By Someone who calls New Zealand "Home"
"Christmas in NZ
eh? haha well it's all normal to me so I guess I can only tell you what my
family does and what some families I know do... We wish each other a Happy
Christmas in the morn and have normal breakfast then go to 10am Mass, then home
to Mum and Dad's to have champagne and open presents, Mum and Dad will have put
a turkey roast in the oven before Mass and we'll have a big roast dinner after
the presents followed by a steamed Christmas pudding which Dad sets alight with
brandy. Rest of day is spent in the pool/playing games/drinking, eating. That's
us, but a lot of families would instead go to midnight Mass and have a summer
barbeque for Christmas lunch instead of hot roast. Some families spend the
Christmas at their bach (beach house) and do it really casual probably spending
most of the day on the beach. Some people decorate a real pine tree in their
home while others have a fake Christmas tree that comes out every year.
Children leave a treat out for Santa and the reindeer on Christmas eve and hang
their stockings. My sis puts snowy (baby powder) footprints from the fireplace
to the tree at theirs. All shops are closed apart from a lot of dairies
(typically run by Natives) remain open. In the month leading up to Christmas
there will be numerous Santa parades and carol singing sessions and people
visit hospitals to sing carols. Golly don't know what much else to say? Some
families everyone gives a present to everyone, others draw name out of hat and
just give that person a present, others just give to the children. A lot of
families have a massive day where all the cousins/extended family get together
for the celebrations. For everyone I know it's a very family oriented
day."
THINGS I LEARNED
1. Not only the Canadians say "eh." People should start asking if I'm from New Zealand.
2. The British heritage shines through in the "Happy Christmas" greeting.... Merry Christmas came first, but in the UK "Merry" may also mean tipsy. Happy Christmas gained popularity in the 19th century. Yes. "I googled it."
3. Speaking of tipsy, once you light the brandy it looses its merry effect. This would be a more traditional Christmas pudding! Bring it right here.
4. Baby powder snow doesn't melt.... even in NZ.
and #5 They close down on Christmas, which is a beautiful thing. It sounds like the good weather hasn't dampered the Christmas spirit in this land of families and fun!
IF YOU LIVED IN NEW ZEALAND you would
be a "New Zealander."
(if you were Roman Catholic) you be one person in 12% of the population.
be one of a 4,365,113 population.
have a good chance of living until you were 80.5.
live in a land about the size of Colorado, and in Oceania, with an average temperature of 55 degrees. (10-16C)
If you are ready to leave, a flight on Air New Zealand costs $1926 leaving tomorrow.
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