At this time of year we’re often asked: “What are you doing for Christmas?” and that question comes loaded with responses from who’s going to visit, what you’re going to eat, what are your Christmas traditions and much more.
So this year I thought I’d answer some of the questions posed and posted by the very lovely Donna at Socially Sorted regarding Christmas traditions and memories. I’ve written more about Christmas traditions in Australia in this post : When do you put up your Christmas tree?
Personal Christmas Traditions and Memories
My answers are below but I’d love to know some of your responses. So fire away in the comments section below and just mark your answers 1-2-3-4- etc.
I know Lifestyle Fifty readers come from all around the world so it will be really interesting to read about your Christmas traditions and memories past. So go on – answer a few … have a go below!
What’s your best Christmas present ever?
A set of (second hand!) Famous Five books by Enid Blyton. I can still remember the red hardback covers.
What was your favourite part of Christmas as a kid?
Laying in bed awake at night pondering what might be in my Father Christmas stocking. That old anticipation is unrepeatable. My stocking generally contained little bits and pieces that might be useful for school, vanity, or creative projects, and perhaps something for my pony, but always a lump of coal and a tangerine.
You’re in the kitchen on Christmas Day as a kid. What can you smell? Who’s cooking? What’s cooking?
Thinking back to when traditions were strong … My Grandmother is cooking. I can smell ham, roast potatoes and boiled cabbage. There’s a big turkey in the oven which I know we’ll be eating for days.
What’s one family tradition you have in the holidays?
These days we try and go away for a break with the extended family for a few days. When we were little we’d always go to church with our Grandmother on Christmas morning while the turkey was cooking.
Who cooks Christmas Lunch in your family and what’s their specialty?
Christmas lunch is cooked by whoever is hosting. But in England my Mum used to always make a Trifle, to her own recipe, for dessert. These days in the Aussie tradition we’ll probably make Pavlova.
What’s one thing you eat/make every year without fail for Christmas lunch?
Glazed ham and Watermelon Salad.
What’s your post-lunch tradition on Christmas Day?
Laze by or in the pool or head to the beach.
Egg Nog or Mulled Wine?
Neither! Make mine a sparkling wine or Aperol Spritz!
White Christmas or Beach Christmas?
I like both for different reasons. Trouble is you can never guarantee a white Christmas, but you can generally guarantee a wet and cold one! In Western Australia a beach Christmas is always HOT and predictable. I’ve been fortunate to experience both. For the atmosphere I like a cold Christmas, but for fun and simplicity you can’t be a hot Aussie Christmas.
Fruit Mince Pies or Plum Pudding
Fruit mince pies for me.
Christmas Decorations – lots or none?
A Christmas tree with Christmas decorations collected over 30 years. A few Christmas trinkets which are now really heirlooms will be unpacked and placed around the house, and there will be Christmas table decorations for the main meals.
Christmas carols?
I love Christmas carols, and would love to go to more carol concerts. But the rest of the clan are never very keen, so we generally end up not going and do something else instead.
Best Christmas Cocktail
Pimms
Best Christmas Carol or Christmas Song
Christmas carol – Oh Come All ye Faithful.
Christmas song – Dreaming of a White Christmas. Always makes me sob for Christmasses past and family gone.
You might like this list of the 30 Greatest Christmas carols.
You can only eat 3 things at Christmas. What are they?
Glazed ham (Dijon mustard, honey and brown sugar), roast potatoes, mince pies.
What does your Christmas Day generally look like?
We’ll have something like smoked salmon and eggs for breakfast before taking the dogs for a walk on the beach and having a swim. Then we’ll start lunch or dinner preparations and chill out for a while before Dave fires up the barbie to cook prawns at lunchtime, which we’ll most likely team with a nice long cool cocktail for the girls and beer for the boys. In the afternoon we might play boules, or darts, or board games, or just snooze! Then we’ll cook the roast turkey and glazed ham for dinner before we all fall down. Christmas used to be stockings before breakfast and presents after lunch (in England) but now we’re in Australia and everyone’s grown up we generally just do a simple Christmas Santa for presents. Everyone buys a present for X amount which they wrap up. Then each person draws a number, and in turn chooses a present from under the tree.
Buy Boules Game Set Here: Boules Set
Buy Sequence Board Game Here: Sequence Board Game
Buy Bananagram Here : Bananagram
Buy Darts Set Here: Darts Set
Who will you most miss not being around at Christmas this year?
My Mum.
What is your favourite Christmas movie?
There’s no denying it, and I know it’s shmoozy! But it has to be Love Actually.
You might also like : 40 Christmas Movies You Have to Watch this Holiday Season.
What will you wear on Christmas Day?
Christmas day in Australia is hot, so Christmas wear is generally quite casual, but we’ll dress up in Christmas party dresses for evening dinners and drinks. In the daytime this year at home I’ll be wearing swimmers and then a long summery dress.
Click on the thumbnail images below and choose a Maxi Dress to buy for Christmas.
Your Turn
Now scroll down to the comments section and please share your Christmas memories and traditions. What will you do? What will you be eating?
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How to Look Stylish without really trying.
Hi Jo, I guess this year you will be missing your mum. Xmas for us is simple. Breakfast with grandchildren so they can open presents. At least now they are older, we are not leaving home at 5.00am to be there when they wake.Lots of coffee for bleary eyed parents and grandparents. Grandparents disappear home to make lunch. Everyone at ours for lunch….laze, or just chat. This year our son and his daughter are coming for first time so it will add another layer. Hope your day is happy with family present or by FaceTime etc.x
Hi Suzanne, thanks for your lovely message. And thank you for sharing your Christmas with us too. It sounds like you will have a beautiful day en famille, which is what it’s all about isn’t it xx
I remember big Christmas lunches at my aunt’s house in Bunbury when I was a kid, with lots of family. We lived on a corner with a street light in Perth and the Salvation Army used to stand under our street light to sing Christmas Carols. So beautiful. I think my Dad was the first to string Christmas lights on our pine trees out the front. Christmas took on a whole new joy when our grandsons came along. Seeing the joy and excitement of Christmas through their eyes. We always have a roast lunch and I always make brandy cream to go with the Christmas pudding. It’s now expected! Then we usually all collapse in a heap in the arvo. Happy Christmas Jo. And all the best for a happy and healthy 2021.
Hi Jill, oh thank you so much for sharing your joyous Christmas memories. I loved reading! Hope you have a lovely day and all the best to you too for a healthy, peaceful and adventurous 2021.
Lovely to read your memories and traditions Jo. I also like Love Actually at Christmas time. This year will be very different for us as we lost my mother-in-law last week and it won’t be the same without her. We will be missing our daughter in England and we always toast to absent friends at 11am. Not sure yet what we will be eating but I’m sure we will rustle up something!! I love eating chocolate sultanas (never nuts) at this time of the year for some reason and my daughters always buy me some, although I don’t need the extra calories that’s for sure! All the best to you!
Hi Deb, thank you! I’m so sorry to hear about your mother-in-law and no things can never be the same when Matriarchs pass on. I hope your daughter in England stays safe and sound. What a year it’s been. I hope you have a lovely Christmas day, lots of Facetime and lots of treats. Many best wishes for Christmas and the New Year xx
Our Boys chose a new tree decoration each year
Christmas lunch always Turkey even when we camped in a caravan our fellow campers used to be gobsmacked that I did veg roast spuds and gravy oh and don’t forget the trifle
Generally we used to go to church and then open gifts our minister once called me cruel so after that we at least opened 1 gift before going
I love Christmas Carols and have several CD’s Ken and Boys never to keen on that
Enjoy Christmas with the family Jo you are blessed to have them close by
I love your idea of the boys choosing a new tree dec every year. What some memories you must have on your tree. Lol that you used to do the whole Christmas roast lunch in your van – I bet your fellow campers were totally gobsmacked! Did they get an invite?!! I was also called an old Scrooge getting the kids to wait for their presents till after lunch in England – but that was the tradition. Enjoy Christmas this year, and hope you can be reunited with your boys soon x