Hello！EcomのMaxです。
最近は、どんどん暑くなってきましたね。皆さんは暑くなると、何を思い出しますか？僕は、クリスマスのことを思い出します！どうしてかと言えば、オーストラリアのクリスマスは夏の真ん中に行われるからです。もちろんオーストラリアのクリスマスでも、たくさんの楽しいことをします。でもやっぱり、暑い日にローストターキーやフルーツケーキは食べられません(笑)
そのためオーストラリア人は、北半球と同じような「寒いクリスマス」に憧れています。
それが理由で、1980年頃から「Christmas in July」(7月のクリスマス)というイベントが誕生しました！7月はオーストラリアの冬だし、南の方にある「Blue Mountains」には雪が降ります。僕の住んでいたシドニーでも温度が低くなって、みんな暖炉を使います。なので、とてもクリスマスらしい雰囲気になります！
ということで、今日はオーストラリアの「第2のクリスマス」である「Christmas in July」について書きたいと思います。
「Christmas in July」では暖炉の隣に座ったり、ローストターキーを食べたり、雪だるまを作ったりします。どれもオーストラリアの12月にはできない、クリスマスらしいことですね。
本当のクリスマスと比べると、7月の方はあまりフォーマルではないです。なので、家族と過ごす代わりにクリスマスパーティーをします。12月のクリスマスの時にはシーフードやサラダや鶏肉を食べますが、7月にはローストターキーや温かいクリスマスプディングなどを食べます。
また、7月はオーストラリアの学校は休みの期間です。そのため、旅行している人が多いです。人気旅行先はシドニーから2時間くらいで行ける「Blue Mountains」や、キャンベラの近くにあるスキーリゾートの「Thredbo」「Perisher Blue」などです。
冬でもオーストラリアの都会では、雪があまり降りません。ですが、それらのスポットに行ったら「ホワイトクリスマス」を楽しむことができます^^
レストランも7月には、特別なクリスマスメニューを出していますよ。
皆さん、年に2回クリスマスをお祝いするなんてどう思いますか？ずるいですか？(笑)
ぜひ感想を教えてください！それでは、Merry Christmas (in July)! 🙂
9 thoughts on “【Christmas in July】オーストラリアは７月にクリスマスを祝う？”
Hello Max, How are you?
Thank you very much for sharing interesting topics about Australia. When I went to Cairns during Christmas holidays, they celebrated hot and humid Christmas there. It was a bit weird because Santa wore a red bathing suit with a fluffy red cap.
I usually feel sad when I see Christmas ornament because it’s always very cold and dark on Christmas Day. Therefore, when we had a sunny and bright Christmas, I felt relieved.
When I visited Blue Mountains in August, it was very cold and rainy. They may have snow in July, so it might be similar to our Christmas in the north hemisphere. But, I like the hot and sunny Christmas Day in Australia.
I think in general people in Australia are relatively rich. I saw a lot of businessmen and businesswomen in open cafes where they enjoyed three-martini lunch. Park Hyatt, the hotel we stayed, held wine tasting parties in the evening. If they celebrate Christmas twice a year, they need to buy Christmas gifts as well. I guess they can afford purchase these Christmas gifts for their parents, children, relatives, friends and spouse.
There are a lot of sad stories related to Christmas. You may remember “The Little Match Girl” or “Christmas Carol”. A pool girl lights the matches to warm herself. She sees several lovely visions including a Christmas tree and a holiday feast. She might have dreamed of eating a roasted turkey and a warm Christmas pudding. A greedy Australia boy named “Scrooge” may have a dream of eating delicious Christmas dinner twice a year. He may also dream of an underpaid clerk named Bob Cratchit where he was saving his money and celebrated Christmas with a few coarse foods. I imagine that when Australians may be dreaming of Christmas twice a year, they may surely see illusions or Marley’s Ghost.
Dear Seiichi,
Thanks for your comment.
It’s great that you were able to experience a hot Australian Christmas! However unfortunately, the last few years it has been raining on Christmas in Sydney. Yes, there are popular images of Santa going surfing at the beach.
Really? I feel the opposite way – I would love to experience a snowy, cold Christmas! 🙂
Christmas in July is a very informal occasion, so you do not usually give gifts. The main event is usually a party or trip away. I think you may have gotten the impression that Australians are rich because you stayed at an expensive hotel. 🙂
On Christmas in December, we usually have a barbecue or eat cold ham, seafood and salad, because no one feels like eating a roast turkey when it is very hot outside!
I hope that the heat in Japan is reminding you of Christmas in Australia 😉
Hello Max,
Thank you very much for your comment.
I strongly feel that Australia is the best country to stay for a while. I have the impression that people in Australia are wealthy and kind. They often said “No worries” to me when I said “Thank you” to them. Waitresses at restaurants are usually reluctant to accept tips from customers. They may not worry about their life. I didn’t see homeless people in Sydney. The streets were clean and there were no foul smell.
At Hunter Valley, they offer us free wine tasting with cheese at every winery. They served us several glasses of wine and they didn’t expect us to purchase several bottles of wine.
I recommend that a lot of Japanese students go to Australia and have a wonderful experience.
I watched the World Cup in Brazil. Brazil is in the southern hemisphere, and people in Brazil also celebrate Christmas in summer. I imagine that a lot of people in the country cannot afford to have a luxurious Christmas dinner at home. After the game is over, they have to face the reality of poverty and crime. I hope Brazilians will have roast turkey and warm pudding with the family in Christmas this year.
Hello Max,
The previous comment was mine. Sorry about it.
サマーChristmasのご説明良くわかりました。ありがとう。感謝です。
サマーChristmasのご説明良くわかりました。ありがとう。感謝です。
松浦様
コメントありがとうございます！
初めまして。シドニーに留学中のナナと申します。
先日シドニーのロックスでは、
クリスマスイベントがあり、
「なんでクリスマスを7月に…？」と疑問に思っていました。
ツリーやリース、ミニコンサート、そして何よりたくさんの美味しい屋台で大勢の人が楽しんでいました！
とってもわかりやすいブログでした！ありがとうございます。
ななさん
コメントありがとうございます。
今の季節、シドニーいいですね。留学頑張って下さい。
またどうぞよろしくお願いします。