Snow shimmers outdoors and troops of kids with their lanterns alight could be listened to singing Christmas Carols as they hopped on from every in replacement for chocolates and sweets that residents would toss out their window. That’s when the crazy jumble began trying to look for sweets in quite a few feet of snow.
I occasionally long for those magical, mystic years and muse over particularly when I pay attention to Bing Crosby’s ever famous song “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas”.
Our way of paying off for the need of cold weather in December is through celebrating Christmas in July with all the added extras as well as weather close to that of the northern hemisphere.
Many of us still write cards in Australia with snow and icy views, pictures of cute reindeers, and people ice-skating on frozen lakes. Not only would Santa thaw out from the heat wearing his red winter woolies, his reindeer would die of heat fatigue working in such roasting heat!
There are no reindeers and sleighs in Australia – we only have ‘six white boomers’ or large kangaroos thanks to the song by Rolf Harris way back from the ‘60’s. I’ve seen our Santa dragging a surfboard covered in sunscreen, board shorts and a hat, punching through the southern skies.
A far cry from the intoxicated Santa I recall on board at the back of a ute - utility vehicle - in the country several years ago. Last seen guzzling on a long neck - tall bottle of beer - trying to express the traditional “ho ho ho a Merry Christmas to all” as the ute leisurely herd down each street in the local neighborhood.
Christmas lunch here in this wonderful southern soil is a diverse experience. As Christmas Day arrives the temperature persists to grow so does the clamminess here in Brisbane. You’ll recognize Christmas is here when you begin to hear the incessant shrilling sounds of cicadas - big winged insect - on hot and cloudless days.
I know a lot of people still insist on roasting the turkey, as well as roasting veggies and gravy in the boiling heat, as well as baking fruitcake and custard for dessert. Not everybody owns an air conditioning here so a chilly breeze is frequently on top of the wish list.
So what is a customary Christmas meal down here?
1. Prawns for the barbecue – on ice and with lemon wedges;
2. Fresh newly-arrived fish from the market
3. Tossed green salad which means a bowl of beetroot with onions, and some asparagus
4. Snags or sausages, lamb chops
With lunch finished, we look onward to our the wonderful custom of spending Boxing Day watching the start games on television or spending the day dozing off at home or swimming down the beach.
Having been outdoors once today, I’m very conscious of how scorching and clammy it is and actually it’s not going to get cooler any time before long. So as I take a seat here staring at the cloudless sky and composing this article, and certainly “Dreaming of a white Christmas”
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