In Australia, we have some wonderful, unique Aussie Christmas traditions.
With our wonderful multicultural society, many cultural influences contribute to our Christmas traditions.
These have adapted and evolved to focus on family, friends and relaxation.
As Christmas day comes around during the summer holidays, there is a significant focus on staying cool – so hot roasts are out, and outdoor BBQs are in!
At Great Aussie Patios, we think Christmas time is a great chance to take a break with your family and friends.
We have compiled a list of our favourite Christmas activities and how to prepare your outdoor entertaining area for hosting Christmas day.
Table of Contents
Six Family Activities to Enjoy During Christmas
- Aussie Christmas at the Beach
- Aussie Christmas Games
- Backyard Slip-and-Slide
- Watch A Family Christmas Movie
- Aussie Christmas BBQ
- Listen to Christmas Carols
Four Steps to Organising Your Outdoor Patio Area
- Clean Your Outdoor Area for Your Guests
- Add Christmas Lights to Your Patio
- Give Your Patio a Festive Flare
- Replace Old Furniture
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Six Family Activities to Enjoy During Christmas
Christmas is a time for family. It's also a time to take some well-deserved downtime and enjoy the company of those closest to us.
But with so much pressure to make every Christmas bigger than the last, it can be easy to lose sight of what's important - which is simply enjoying the holiday season with your loved ones.
That's why we've compiled this list of six activities every family can enjoy during an Aussie summer Christmas!
1. Aussie Christmas at the Beach
Spending Christmas morning at the beach with the family is the perfect way to start the day.
This is a great Christmas tradition that many Aussies living on the coast enjoy.
Your Christmas Day at the Beach Checklist:
- Slip, slop, slap so you don't get any nasty sunburns
- Bring any new beach Christmas gifts that you can test out
- Get competitive with your family with a beach cricket match
2. Aussie Christmas Games
Games are perfect Christmas presents.
What makes them so great is that they can be enjoyed on Christmas day while with your family.
Our favourite backyard games for the family include:
- Relay races
- Charades
- Pictionary
- Trivial pursuit
- Jenga
- Finska
3. Backyard Slip-and-Slide
If you can't get to the beach or pool, the good old backyard slip-and-slide is another great Aussie Christmas tradition.
Whether you have a hilly driveway you can use for elevation, or you build an elaborate backyard ramp for your slide, all you really need is a tarp, hose, and some detergent to get this Christmas party started!
4. Watch A Family Christmas Movie
Watching family movies is the perfect way to take a break from the crazy Christmas season but still stay festive.
Classic Christmas movies are perfect for enjoying while relaxing on Christmas eve, Christmas afternoon, or even boxing day.
You can even set up an outdoor cinema in your patio area so you can continue enjoying the summer warmth while taking your relaxing break.
5. Aussie Christmas BBQ
While Christmas dinner is the star of the show across many cultures, in Australia, Christmas lunch has become a staple Aussie Christmas tradition, with many different foods on the menu.
While some families stick with the traditional roast turkey lunch, many have opted to stay out of the kitchen and enjoy the weather outdoors.
And so, the Christmas Day BBQ tradition has been born. If you live anywhere in the southern hemisphere, you know the backyard patio is the ideal spot for every summer BBQ.
So what's on the BBQ? Some of us love to cook up kebab sticks covered in delicious satay sauce. Others prefer the vegetarian treats of grilled halloumi and veggies.
The fishermen among us have cray pots out all December to cook up some crays on the barbie.
Whatever you are cooking on the patio BBQ, it is a great way to spend time together outside with your family and friends, which is what Christmas Lunch is all about!
Need some Christmas Lunch inspiration? Check out our summer BBQ recipes, or even our favourite beers to drink under your patio.
6. Listen to Christmas Carols
Christmas carols are a perfect fit for the summer season.
So many families in Australia tune in every year to listen to the Channel 9 carols by candlelight on Christmas Eve.
There is also an abundance of local Christmas carols you can attend in your community.
Still, many people love playing Christmas music throughout the entire season leading up to Christmas day.
So before your Christmas family gatherings, put together a playlist of all your favourite Mariah Carey and Micheal Buble tracks!
Four Steps to Organising Your Outdoor Patio Area
Have you been elected to host Christmas this year?
The thought of hosting for so many people can be haunting - with so much to prepare, buy and cook.
But don't worry! Everything will fall into place once you understand the tasks you need to complete (and the tasks you need to delegate).
Here are the steps we suggest taking when preparing your entertaining area:
1. Clean Your Outdoor Area for Your Guests
Cleaning your outdoor entertaining area is one of the best ways to make it feel new again.
Grab everything that has been tucked away under the patio all winter and move it out to clear the space.
Get a broom or cobweb brush to clean up all the old spider webs, give the area a good sweep, and finally wash down your patio.
Once the patio is clean, it will look almost new again, and with nothing under it, you have a clean blank canvas to work with.
2. Add Christmas Lights to Your Patio
Outdoor fairy lights are a great way to add character to your patio.
Lights can make the patio feel warm, festive and inviting.
Great ways to introduce Christmas lights into your outdoor area is by:
- Outlining your patio roof and walls
- Lining your fence
- placing them in hedges and along flowerbeds
3. Give Your Patio a Festive Flare
What's Christmas without some Christmas decorations?
Once you have put up your Christmas tree, you can begin to add splashes of colour to your patio.
This is a simple way to brighten the entertaining area and make your home feel more festive.
Here are our top ways to add Christmas decor to your outdoor area:
- Swap outdoor cushions to Christmas cushions
- Use Christmas ornaments as table centrepieces
- Hang Christmas baubles along enclosed patio windows
- Use Christmas plates for serving Christmas dinner
4. Replace Old Furniture
The old outdoor setting or table and chair setup may be run down or out of style.
If your budget allows, replace it with a new outdoor seating arrangement that brings the feel and life you want this festive season, or get a bit craftier and seek a second-hand setting.
Or you can get really creative by refurbishing your existing furniture.
You can do this by sanding back your old wooden furniture and giving it a new coat of paint or varnish.
Get Your Backyard Ready for Christmas with Great Aussie Patios
How do you plan on celebrating your Great Aussie Christmas in Australia this year?
We would love to hear about your weird and wonderful Aussie Christmas traditions!
If you need a new patio to help you enjoy your backyard this summer, give our team at Great Aussie Patios a call at (08) 9493 7115 for a quick and easy quote.
Request FREE Quote
Call (08) 9493 7115