Happy Holidays!

Australia's version of the reindeer- I have seriously seen 50 cars with the same decoration

Apparently ‘Happy Holidays’ is an uncommon term in Australia. Every time I have said it or written it, I was either given a strange look or told that I was very ‘politically correct’. Here people will say Happy Christmas (which I have only heard in Australia) and Merry Christmas (which is obviously common in the States).

Even though Australians are very festive, I am finding it difficult to believe it is the holiday season (there I go again, very “p.c.” of me). I mean for starters, it is 80 degrees outside as I write this. It is the beginning of summer and the idea of Santa Clause in his heavy-duty winter gear, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, and Frosty the Snowman seems a bit distant. It is at these times when I realize that I am on the other side of the planet.  

I have come to the conclusion that Christmas in Australia is like August in Europe and I am going to embrace it. Everything shuts down for weeks, which I realized yesterday when I went to three of my local lunch spots only to find out that they were closed until January 10. That’s three weeks of closure. I like that thinking. It is summer after all...

I do have to give credit to the department stores for embracing the northern hemisphere version of the Christmas season. Frosted windows, snow, and snow men dispersed throughout the space; mittens and wool caps adorning the mannequins; a mock fireplace here and there. “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas” blasts on the outdoor speakers while passersby are wearing shorts, swimming costumes (yes, that is a bathing suit), and thongs (I am sure that got your attention! Thongs are flip flops here). It is an interesting juxtaposition.

So I will stick with my political correctness and wish you all a Happy Holidays! Those who are near, let’s hang and enjoy the summer and those who are far, we are thinking of you and missing you dearly.