Kiwi Christmas

One day in October (2006), a female voice on a local radio in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, exclaimed enthusiastically something like this: "Book a place for your Christmas party now! It's not too far off ..." Yes, Christmas Day, December 25, is now approaching.

Some of us might be wondering how New Zealanders or Kiwis in general celebrate the joyful occasion. Like in many other places throughout the world, particularly in Western countries, a lot of people in NZ have parties and share gifts on Christmas Day. Some also go to the beach because it is summertime, not wintertime like in Europe and many parts of the US. So, there is no white Christmas in NZ.

As the radio advertisement above has tried to persuade listeners to secure a place for a party, business people in shopping centres also come up with various strategies for attracting customers to spend more money on clothes, shoes, beverages and food, for example. Certainly, NZ Christians hold a special service to welcome the birth of their Saviour, Jesus Christ.

To find out more about NZ Christmas, let's refer to the below folk song composed by Rosy Parsons in 1999.

Christmas in New Zealand

As Christmas comes around again in our own land
It's time to be together, take each other's hand
A chance to share the good times in the summer sun
Another family holiday's begun
Chorus

It's Christmas in New Zealand and the time is right
For saying "I Love You," watching stars at night
For barbecues and swimming out across the bay
How lovely to spend Christmas in the Kiwi way
There won't be any snow to make the land look white
The sun won't set down south 'til after 9 at night
You won't be needing furs or woolly hats and gloves
It's time for outdoor living in the land we love
Repeat Chorus

Bridge
Leave your work behind and have your holiday
And try to keep things simple on your Christmas Day
It's such a special time for having friends and family near
Another Kiwi Christmas time is here
Repeat Chorus

** BB
From various online sources
Card credit: Wishing you a Kiwi Christmas! ©newzealand.co.nz
[This writing was published by DIALOGUE magazine.]