Christmas has come to be regarded as the festival of peace and goodwill, when families are reunited, houses are gaily decorated and gifts are exchanged. Saint Nicholas gradually transformed into Santa Claus. And although each of these new characters and symbols takes us further and further from the Christian story of Christmas, nevertheless each one of them illustrates an aspect of the true Christmas message - peace, generosity, humility, and goodwill to all. Down Under Christmas traditions and symbols have come from many different cultures over the centuries. When you add that mix to a multicultural society like Australia's, and add to that our hot climate, you get a Christmas that is even more of a mixture.
Many families pack up for a picnic or a trip to the beach.
If we stay at home, it might be salads and cold meats. But the steaming Christmas pudding with hot custard is still common. Some interesting local variations on the traditional Christmas dinner have arisen. In the days leading up to Christmas, many Australian families take advantage of the warm summer evenings to take a rug and some candles to a Carols By Candlelight concert, which attract large crowds to parks and outdoor stadiums across the land. On Boxing Day, a couple of uniquely Australian events have come to the fore in recent years, appealing to Australians' love of leisure and sport.