在過節前, 這裡還流行辦 ”Christ Kringle” 的活動, 這是類似”小天使”的活動, 公司裡每個人被指定買耶誕禮物給某個同事, 預算多在20-25澳幣之間, 禮物用包裝紙包好, 或直接到文具店買耶誕紙袋裝好, 再附上一張不具名的小卡片, 裡面只寫收禮人和恭賀詞. 所有的禮物會集中起來, 再推派一, 二位同事當耶誕老人 (這裡叫Father Christmas, 不是 Santa) 依照指名卡片發禮物.
這裡除了沒有靄靄白雪, 溫暖爐火營造傳統耶誕節氛圍外, 其他活動跟北半球的類似, 諸如過節前的聚餐, 趁商店打佯前大採購, 採買聖誕樹, 居家耶誕佈置…等一樣不少
但也發現溫度不同, 過節氣氛差很大, 北半球在低溫中, 街上靜悄悄, 屋內熱鬧團聚, 紅的, 綠的, 金的耶誕裝飾, 讓餐桌上的噴香烤雞, 龍蝦鮭魚更加美味, 溫馨過節氣氛是從每一扇窗戶中透出來的;
而在南半球豔陽高照, 微風徐徐, 怎麼可能窩在家裡? 多數人不是在自家花園, 就是跑到公園, 海邊慶祝, 大熱天佳餚怎麼可能乖乖的從烤箱出來? 當然是架起烤肉架, 一份一份從烤架上往野餐桌上送, 大家在草地上或躺或坐, 吃喝說笑, 一整個熱情洋溢的慶祝耶誕.
今年 Andy 領了第一次過耶誕節的我, 和第一次過豔陽耶誕節的愛爾蘭同事到海邊入境隨俗的過節.
Christmas preparation in downunder is pretty similar to northern countries, Christmas season started from numbers of pre-Christmas party, Krist Kringle event, Christmas shopping and house decoration.
I find people from “The North” has difficulty to fit in Christmas downunder, I reckon the main reason is because of temperature.
Traditional Christmas celebrates in house due to cold weather, but Australian celebrates it in great outdoor, it’s a shame not to embrace big sunshine and soothing breeze, therefore, many Christmas gatherings take place in flora gardens, green parks or sunny beaches, people will have BBQ or open buffet as Christmas meal.
This Christmas, Andy held his first Australian Christmas lunch at Balmoral Beach with me, the one having first Christmas event, and his colleague Bren, the one having first sunny Christmas.
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| 戶外耶誕餐: 沙拉, 烤蝦, 烤鮭魚加番茄煮蛤蜊, 旁邊的東西叫 Cracker, 是英國及前英屬國家耶誕節必備助興玩意兒 Christmas lunch with salad, grilled tiger prawn, and stuffed salmon, clam with tomato sauce |
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| 餐後點心: 洋梨塔, 起士, 水果, 巧克力 pear tart as dessert, to go with cheese, fruit and chocolates |
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| 大餐吃玩, 娛興節目開始, 兩人努力排拼圖 (Andy 的教母给的耶誕禮物) Bren and Andy are trying to solve the puzzle given by Anne |
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| 隔天, 我們跑去 Middle Head 看 雪梨到塔斯馬尼亞島的風帆賽 We watch SYD to Hobart Yacht race on Boxing day |
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| 雖然現場估計不到一千人, 而且不算是最熱門的觀賽點, 救難人員還是到場待命 (典型的澳洲風格: 邊吃三明治邊聊天的待命) 比賽結束後還有警察指揮疏散遊客, 整套公共安全措施施行完備 Emergency rescue is well prepared for special needs |
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| 比賽開始, 風帆從雪梨灣裡開出, 經過 Middle Head, North Head往海口的太平洋航去 Yachts set off in SYD Habour, after North Head, they are out of SYD Habour and into the Pacific Ocean |
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| 到灣口, 風帆往南開, 目標是塔斯馬尼亞島, 整個賽事須花兩天的時間, 也是挑戰很大的比賽, 許多風帆因為折桅而不能完賽, 圖中船帆上有數字7的即是今天的冠軍船 Yachts turning south at North Head, and heading to Hobart This year's winner took 2days, 7hrs and 37mins to arrive Hobart |
ps. Cracker 長得很像大顆的糖果, 中間的部份放有紙帽, 小玩具, 加一個冷笑話. 玩法是由兩個人各執一端用力拉, 打開時會有禮炮一樣的聲響, 之後一人會只拿到角角, 另一人則拿到連著中間的戰利品, 雖然都是小東西, 但是對保守的英國人來說, 應該算是很大的樂趣了吧!?
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