page_title: Christmas in New Zealand
section_title: Imagery and decorations
hierarchical_section_title: Christmas in New Zealand / Imagery and decorations
caption_attribution_description: English: Flower buds of the Pōhutukawa tree (Metrosideros excelsa), also called New Zealand Christmas TreePōhutukawa in Waikanae, Wellington District, Northern Island, New Zealand
context_page_description: Christmas traditions in New Zealand are similar to those in Australia in that they incorporate a mix of British and North American traditions, such as Christmas symbols featuring winter iconography. However, the timing of Christmas occurring during the Southern Hemisphere's summer season has resulted in the development of some local traditions as a result of the warmer weather. New Zealand Christmas dishes include summer fruits and vegetables, and pavlova. The New Zealand Christmas tree, the pōhutukawa, is displayed as well as the traditional Northern European tree.
  Christmas, observed on 25 December, became widely celebrated in the late 19th century among Pākehā settlers. Today, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are both statutory holidays in New Zealand. While Boxing Day is a standard statutory holiday, Christmas Day is one of the few days of the year where all but the most essential businesses and services must close.
context_section_description: New Zealanders celebrate Christmas with mainly traditional Northern Hemisphere winter imagery, but mixed with local imagery. Native plants, ferns, and flaxes are displayed alongside traditional Christmas flowers such as mistletoe. The pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa), which produces large crimson flowers in December, is an often used symbol for Christmas in New Zealand, and subsequently the pohutukawa has become known as the New Zealand Christmas tree.
  Many homeowners decorate the exterior of their houses. Displays range from the modest to elaborate, sometimes with hundreds of lights and decorations depicting seasonal motifs such as Christmas trees, Santa Claus, reindeer, or nativity scenes. Particular regions have a tradition for elaborate displays, and attract a great amount of pedestrian and vehicular traffic during the Christmas season. This is despite the longer days, resulting in dusk occurring as late as 10:20 p.m. in the south of the South Island.
caption: The December-flowering pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa) is an often-used Christmas symbol in New Zealand.
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