Christmas in July Down Under: Embracing the Winter Wonderland in Australia!
While many people around the world associate Christmas with snow-covered landscapes and cozy fireside gatherings, in Australia, the festive season falls during the peak of summer. We celebrate Christmas by the beach or by swimming pools in our boardshorts and thongs. However, Aussies have found a delightful way to experience the magic of a winter wonderland in their own unique style – by celebrating Christmas in July!
July marks the heart of winter in Australia, offering a stark contrast to the traditional Christmas season. While the rest of the world enjoys warm temperatures and long days, Australians welcome cooler weather, making it the perfect opportunity to infuse their holiday season with a touch of Christmas magic typically reserved for colder climates.
At Lexis English, we have students from all corners of the globe and the holiday spirit knows no bounds. Embracing the diversity of cultures and traditions, we found a heartwarming way to celebrate Christmas in July this afternoon.
Uniting everyone in the spirit of the season, we started by writing a Christmas wish and tying the wish onto our little Christmas tree. Writing a Christmas wish is a beautiful way to connect with others, spread positivity, and celebrate the holiday season with love and compassion. It can be as simple as a few heartfelt words or a more elaborate message, but the gesture itself can hold significant meaning for the sender.
Next, we lightened the mood by playing a classic game of charades, Christmas style of course. This timeless game of non-verbal communication has been delighting people of all ages for generations, transcending cultural boundaries and providing endless fun. Charades is a game of acting out words or phrases without speaking, using only gestures, facial expressions, and body language to convey the message to the team members or audience. The students were divided into teams of 4 and had 3 minutes to guess as many words as they could. The winning team received a Christmas present; a of Tim Tams.
After lots of laughter, our students indulged in an Australian tradition and made rum balls (minus the rum). Rum balls have become a popular Christmas treat in Australia for several reasons, reflecting the country’s cultural and culinary influences during the holiday season.
Ingredients:
- 1 packet Marie biscuits
- 395g tin sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tablespoons cocoa
- ½ cup desiccated coconut
- Extra desiccated coconut for rolling
Instructions
- Blitz the Marie biscuits in a food processor until they resemble biscuit crumbs (they can be a bit chunky) (see note 1)
- In a bowl, add the biscuit crumbs, sweetened condensed milk, cocoa and coconut and mix really well
- Take a handful of the mixture and roll in your palms to form a ball.
- Toss balls through the extra coconut to coat.
- Chill in the fridge for an hour. Store in an airtight container in the fridge
Some students loved the rum balls and said that they will continue making at home, however some said they were a little too sweet. Overall though, the students loved making this hands-on dessert.
The last activity to conclude the Christmas festivities, was a game of ‘Snowball Pass-the-Parcel’. This game is the most fun and entertaining holiday game out there as contenders get to unwrap a snowball filled with prizes! The object is to unwrap the big cling wrap ball with giant mitts on during your turn, in the hopes that some of those prizes fall out during that turn. However, the person to your left is rolling a dice until they roll a certain number (our group chose the number 5). Once they do, the dice, snowball and mitts get passed along. It’s a quick, competitive game that leaves the whole room is hysterics!
Along with the Christmas games, we listened to Christmas carols and danced around the classroom! It was a great afternoon for those who simply can’t get enough of Christmas! Celebrating it in July is a dream come true. Whether it’s watching beloved holiday movies, baking gingerbread cookies, or singing carols, Christmas in July offers a delightful opportunity to indulge in all the festive activities you love.
Celebrating Christmas in July has become a cherished tradition for Australians, allowing them to experience the enchantment of a winter wonderland in the midst of their own unique summertime festivities. Embracing the spirit of Christmas, while adding a distinctly Aussie flair, showcases the country’s vibrant culture and warm-heartedness.
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