Christmas, the Aussie way
In Australia, Christmas comes in the middle of summer: prawns and pav, the beach, the cricket, mozzies at the carols and cockatoos in the lights. These are our guides to how it works, why, and how the rest of the world does it.
Christmas in Australia
Christmas in summer, from the pav and the prawns to bin chickens, backyard cricket and the real Sunburnt Santa.
Aussie Christmas slang: a dictionary for visitors
Chrissy is Christmas, pressies are presents, a pav is a pavlova and a snag is a sausage. A plain-English guide to Aussie Christmas slang.
50 Aussie Christmas trivia questions (with answers)
50 Australian Christmas trivia questions with answers and the story behind each: summer weather, pav, prawns, mangoes, carols, cricket, crabs and slang.
Backyard cricket rules (one hand, one bounce and the rest)
Backyard cricket rules explained: one hand one bounce, six and out, tip and run, auto wickie, not out first ball and no LBW, plus a printable table.
Bin chickens: why Australians call the ibis a bin chicken
Australians call the white ibis a bin chicken because city ibis rummage in bins for scraps. Why ibis moved to town, and why we love them.
Cassowary crossing signs: Christmas driving in Far North Queensland
Cassowary crossing signs mark roads where endangered cassowaries cross. Slow down, never stop to watch or feed them, and warn other drivers. Here's why.
Christmas in Australia: the complete guide
Christmas in Australia falls in summer: beach days, seafood and pav, carols by candlelight, backyard cricket, bon bons and Boxing Day. Here's how it works.
Why do cockatoos rip off Christmas lights?
Cockatoos chew Christmas lights to keep their bills trimmed, because stripping things finds food, and for fun. How to protect your lights.
The real Sunburnt Santa: Father Christmas on the Tea and Sugar train
Alf Harris, a railway engine driver, played Father Christmas on the Tea and Sugar train across the Nullarbor and was known as the Sunburnt Santa.
What is a Christmas bon bon?
A Christmas bon bon is what Australians call a Christmas cracker: a paper tube two people pull until it snaps, with a paper crown, a toy and a joke inside.
Who invented the pavlova? Australia vs New Zealand
Named after ballerina Anna Pavlova, the pav first appears in 1920s New Zealand recipe books; Australia claims Perth chef Bert Sachse. The evidence.
Why is Christmas in summer in Australia?
Australia is in the southern hemisphere, tilted towards the Sun in December, so Christmas falls in summer. The science, plus December weather by capital.
Christmas around the world
How the rest of the world does Christmas, and where else it falls in summer.
Christmas traditions around the world: 35 countries, region by region
From Iceland's Yule Lads to Mexico's posadas, Ethiopia's Genna and a barbie in Australia: Christmas traditions in 35 countries, checked and sourced.
Countries where Christmas is in summer
Christmas is in summer across the Southern Hemisphere: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Chile and more. Here's why, how hot, and how they celebrate.
Advent, Santa and Christmas fun
Advent calendars old and new, Santa, quizzes and Christmas fun.
Digital advent calendars and advent calendar games
A digital advent calendar opens one door a day on a phone or browser. Here are the main types, what to check before you pick one, and how ours works.
What is an advent calendar? A short history
An advent calendar counts down the days to Christmas, one door a day. Here's where it came from, from chalk marks to printed doors to apps.
Families, games and holidays
Games and ideas for the whole family over the summer holidays. More here in December.
Coming in December.