Christmas Around The World!
Australia and Greece
Important Dates In Australia
- December 25-Christmas Day
- December 24-Christmas Eve
Important Dates In Greece
- December 25-Christmas Day
- December 24-Christmas Eve
- December 25-January 6-Epiphany
Christmas In Australia
Kangaroos are very popular in Australia and they cross the roads. So they have to have signs that warn you for them.
Christmas in Greece
Boats are a very popular Christmas decoration in Greece and around Christmas time people will put lit up boats in the street.
Christmas Tree
Christmas trees in the middle of a big city are common in both of these countries.
Gift Bearer in Australia
In Australia, Swag Man brings children presents. He wears a brown Akubra, a blue singlet, and long baggy shorts. During winter he is under Uluru with his merry Dingos (a popular animal in Australia)and then at Christmas time, he gets in his huge four wheel drive and sets off through the red dust to deliver presents.`
Gift Bearer In Greece
Saint Nicholas
Australian Christmas Foods
On Christmas, Australians usually eat seafood, glazed ham, cold chicken, duck or turkey, cold deli meats,pastas, salads, desserts of all kinds, fruit salad, pavlovas, ice cream, and fruit cake. Plus mince pies,shortbread, and chocolate, etc.
Greek Christmas Foods
On Christmas, Greeks usually eat lamb or pork. That is often served with spinach and cheese pie and various fruits and vegetables. Other foods are Baklava, Kataifi, and Theeples. There's also melomakarono and egg or oblong shaped biscuits/ cakes.
What Australians do On Christmas Eve?
On Christmas Eve, many work offices have pre Christmas lunches or parties. Those who have time off take part in summer activities. Some people fly north for a Christmas with snow.
What Greeks Do On Christmas Eve?
On Christmas Eve, children, especially boys, go out singing carols. They play drums and triangles as they sing. They also carry model boats.
What Do Australians Do On Christmas Day?
On Christmas Day Australians often, stay home with family. Children hope to receive gifts from "Swag Man". Also many people eat a big special meal.
What Do Greeks Do On Christmas Day?
On Christmas Day, usually people go to Church in the morning and then go home for lunch. They have a huge feast. Then they dance to music but they don't exchange gifts until January 1st, during Epiphany.
Traditions In Australia
Australians hang wreaths on their front doors, and they also decorate their houses with Christmas trees and lights. They also decorate their houses with bunches of "Christmas Bush", a native Australian tree with small green leaves and cream colored flowers.
Traditions In Greece
People in Greece not only celebrate Christmas, but they also celebrate Epiphany. In the Greek Orthodox Church, Epiphany celebrates Jesus's baptism when he was a man. It's also known as "The Blessing of the Water's". There are many events throughout the country where young men dive into really cold lakes, rivers, and seas to try to be the first to get a cross which has been blessed by a priest and thrown into the water. Whoever gets the cross first is meant to have good luck during the coming year. Epiphany festivals also include blessings of boats and ships, music, dancing, and lots of food.
Interesting Australian Christmas Fact
In Australia Christmas is in the middle of summer vacation. So it is not unusual for some parts of Australia to hit 100 fahrenheit.
Some More Greek Traditions
In most Greek houses people will have a shallow wooden bowl with a piece of wire suspended across the rim. A basil wrapped wooden cross hangs from the wire. On Christmas Eve someone in the house will dip the cross in holy water and will use it ti sprinkle water in every room in the house. This is known to keep the bad spirits away.
Another tradition is when a traditional table decoration are loaves of 'Christopsomo' (Christ's Bread or Christmas bread). It's a round sweet bread which is flavored with cinnamon, orange and cloves. The top is decorated with a cross. The bread is made on Christmas Eve ready to be eaten on Christmas Day.
Another tradition is when a traditional table decoration are loaves of 'Christopsomo' (Christ's Bread or Christmas bread). It's a round sweet bread which is flavored with cinnamon, orange and cloves. The top is decorated with a cross. The bread is made on Christmas Eve ready to be eaten on Christmas Day.