Yeah going to be a hottish one here in Newie as well around 27 degrees, I hope it is a good day for all

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    1. I'm sure it will be a good day for everyone Jo-Anne. You have a good one with your family.

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  22. No, those Christmas nails are very fancy Margaret and I love them. Thank you for sharing your traditions and history, all very interesting. Your AI pics were lovely too! And I adore the fact that the kangaroos pull Santa's sleigh. How very cool! Merry Christmas and A Very Happy New Year to you and all your loved ones my friend.

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    1. You are welcome Denise, a very different Christmas down here. Well it's myth those kangaroos pulling the sleigh but what a good myth.
      Thank you, and the same to you and your familly.
      Take care.

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  23. Very interesting habit for celebrating Christmas in your place Margaret...
    I know pavlova with creammy and fruit flavour...Your mango dessert in December is unique too. Thanks for sharing. And have a wonderful day. Greetings

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  24. My, how Christmas is different from place to place. Kangaroos pulling Santa's sleigh? Too weird!

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    1. Yes a very different Christmas I would imagine.
      Well now re sleigh! lol

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  25. Muita Saúde, Paz, Amor, Fraternidade, Solidariedade, são os votos que deixo, para si e família, Neste Natal de 2024. Que a felicidade seja sempre o mais belo elixir do seu sorriso.
    */*
    Ilusões e Poesia ...Boas festas
    */*

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  26. Merry Christmas! Hope your holiday is full of belly laughs, big hugs, and Santa-level snacks. 🎅

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  27. Replies
    1. Thank you Teresa and I trust you had a good Christmas too.

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  28. My best wishes at this time of year for you and all your loved ones.
    Best regards

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  29. Merry Christmas dear Margaret to you and family!!!
    i forgot that your Christmas comes in summers .
    i enjoyed how various dishes are made on this day and family gathering s must be fun :)
    thanks for making familiar with Christmas in your part of land where kangaroo pull car instead reindeer
    hugs

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    1. Thank you Baili. Kangaroo pulling Santas sleigh...lol, if only!

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  30. Sounds like a fun Aussie Christmas!
    Love the idea of a BBQ with prawns and all the yummy salads.
    I didn’t know about the first Christmas celebrations in Australia or Alabama recognizing it first.
    I would love to see kangaroos pulling Santa’s sleigh!

    Wishing you and yours a wonderful 2025 ahead!

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    1. Thank you Veronica. If only kangaroos pulled Santas sleigh..lol

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  31. 27℃ is good to enjoy this season in your area.

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    1. Good temperature for the day. Thank you and I hope you enjoyed yours.

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  32. Hi Margaret...I'm finally able to blog again...how frustrating it has been. I hope you're enjoying your Christmas. My best wishes of the Season to you; and I hope 2025 treats you kindly.

    The second part of "Weekender" showing the beauties Tassie has to offer was on last Sunday.

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    1. Thank you Lee. I'm pleased you was able to get blogger to work for you at last. I've read and commented on the post, most interesting.
      I will look for the second part of 'Weekender' and watch it tonight..thanks for that.

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  33. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too! It sounds like you had a wonderful and unique Australian celebration. I love the idea of enjoying a BBQ with prawns and fresh salads in the warmth of the summer—such a refreshing twist on the usual Christmas meals! The temperature sounds perfect for a relaxed holiday. The story of Christmas in Australia is so interesting, and I’ll bet the kangaroos pulling Santa's sleigh added an extra touch of magic. Wishing you lots of joy and a peaceful New Year ahead! I invite you to read my new blog post: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2024/12/the-dark-side-of-tipping-culture-when-entitlement-turns-deadly.html.

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    1. Yes it's magic with kangaroos pulling the sleighs..lol if only.
      I trust you had a good Christmas.

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  34. Since my son lives in Copenhagen, our Christmas is different now in terms of food because of other customs, but I love it all the same.
    Your nails are very beautiful!
    I hope you had a Merry Christmas.
    Greetings from Maria

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  35. Margaret,
    I hope you had a happy Christmas.
    Christmas customs change from place to place, like now I'm going to Copenhagen with my son Pedro. The food is very different, but I love it all the same.
    I loved your nails, they look beautiful!

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