Catchafire

Was in the Warehouse yesterday and noticed they have started to get Christmas stuff out. Then I realised today is November and its only about eight weeks away. Boom goes another year!

We find it really hard to get all "Christmassy", which always makes for a low key Christmas, BBQ on the deck, presents for the kids. Last year we put our tree up on the 23rd!

What does anyone have planned?

florabundi

We are going to spend Christmas day with friends then head off camping in central otago. It seems much less commercialised over here

Tomsk

I love Kiwi Christmases! Admittedly my children are now young adults, I suspect that I might feel different if they were littlies, but after 20+ years of manic Christmas shopping, crowds, over-excited children, sending, & receiving ridiculous numbers of Christmas cards at huge expense, & most of which there just isn't the space to display properly. And that's before I start on the grief of shopping for, then preparing the roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings, then serving it to various members of the extended family who'd never all get together any other time of the year! These days sunshine, a simple barbecue and tossed salad with a glass or 2 of something bubbly is fabulous. We fit in the family skype session, & send flowers or similar to family in the UK. So much easier, stress free, & it's possible to get out & enjoy a walk or cycle ride after dinner, which is so much more fun than slumping on the sofa watching The Wizard of Oz. Again!
Given the choice I would opt for a Kiwi Christmas over a UK Christmas every time

BEVS

But it is just exactly the same here as it is anywhere else from what I have observed over the last decade. No difference at all.

Families get together and over indulge and then spend the rest of the time they may have chilling.

Christmas appeared in Farmers and the like well over a month ago . People are stocking up and loyalty cards are being stocked or swapped for a shed loads of presents, knee high, for everyone.

Where is the difference? Really? Where is the difference apart from a walk on a beach in more clement weather. It flummoxes me.

They do the exact same here as happens in the UK or other parts of Europe The only difference being the weather and perhaps heading on out for a school summer break afterward because of the shut down.

Justcol

work

scrubbedexpat094

We have a proper Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve, usually just the two of us.

On Christmas day (if it isn't pee'ing it down like last Christmas) then we head to Te Haruhi beach, Shakespear Regional Park & meet up with other friends. We all take things to eat & drink & share with each other. We usually end up playing some sort of mad game & go for a swim in the sea. Basically we have a good time!

We usually head home around 7pm & then me 'n' him share bubbles in the spa pool.

Boxing Day is usually spent with friends having a barbie with friends at one of the other beaches on the Peninsula.

I prefer Christmas here, I find it far more relaxed than it was in the UK.

Persephone

I'm going to be in the UK so plenty of food, wine and port. Not to mention the 5am 'let's have a little whisky before bed' Followed by the customary empty bottle hunt the next day- amazing where they end up!

Last time we went for Xmas/New year Mr S was astounded at how short the days were and kept whinging about being in the Arctic Circle and how weird it was to go shopping in the dark. Meanwhile I loved the short days, Christmas lights work so much better and it took me back to when I was young. Shopping in the dark after school, good memories!

MrsFychan

be our 2nd Christmas here, just hope its not as hot as last. not sure what we are going to do. last year we had friends over and just ate, drunk and played with hose pipe and nerf guns. This year its just going to be us on the day. for some reason guns again as MrF wanted air rifle so we got the kids some youth ones. actually don't think the youngest will even be able to hold his but ho hum. so I'm guessing, eating, drinking and air guns this year. Boxing day there is an event going on down at the beach so probably head down there.
I do miss the darkness of the days but then MrF calls me a troglodyte so there's no surprise there, I miss the gathering of the family at various members houses on the lead up and on the day but it was our choice to move here so really shouldn't complain about that.
At some stage Skype will be on and then just see what the weather is doing and if the kids want to go beach somewhere

lisamct

Me too. Working 12hr days shifts 24th,25th,26th, 8hrs on the 27th...there goes my Christmas!

Justcol

off 21-22-23-24
in 25 to 31 :-(

burbschook

First one here without any plans. Previously it's been at various friends' places. I still can't get my head around christmas in summer. I grew up in Canada & our little cottage in Kent was a real christmas card place to be in the festive season. We had a range which was the heart of the house, gas lamps & surrounded by the skeletal trees of winter. Ooh the atmosphere was gorgeous.
It'll always be a winter festival for me.
So it might be just us two or as often happens here, knowing we're unadopted for christmas day, insistent invitations will appear.

j19fmm

We'll be getting a decent sized tree - haven't had one in UK for years as didn't have the space. Then heading to cuzzys for Christmas Day and on to more cuzzys for Boxing Day. First year without my Uncle so it's going to be a bit wierd for all. DD off with her BF and family on Boxing Day, to Gisborne for 9 days holiday. We'll head home and hope people need a Hire a Hubby over the holidays!!

thepinkone

I worked last year so have this Christmas off - we were also in a rental with fold-up picnic chairs (stuff arrived in Jan, also bought a house), so I'm surrounded by my stuff this year. I'm thinking BBQ (butterflied leg of lamb), beach and time with friends -much more laid back than I used to do in the UK. I'm also doing outdoor decorations this year (never did them on the flip side as had enough light pollution from the over zealous neighbours dec's). Our daughter did wonder where the tree was going to go, I told her by the fire (log burner) and she got worried that it would burn; had to remind her that we won't be lighting it in the middle of summer!

moonie2011

Going to Nelson for Christmas with our best friends who emigrated 7 yrs ago. I am so looking forward to lying on the beach, in some sun...2 winters have taken a toll

TommyLuck

Our first Christmas in New Zealand and we're not going to be in New Zealand ...

Well actually, we will be for about 7 hours of it, but we fly out to Brisbane on Christmas morning.

A good friend of mine (a Kiwi) and his American wife have become parents to a little boy, born in London and they're bringing him south to meet the family.

His parents live in Brissie, so we're going top pop over to meet the little fella and have Christmas with them.


As an aside, I like the summer Christmas. I've had a couple of Christmases in NZ (2003 & 08) and one in Australia (2006).

I don't prefer it to the winter Christmas but I do like and enjoy it. I do wonder how my preference will develop in the coming years, being away from family. Only time will tell, I suppose.

People keep telling me I'll have a hot Christmas ... When I was in Brisbane in 2006 it was about 15 degrees