Southern holiday season

This holiday season I’m back in the Southern hemisphere. While I appreciate the cosy fireside vibe of Christmas in winter, and agree, seasonal lights are much better in the dark (Margaret River ‘won’ worst Christmas tree lights this year). I have returned to Australian summer for my first Christmas in close to 15 years, and been reminded, ‘hot Christmas is my vibe’. Heat in general is my vibe. I am quite honestly a different person when I can be outside without a jacket, or shoes and not have to worry about frostbite.

A difference I’d forgotten in the intervening years of the hemisphere and thereby seasonal change to the holiday period, is the Christmas market attitude. Obviously, there is still food, and shopping, and alcohol. But, in Margaret River, Western Australia at least, the Christmas market specially put on for the season was a replica of the Saturday food market seen every week. Only with less stalls and in the afternoon and early evening, rather than the morning. There were places where opportunity was missed.

The celebratory element missing from the market may have been used up in the Christmas street party held the previous week.

It’s fun having a street party for Christmas. Europe has Christmas markets for winter, but for the most part street parties are saved up for summer – understandably, who wants to dance in puffer jacket and snow boots.

In Margaret River the street party was organised by the local radio station. The radio show was being held live on the street. With hosts, more used to the privacy and solitude of a lightproof studio, set up on a fold out table under a tree, exposed to the elements and the audience. Speakers boomed live music and radio chat across the crowd, operating decks posted it through the airwaves, microphones picked up the background noise of revelry tempting the audience listening at home with an undercurrent of, ‘come on down. You’re missing all the fun.’

There are certain elements in street parties that are global:

• The parent rationalising with the child, “I don’t care what the other kids are doing, you’re my son and I said you can’t.”

• The single runner who stands up for the rights of all runners everywhere to run wherever they like and to hell with the irrationality of trying to run through throngs of ambling, distracted adults and sugar high children gathered en masse.

There are certain elements of street parties in country towns that are specifically Australian:

• Santa arrives in a helicopter, walks across the road and sits on the fire truck for the parade.

• The parade reveals a heretofore hidden local culture of dressing up. This year’s parade in Margaret River was pulled together last minute, which meant costumes for the groups had to come out of cupboards or be hashed together from craft supplies already owned. The costume quality was outstanding. Although no one had thought about the ambiance, and the only music any of the paraders had was when they passed by the radio stand mid-way down the street.

  

  dress up boxes be free

• There is always one kid who works out that following the fire truck is a rich source of chocolates. This year’s future world leader was happily collecting all the chocolates thrown into the crowd. I was lucky enough to see her when she reached the critical problem solving moment, each finger had a Fredo Frog (Australian mini chocolate bar in the shape of a frog) or a snack sized KitKat clenched between it, her palms were piled high and she needed to admit she could collect no more, thereby letting all the possible chocolates as yet unthrown be lost to the crowd, or think of a way to carry more.

It is great Australian tradition, throwing things at the crowd from parade floats. As a child I grew up in orange growing country, our parade was part of the Orange festival, and, you will have guessed, they threw oranges at the crowds lining the street.

It is nice to be back in the heat for the holiday season, seeing half-melted chocolates thrown at crowds, making dashes across hot ground into ocean or river or pool or dam. Lounging under shade giving trees or umbrellas or gazebos. Allowing the warmth to soften mind and body and grow hope that the next year will be brighter for everyone.