Christmas Day in Australia
When is Christmas Day in Australia?
Christmas Day in Australia is on December 25, 2024. It falls on Wednesday.
How many days until Christmas Day in Australia?
There are 243 Days left until Christmas Day in Australia.
Is Christmas Day a public holiday in Australia?
Like other countries, Christmas Day is an occasion celebrated in Australia every 25th of December. The celebration is observed to commemorate the nativity of Jesus Christ, the central figure in the Christian religion. With its celebration, several festive activities are expected to take place. Christmas season is one of the most-awaited days in Australia. People love to get into the Christmas spirit, spread the happiness, and the Christmas cheer.
Since Christmas Day is also a public holiday in Australia, majority of the businesses and establishments would close down for the holiday. Employees are given the day off to celebrate Christmas together with their families and friends. The schools and other educational centers are expected to be suspended as well (Australian students should already be in their summer break).
Christmas Day Origin
Although it was unclear when exactly is the birthday of Jesus Christ (the reason why Christmas is observed), the first Christmas celebration was said to be dated back on December 25, 336. It was held in one of the churches in Rome, under the regime of the Roman Emperor, Constantine, the first Christian Roman Emperor (also known as Constantine The Great). With the expansion of the Christian religion not just in the Roman empire, but to the rest of the world, many countries have accepted it and were converted to Christianity. For the Australians, Christianity was introduced in the country when the first British settlers came in Sydney in the 18th century. When the First Fleet of British ships arrived at Botany Bay, Sydney, in January 1788, it marked the beginning of Australians’ conversion to the Christian religion. Not long after, the country’s first celebration of Christmas Day occurred on that same year, on December 25, 1788, at Sydney Cove, Australia. Although the celebration has been observed every year for the following years, it was only around the 19th century that Christmas Day was officially designated to become a national holiday in the country. The celebration has never changed since then up until the current times.
Christmas Day Traditions in Australia
Christmas has always been an important annual celebration to the Christian countries around the world. Although many other non-Christian countries observe the occasion, theirs are only cultural celebration, a secular event. For the Christian countries, Christmas Day is the anniversary of the nativity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the central figure in Christianity. Christmas season is one of the biggest holidays in the global society. Customs and traditions may vary per country though, when it comes to its observance. For the Aussies (this is how the Australians identify themselves), the whole Christmas season is one of the busiest days in Australia.
Christmas Decorations
Before Christmas Day (December 25), majority of the households in the country are already seen with beautiful and sparkling Christmas decorations. The Christmas decorations used include the following: Christmas lights, glass baubles, tinsel, snowmen, ferns, palm leaves, Christmas bush, Christmas bellflower, Santa Claus figures, and wreaths. Wreaths (an arrangement of flowers, leaves, or stems fastened in a ring) are a common sight to be seen in almost every doorstep in Australia during the Christmas holidays. Putting up a Christmas tree at home is a common practice as well. Gifts should also be placed under the tree and should be opened on Christmas Day. Similar to the west, the Aussies love to spend time to make sure their houses are adorned with Christmas ornaments. Many of them would put up these Christmas decorations early in December. Some would even have theirs as early as November. Since Christmas decorations are already available even around August in some shops in Australia, those Aussies who’d love to get in the Christmas spirit even prior to December, would surely put up these decorations as early as possible.
Carols by Candlelight
Christmas has always been a big thing in Australia. So, during its observance, several festive activities are organized for the occasion. One of the most famous activities done every year is the Carols by Candlelight. ‘Carols by Candlelight’ is a musical event wherein thousands of Aussies gather outdoors, each one holding a candle while listening and singing along with their favorite Christmas carols. The activity started in Melbourne on 1938, and later on, gained popularity around the country. At present, many Australians would attend these activities held in their respective towns and cities. The event has become a big part in their Christmas celebration. The traditional exchanging of gifts is also observed in the country. Gifts and presents are usually exchanged between families, relatives, and friends during Christmas Day. For some Australians, giving gifts/presents to their friends, colleagues, or employers at work is also done as a way of showing their appreciation. Sending out of Christmas greeting cards is also typical. As for the young kids, hanging socks in the bedposts or the fireplace is also expected during Christmas season. Like the western countries, the Australian children also believed in the Father Christmas called ‘Santa Claus’. It is said that Santa visits the homes of well-behaved children during Christmas Eve or on the earlier hours of Christmas Day. Thus, the little kids really look forward to the morning of Christmas Day since it means checking up the gifts/presents left to them by Santa.
Exchanging of Gifts
The traditional exchanging of gifts is also observed in the country. Gifts and presents are usually exchanged between families, relatives, and friends during Christmas Day. For some Australians, giving gifts/presents to their friends, colleagues, or employers at work is also done as a way of showing their appreciation. Sending out of Christmas greeting cards is also typical. As for the young kids, hanging socks in the bedposts or the fireplace is also expected during Christmas season. Like the western countries, the Australian children also believed in the Father Christmas called ‘Santa Claus’. It is said that Santa visits the homes of well-behaved children during Christmas Eve or on the earlier hours of Christmas Day. Thus, the little kids really look forward to the morning of Christmas Day since it means checking up the gifts/presents left to them by Santa.
Christmas Vacation
Traveling is also a common practice in Australia during the Christmas holidays. There are several of them who’d prefer to have a trip abroad, especially in the Northern part, to celebrate a snowy Christmas. Nevertheless, there are also those who would rather spend the occasion with their families and friends in the country. Thus, visiting friends and families during Christmas Day is customary as well. Many of the Aussies would go for long drives for these visits.
Attending Church Service
It is also part of the Australian tradition to attend a Christmas Day church service. Some of them attend the midnight mass during Christmas Eve, however, majority of them would make sure to attend the Christmas Day church service on the 25th of December. Others, on the other hand,would make sure to attend both masses instead. Once Christmas Day’s mass is over, many Aussies would organize for some parties for their families and friends to enjoy. The Christmas meal is one of the biggest highlights of their celebration. Their Christmas meals are usually done during lunch time of December 25 (although others prefer to have a Christmas dinner on the cooler hours of the Christmas evening). Between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the latter is when family gatherings are held. Far away families and relatives often come together for the celebration. Even friends are welcome to join. Since Australia’s Christmas season occurs during the summer season of the country (Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, thus, its seasons are opposite to that in the countries belonging to the Northern Hemisphere), many of them would spend Christmas in the beach. One can even see Santa wearing beach shorts and greeting the little kids during the occasion.
Traditional Christmas Foods in Australia
Since many Australians go to the beach for Christmas, beach barbecues as Christmas meals are typical. The most common barbecued food include seafood, lamb, steak, chicken breasts, drumsticks, and wings. Other dishes also served are seafoods (e.g. prawns, lobsters, oysters, and crayfish), cold meats (e.g. ham and turkey), roasted chicken, roasted vegetables, salads, and of course, Christmas Crackers. The Australian Christmas meal could not be completed without putting out some Christmas Crackers. In addition, Christmas plum pudding, Christmas cake, pavlova, trifle, Christmas damper, and fresh fruits (e.g. berries, kiwifruit, plums, cherries, mangoes, nectarine, and peaches), are also some of the delights prepared by the Aussies solely for the Christmas celebration.
Although majority of the Australian families go to the beaches to celebrate Christmas considering how hot the weather is, there are also several others who prefer to stay at home and do a backyard barbecue instead. Christmas picnics in the parks are also a fine choice done by a number of families. After a hearty Christmas meal, it is also usual for the Australians to play cricket or footbal among families and friends, as part of the celebration.
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | December 25 | Wednesday | Christmas Day |
| 2025 | December 25 | Thursday | Christmas Day |
| 2026 | December 25 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 2027 | December 25 | Saturday | Christmas Day |
| 2028 | December 25 | Monday | Christmas Day |
| 2029 | December 25 | Tuesday | Christmas Day |
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Queen's Birthday | June 10, 2024 |
| Christmas Eve | December 24, 2024 |
| Christmas Day | December 25, 2024 |
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