Yule Tide Thoughts on the Season.

Christmas is weird, when you ponder just how much sway it has over everyone in Australia. The religious, the secular, the rich and the poor... it weighs on everyone's mind in one way or another. The thing is, as such a young nation with such a melting pot of cultures, the Christmas we have in Australia is less a tradition and more this weird, annual fantasy we create some time near the end of the year. Consider some of the idiosyncrasies of the Australian Christmas.

We use the symbols of pine tress and snow as an indicator of the festive season during Australian summer. It's absolutely bonkers, it makes no sense. As a hold over from English (and to some extent, American) festive seasons, I understand why they're used, but it's more the juxtaposition of this one fantasy against this almost opposite reality. Snow is on the TV but we're lazing around in board shorts and thongs. Evergreen pines are everywhere but the lawn is brown. In my experience, Australian "festivity" is less about an ongoing sense of spirituality or peace and more about excitement for a day off or a day on the piss. In a way, it makes sense though; the ads and symbols all around us don't reinforce any feelings we're already having, they're just reminding us that a party is coming.

The idea of the Christmas roast is weird as well. In the UK, you're celebrating when it's cold, you're eating a hearty, filling hot roast while it's dark and cold outside. The roast meat makes sense. But over here? We're having Christmas lunch in the bright, sunny and hot afternoon. Cold prawns becoming traditional, that I understand. It makes sense. I'd understand stuff like cold seafood, fresh fruit, salads, cold drinks... but roasts and custard and egg nog and Christmas Pudding? It may be traditional but it's also completely inappropriate given the season, not the "season."

I won't get started on Christmas carols but seriously, they are so goddamn awful. Christmas music blows.

All that said, I'm a big fan of December 25th and the few days around it. I generally have a lot of fun. The Santas and snow and baubles and shitty music, I could do without, but friends, family, good food, good drink and shallow materialism are great, so any day that brings a lot of them is fine by me.