Biddy

Hi All - I know we're a long way off yet, but wondered how the Kiwis celebrate Xmas. Is is similar to Northern hemisphere ie Xmas trees, tinsel, mince pies etc, or more BBQ on the beach and forget about the more traditional stuff?
Sounds silly I know, but were in the process of de cluttering the garage ready for the move and wondered what to do with the Christmas tree holder and tinsel!
Biddy

Sally1

Alot of Kiwi's still have a kind of roast dinner, however they may eat it outside in the boiling sunshine!. Some will bbq a lamb instead. As for Xmas trees, The places we went to had trees with tinsel and was pretty similar to our decorations in the UK. I suppose everone is different but am sure those already in NZ will advise you accordingly. Hope all is well Biddy.

Biddy

Yes I'm good Sally - I'll drop you a line after my res interview on Wed and give you some karma now, as I've got some.

Tayberry

They don't go in for all the decorations and stuff like what the Brits do. Very few shops have decorations. They still have mince pies, Christmas pud etc but it's not really in your face as much as what it is in the UK. I was really surprised at the lack of decorations!! Lets just say, it's a lower key affair than in the UK. Definately much less emphasis on spending too.

babybella

Tayberry, Glad to see you didn't leave the forum. I agree it is a lower key affaire, mainly as a lot of people are away on summer hols. We had some great christmas days with family sitting by the lake at Queenstown drinking champagne and swimming (not too much champagne or the swimming is tricky). We always had a real tree and decorations but nobody really goes in for cards or outside decorations. Personally I loved Christmas in NZ and find it far too stressful in the UK but as always each to his own.
KAZ

scottish

We had a wonderful Christmas Day in NZ. Spent the first few hours of the morning watching the ocean and families walking along the beach then Kiwi friends of ours invitied us round for dinner, which kicked off at 11am round the pool in the sun drinking champagne. Dinner and drinks didnt finish till well after midnight and it was a fantastic day - best Christmas ever.

As for decorations not alot of it about but a few houses had their gardens decorated. Felt pretty weird that bit.

ps dinner consisted of Lamb.Turkey and the biggest ham I have ever seen all with the usual trimmings followed by some yummy home made desserts.

killie

hope this isnt too cheeky but why are you comming home tayberry

sunshine_and_rain

Xmas is definately more understated here than the UK. We have spent it at home with the kids and close friends.We spend Boxing day at the Lake and have a BBQ. I miss home like mad at Xmas - well more like family, as its just not the same without them. You get used to it though - its just different. We still dress all our house up. Its not as commercial here but I like that. A lot of my friends here are ex-pats so we tend to get together - we had roast turkey and all the trimmings this year.

Jasper8009

Keep the decorations for the mid-winter Christmas that people hold in June. I miss the UK Christams- teh lights etc, but here it is what you make it. We still have a tree, etc, but have lucnh on the beach instead.

Roger

As said Christmas is a much lower key affair than in the UK. However take it into perspective. Most of us are not church goers. Christmas is over the longest school holiday of the year. Best weather as middle of Summer. Lots of folk take a month of and go to the beach camping or stay in Baches(though nothing over the rest of the year). It Kiwi holiday time and Christmas is just one part of it. Very little of the Northern Europe Tinselly/Snowy theme (this came from Germany not Palestine!)

Christmas in the UK has much more atmosphere to it, but much more commercialised. It is a cold, grey miserable time of the year and loads of folk are under the weather with winter viruses. There is bugger all to enjoy in a British Winter than Xmas and all the work does etc so a lot of emphasis is placed on it.

I did go up Mt Ruaphehu between Crimbo and New Year and watched the skiers!! Spent Crimbo morning walking the dog on the beach, though the weather was overcast.

All in all it is a bit of a let down if you were into the British Christmas.
Roger

Tayberry

Awwwww, you humbug!!!! I love winters in the UK when it's beautiful and sunny outside, you know, when everything is frosty and crisp and you go for a nice long walk then come home and toast your feet by the fire!! I think it can be a particularly beautiful time of the year-there are some amazing sunsets and skies. Well, there is in my neck of the woods!!!


Yep, would have to agree. If you are into tinsel, 40 million fairy lights and all that razzamatazz, you will be a tad disappointed. I was!!! Hell, there's normally a surge in the power supply when I switch on the fairy lights in my house in the UK. I do draw a line at having illuminated reindeers and Santa's on the roof of the house though. It's funny, the UK is getting more and more like the USA with all these lights eh?

I love Christmas-the atmosphere, the build up, making mince pies, dark nights, cosy fire on, Christmas carols......maybe that's really why I'm going home!!!! I had a horrible Christmas in NZ-worked Christmas Eve, the late shift on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. It was additionally no fun not having any family here and being on my own!!!! Shall be making up for it this year though!!!!

Tayberry

Oh, for any of you living in Auckland, please do check out the massive Santa who attaches himself to a building opposite Smith & Caughey's on Queen Street. All I can say is this: I've never seen Santa Claus in a state of sexual arousal before. If any JAFA's read this, they will hopefully know what I'm talking about!!!

If you look at Santa from a side on view, when he raises his hand slightly, it looks like something else as all you can see is a mammoth thumb going up and down..........

Roger

I loved those cool and crispy morning with the frost on the ground. Unfortunately they were becoming pretty rare in the South-East of England with milder Winters etc. I was very aware of it as I walked my dog every morning before work in Hampshire.

Agree that you have more of the frost in Scotland. Spent many a Christmas/New Year near Glasgow. Never been so cold in my life, particularly when the trains stop due to sub-zero temperatures and you get stuck in some god forsaken towns train station. Brrr, happy memories.
Roger

Tayberry

Hehehehehehehhehe!!! I think I'm in the rose tinted glasses mode at the moment with regards to the cold!!! Methinks a few days of winter in the UK and I'll be wishing I was back here!!! No, seriously, it was nice to sort of see Christmas in a different light last year in NZ but not my cup of tea. I hope the weather is nicer for anyone moving out this year though. It wasn't too good last year Roger, was it?

CyndsandChris

Coming from SA i think that christmas will be similar to the SA one. BBQs and or cold roasts and salads. i will miss the UKs beautiful lights and the decorations but i won't miss the pressure of buying presents and decor and running around like a mad thing trying to keep up with the Jones's.


But I think Christmas is best where there is family!