CHRISTMAS STOCKING KITS
An Australian ChristmasChristmas in Australia is nearly always a hot affair. Christmas happens in the middle of our summer so the days are spent in warmth and many people head off to the beach during this period. Some even have Christmas day dinner on the beach but we never have.
Now that I'm the 'head leaf' on the tree we still seem to revert back to the customs we grew up and raised our kids in. The only new tradition we have added into this most Australian Christmas day is to extend the life of Santa.
A traditional Christmas day to me means getting up early and going to early morning service, coming home and having ham and eggs, toast and coffee. This is when we cut our ham but only after everyone has dutifully admired it.
Then after breakfast I put the Turkey into the oven to start cooking while the table and kitchen gets cleaned up. After this we all get a cold drink of whatever we feel like sometimes it's our Christmas punch, other years it’s a cold beer or soft drink (pop or soda to our northern friends)
Then we have our Christmas tree. Someone is 'elected' to be that years Santa and has to distribute the gifts from under the tree. Our rule generally is that it's one present at a time and we open each one as we go. Seems to make the Christmas gift giving last longer and we all get to see the look on someone's face to see whether they actually like their gift or not! Its fun and this way we get the full pleasure of giving when you see the happiness on the recipients face.
After the Christmas tree we start bringing out the 'nibblies' and refresh everyone's drinks. Then it's time to baste the Turkey and peel the vegetables ready for baking in the oven. This takes a few hours. While this is happening we set the table with all its finery; crisp white table cloth, silver service cutlery set, crystal wine glasses, best dinner set, flowers, serviettes, poppers and water glasses.
Christmas lunch is usually served between 1.30 and 2.30. This is a happy and hot affair because by this time the cook (usually me) has been opening and closing oven doors finishing off the Turkey and Vegetables, whipping the cream, heating up the plum pudding and making the custard.
We usually get the senior man in the house to say grace before we all tuck in and enjoy our yearly feast. After a very leisurely dinner, we sit around for a few hours and talk or if someone feels sleepy as often happen we clear up and clean up and go and have an afternoon snooze in the coolest spot we can find.
Late afternoon we all gather in the lounge room or on the veranda and some will decide to go for a walk others will decide on a game of ping pong or darts or perhaps indoor bowls.
Dinner that night is always left over's from lunch and in fact, that is just about all the cooking I need to do for the next 2 days! Christmas is a time of joy, fun and laughter with our family who usually gets together just this once a year because we all live in different states of Australia now.
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