Christmas and Other Traditions in Australia1. Christmas and Traditions in Aus-traliaHere follows an interview with Monica, an Australian girl. She lives in the suburbs in the ACT, since she was around 11, and before that she lived in the western suburbs of Sydney.

2. ChristmasIn Sweden we celebrate Christmas on Christmas’ Eve. When is your most important day of celebration?Christmas Day is generally considered the most important, often spending the day with immediate family members – sometimes with other relatives joining in and friends dropping by.Do you have a Christmas tree and how is it decorated? 

Some years, depending whether or not we're bothered to pull it out of the basement. Tinsel is big, and the star on top.

Do you eat anything special?

Ham; roast ham is everywhere. Barbecues (sausages, prawns, ke-bab sticks) and salad. Roast chicken as a ham alternative as well. Just a lot of food, generally much more than is actually eaten on the day, and eaten for many days afterwards.

What happens during that day and evening? Any fixed tradi-tions?Nothing particularly fixed but its generally understood that Christ-mas is family time. That being said, last Christmas I spent lunch with my family and the rest of the day driving past my friends' houses, delivering cards and we all ended up gathering more pas-sengers and spending the evening at the last stop, singing karaoke and eating leftovers.

Do you have any special memories from Christmas?Not particularly. We live rather far from family so most of my Christmases are small affairs and not much of a big deal is made of it. It's kind of like a normal day with a lot more food and presents.

But do you remember any special Christmas present?Oh yes! When I got my Gameboy way, way back with the game Pokemon Gold. It was something I had wanted for a while, but didn't think I'd get. But then I did and I did not put it down for sev-eral years!

What else is going on around the Christmas holidays?Before Christmas people buy and exchange gifts and Christmas cards and there are workplace Christmas parties. After Christmas, Boxing day sales are big, and many places are closed during the week leading up to New Year's,  as employees in many fields are given that time off.

3. EasterDo you celebrate Easter?

The Australian flag is red because it's the Royal Navy Flag.

When I used to go to a catholic high school, Easter would be cele-brated with a school mass but personally, no. Nothing religious, but there's always the Easter Show in Sydney (a frivolous carnival) around that time to go to, and chocolate gifting.

Are people free from work, do they have any holidays?Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays.

Do you eat something special at Easter?

Chocolate, bunnies, eggs or otherwise. Chocolate bunnies and eggs that is, not the actual.

4.  Other TraditionsWhat other traditions do you celebrate in Australia? 

Australia Day in January is celebrated, the date when the first fleet of British ships arrived, in 1788.  Though there is some controversy for that date and the erasure of indigenous Australians.Like most things, the standard call for celebration is a day off with a barbecue with friends and family. A concert is also held at the Parliament house. Otherwise long weekends are often a thing, where public holidays fall on a

The famous Bondi Beach in Sydney

Friday or Monday. People take the opportunity to travel interstate, mostly to the beach or visiting family members. Or a gathering, generally with barbecues - of course. As for why, I guess it’s like a mini holiday and holidays are fun!