Christmas Tree in Dunedin
Ok, so being an American, I just expect all westernized countries to go ga-ga during the season. This just doesn’t happen to be so in New Zealand. Watching t.v., you do see some commercials about buying gifts, and there are a few houses that have the token Santa Claus out front, albeit not many. It doesn’t get dark until about 10:00 so there’s no reason to put lights on the houses, and the only things I’ve seen somewhat decorated are the cars. People have put tinsel around their gear racks. I take that back. There are about six garlands hung up as you drive through Dunedin and there is a Christmas tree on the octagon lawn, but that is it.
A few days before Christmas, everyone who talks to you says, “Have a Merry Christmas”, and according to some reports the malls are a mess, but honestly, I haven’t seen it. Today is Christmas, and I’ve only heard a couple of Christmas carols, but all the stores and most of the restaurants are closed. Most. We’ve seen families out swimming, barbecuing, riding bikes, etc. No one is wearing santa hats and only one person was sporting the paper cracker crown. I know they do Christmas dinner in a big way, and I imagine it is a time for family to get together, but all that with no hype. I love it! Can we export this to the U.S.?
Happy Christmas everyone from Jim and me.
Thanks for your notes, you sound like you are having a delightful time in NZ and had a very nice Christmas. It would indeed be nice to import some of what you observed to the States. Guess it would not really be worth putting up lights when it doesn’t get dark till 10:00 or so. Our days are just beginning to get a bit longer, yeah! But a long, long way to go till the long days of summer.
Lots of lights around, although not nearly as many this year as in times before. Seems like the local media was a lot less commercial this year, which is just fine. Many folks were celebrating in a more “traditional” way.
I love you & hope to talk to you when you get back to Chris & Mary’s.