The Southern
Hemisphere hristmas traditions have stemmed from centuries of stories, customs and beliefs. Cold frosty nights, glowing crackling fires and the endless warm smells of delicious food erupting from the kitchen are memories that take most back to childhood bliss. So many of the traditions are based on snowy gardens and head- to-toe warming food, it might make you wonder… what is the other side of the world doing? Where temperatures push 30 degrees and beaches are your back yard… is it still Christmas? Summer for Australia and New Zealand starts on December 1st, and ends late February. In Sydney, midsummer temperatures average out at about 25 degree Celsius. The cultural legacy is still prominently British, so many people stick to the traditional English foods, however a lot of the time, the meats are served cold. Traditional Australians tend to embrace the weather and serve seafood outdoors, including prawns and oysters. In South America, turkey is the traditional main course, but it is cooked very differently to what
the British know and love. It is most commonly marinated in either a liquor called cachaça or champagne and the stuffing usually consists of fruit and cassava flour. The signature Christmas treat of Colombia is natilla. Similar to caramel, it is most knowingly served with sweet or savory fritters. In contrast to Pigs in a Blanket, the people of Argentina prefer ‘Children in a Blanket’, known to locals as niños envueltos. These are stuffed meat rolls, usually filled with cabbage or beef. Most South Africans are Christian, and so English traditions tend to dominate households. December and January are the hottest months in the year, with temperatures averaging out at 25degrees Celsius. In Namibia, Christmas traditions vary as different cultural origins fluctuate throughout. The Afrikaner origins often centre their day around a big Christmas meal. Traditionally, three types of meat are served. A meat pie, roast chicken and leg of lamb are what families hope to enjoy if they can afford it, alongside oven baked potatoes, vegetables and cheese sauce. For Namibians of the
Herero origin, it is often the only opportunity in the year that they will have to see their family, so it’s an occasion based mainly on family. Barbeques are the main method used to cook the meats, which is either beef or goat meat. There are no presents given or received, and tree decorations are rare to see. The whole day is about the family
‘‘We have Christmas dinner at midnight as it’s the coolest part of the day’’
coming together. In Otjimbingwe, in West Namibia, carol singing is often heard throughout the villages. Traditionally a goat or sheep will be slaughtered, than barbequed, served with salad and home-made ginger beer. Children will decorate the local acacia trees with coloured yarn, to represent ‘all the colours of the rainbow and in-between’. As it is so hot, most locals will spend the day lying down in the shade trying to cool down. The food is served in a picnic style. Tanzanians typically use goat as there main meat, but may use chicken as a cheaper option. Despite the hot weather, a lot of the Christmas cards are still winter themed. It is common for the children to use branches of wattle to make a Christmas tree, and add cotton wool to create fake snow.
Turkey cooked with liqour and fruit
Natilla, similar to Caramel
In South East Asia, in the Philippines, temperatures can push 30 degrees celsuis. The food is often served at midnight, where the temperature is coolest. Philippines take their Catholic religion very seriously and traditionally many people will commit to a Novena Mass nine days before Christmas, which requires them to wake up at 2am every day to attend church. For Christmas dinner, the Philippines draw on their history and their Spanish colonizers, and the Hispanic tradition they have adopted is called Noche Buena. The main meat served is a cooked ham, which is served with Edam cheese and pasta. Fruit salad and hot cocoa, made from locally grown cacao beans is another long-standing tradition. Despite the extreme variation of cultures throughout the world, one thing seems to be unanimous among everybody. Family. This meaning often gets lost in the bundles or presents and the commercial transparency. Whether you are decorating palm trees or building snowmen, remember the true meaning of Christmas this year. The temperatures may fluctuate, and meats vary, but traditionally Christmas is predominantly a time where family’s come to together to celebrate life and well-being. It is the only consistent factor that runs throughout towns, cities and countries. Rachel Satterthwaite
Lamb and vegetables
Biryani, Chicken
Biryani & Chicken, Kheer
Turkey cooked in Liqour, Caramel ‘Natilla’
Mainly Lamb & Chicken, Goat & Sheep BBQ
Seafood, Cold Meats