Woo Hoo, Christmas has arrived in these parts. Last night, dot on the 1st December we put up the Christmas Tree, and glory be there was no “Oh for crying in a bucket” type outbursts because All Of The Lights Worked!
For us, the 1st December is the date we drag the tree out of its cobwebby storage in the garage, dust off the box it was originally purchased in, and put the tree together hoping that it will hold out for another year. We used to do the ‘au natural’ thing and buy a ‘proper’ tree, but that stopped when I realised it was generally me who had to do the vacuuming-up afterwards.
So this year … Same old, same old treasures and baubles came out of the old suitcase which Dave first travelled with back in 1983. Treasures appeared like old friends, which span our travels from The Philippines to South Africa, Hong Kong and England among others.
Those gorgeous golden globes were hand made by a friend in Manila. The glitzy red butterfly type bows came from a market in Hong Kong. Each year, they’re packed up in kitchen roll and bubble wrap and put back in that old suitcase ready to come out again on the 1st of December.
My gosh, 26 years ago that’s when all this Christmas shamozzle started as a family for us. Before that we would mostly blow in to our parents and join in their shenanigans. Makes me feel so old.
3 Unusual Things about Christmas in Western Australia
We know when Christmas is drawing close in WA not because of snow, or carols but because first of all the gorgeous Christmas Trees burst into bloom.
These trees are called nuytsia floribunda and around the beginning of December they flower with brilliant orangey-yellow blooms. The Christmas tree belongs to the mistletoe family and is the only member of this family which grows as a tree.
Next up, a grizzly dude. The Christmas spider, also known as the jewel spider or spiny spider makes his presence felt.
Dave took this photo when we’d stopped for a pee along an outback road in the Wheatbelt recently. I proceeded to take photos of roadside wildflowers, meanwhile he’d found a profusion of spider webs and was busy snapping spiders. Boys!
Anyway, this spider is an orb weaver and is generally found on a web strung between two bushes, and looks like a critter I wouldn’t want to touch although apparently he’s not aggressive or injurious to human life 😉
And the third unusual thing about Christmas in WA?
Well, I’m afraid it has to be The Flies. Yep, Christmas is a great time for flies in WA … bugging you around your ears, nose and mouth, so we either head to the beach on Christmas day, or batton down the fly screens at home.
When do you put up your Christmas Tree?
If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere …When it gets frosty or really cold?
Like the Victorian’s traditionally did on Christmas Eve?
At the start of Advent on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.
At the feast of Saint Nicholas, on December 6th in honour of Saint Nicholas Day.
Or maybe twelve days before Christmas … on December 13th?
Or just randomly when it’s convenient for you before Christmas sometime?
Oh, and if you’ve put the tree up already – did all the Christmas lights work? (LOL!) I hope so!
I don’t put up my tree until after the 7 December – my grandsons birthday. Hmm…it’s the 9th already and I haven’t even taken it out of the box yet. I had better hurry up! I’ll add it to my list!
Oh dear, another things for the list. What law of the universe states that to do lists just never really end?
I’m with Janet, our daughter’s birthday is the 12th of December and even though she has left home now, our tradition is that the tree goes up sometime after that date. My husband’s birthday is the 17th – a busy month for us!
Woah busy times Anne!
We don’t have a particular time, just whenever the Christmas Feeling comes upon one of us. I’ve commissioned Marty to put our fairy lights in the Euodia Tree which is full of flowers and Rainbow Lorikeets at the moment. Maybe we should wait until the flowers drop off and the parrots leave. Our Christmas tree decorations are a trip down memory lane and I think most families are the same. It sounds like your’s get better treatment than ours. No wrapping for us, just back in the box lol.
I love the idea of your decorating the Euodia Tree – I think the poor old parrots might get a bit of a shock though, being lit up at night! A whole new meaning to not knowing what time of day it is!!
Miss 19’s birthday is exactly 5 weeks before Christmas, so we wait til that’s over before we put the tree up – so usually the last week of November/first of December. In the Redlands Qld where I live, you can tell it’s Christmas by all the gracious old poinicana trees that come into flower – red – very Christmassy! x
Ahh how beautiful Janet! Love those trees, and as you say so very Christmassy!
No tree this year, maybe next. I vow to have a new one as well x
I wonder what you will get. My daughter said our next one should come ready decorated with all the bells and whistles!