Australia. Australian children set out cookies for Santa, but instead of milk, they leave him an ice-cold glass of beer. After all, December is summer in the land Down Under. The children leave carrots for Santa's reindeer to munch on, too.
Australia. Apparently kids in Australia leave a cold glass of beer. Probably to help with heat and its summer down under at this time of year. Plus he gets a slice of fruitcake.
The Christmas Eve snack usually left for Santa consists of milk and cookies, but sometimes he gets carrots as a healthy alternative.
Snacks and beverages may be left out for Santa to consume during his visit, often milk and cookies, or a beer. Carrots are also commonly left for Santa's reindeer. The gifts are opened the next morning, on Christmas Day. Families traditionally gather for a Christmas Day lunch.
Australia: Cold Beer
In the summer heat, it's tough to think of something less appetizing than a cup of milk. That's why down in the Southern Hemisphere, Aussies leave an ice-cold, refreshing beer for Santa to enjoy after his descent down the chimney.
Traditional Santas wear bright red fleecy suits, lined with white fur and big black boots to fight off the northern winter. In Australia, it's summer at Christmas time so you're much more likely to see a boardshort wearing Santa on a surfboard.
In the United States, many children leave a glass of milk and a plate of cookies for Santa. Some families deviate from the norm by leaving Santa and his reindeer carrots, pizza, or even celery.
A Christmas song, “Six White Boomers,” tells the story of how the Australian heat is too much for Santa's reindeer. The song, popular with school-aged kids, explains that Santa's reindeer get a rest while six white boomers (boomer is Aussie slang for a male kangaroo) lead Santa's sleigh through Australia!
Surfing Santa during the day, eating prawns and other seafood, neighbourhood street parties, boxing day BBQs and family get-togethers, carols by candlelight, Christmas lunch are some of the best Christmas traditions in Australia.
Everyone knows that Santa's favorite way to wash down his plate of cookies is with a big glass of eggnog. This tradition has been around for decades, but have you ever asked yourself why? When did drinking this egg and milk concoction become a holiday tradition?
"There is no such thing as being too old to believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy," Kelman tells Yahoo Life. "Letting kids figure it out on their own is preferable to parents breaking the news to them.
Some follow the “rule of three.” This means that a child gets three presents, one for each gift baby Jesus received. Others believe in four: something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read.
Studies show that the ideal number of presents to give kids is three. Anything more than this and kids will be busy ripping through the wrapping. They may not stop to appreciate the gifts they have received. Sticking to buying just three gifts works well for both kids and adults.
Leaving cookies and milk out for Santa Claus—and perhaps a few carrots for his reindeer—on Christmas Eve is a popular practice among American children. But how did the tradition begin? There isn't a definitive event to trace this tradition back to.
Australians often celebrate Christmas Day by enjoying a Christmas lunch or dinner with their closest family and friends. The meal usually consists of a selection of hot and cold dishes, including fresh seafood.
He will visit the Pacific Islands first and then onto New Zealand, leaving from the South Island. Santa will zig zag his way up and down Australia, making sure to visit every child's house before departing Australian airspace as he heads towards our northern neighbours.
5 Facts about Christmas in Australia
December is a very hot month in Australia. Some Australians celebrate Christmas on the beach. People decorate their homes with lights, trees, and ornaments. Australians decorate with Christmas Bush, a native Australian tree.
Santa Claus arrives in a sleigh pulled by six kangaroos, or by boat or surfboard in Australia. What a fun fact this is! It's so different from how Santa arrives in other parts of the world. This is also a great opportunity to compare and contrast modes of travel for various climates.
Eastern Grey Kangaroo
The well-known Australian Christmas song has Santa swapping his reindeers for 'white boomers' on his Australian run. Occasionally 'white' (albino) kangaroos do occur in nature, while 'boomers' is the slang term used to describe big, male kangaroos (and the Australian men's basketball team).
What is Santa Claus called in Australia? These days most Australians call Atnas (his real name) “Santa”.
From the German 'Christkindl' (meaning “Christ Child”) the name Kris Kringel is also used in Australia and Great Britain to refer to a secret Santa gift exchange.
Approximately one billion cookies are left out around the world for Santa, and since Santa needs something to help wash them down, about 500 million glasses of milk are set out.
Santa's most favorite is cookies, but he'll eat just about anything that you like and that you leave for him on Christmas Eve.
Santa loves his white milk and cookies, but after stopping at every child's home, give Santa Claus some flavored milk for a tasty surprise. Or switch out the milk for some holiday eggnog! Put your own twist on holiday traditions this year with your family.