It's The Little Things #13: Winter Wonderland

It's the Little Things

#13 - Winter Wonderland

I understood before I came to the Southern hemisphere that swapping seasons was going to be one of the trippier parts of the experience. The key example that I heard was how strange it is to have Christmas in the summer. Like most Northern Hemispherers, I certainly do associate Christmas with all things wintery; but I'd sort of talked myself into the idea that I'd spent enough Christmases in Florida, where it is not uncommon to walk on the beach after opening presents, that I could wrap my mind around this seasonal shift.

But, things became strange for me this week when I was walking past David Jones department store (think Macy's) on the first day of the season where the temperature got up to 30C (about 86F), and saw that they had their Christmas window displays up. I was curious to see if there was an Australian flare to the decorations and, as I stood in the street cursing my choice to wear jeans instead of shorts, I saw that the displays were thoroughly Yuletide Winter Wonderland. Carolers and happy families were all bundled up for the snow, full of good tidings and cheer.

It struck me as so very strange that inside the store, these are the clothes they are selling:

David Jones catalogue

... yet outside, this is the image (all glarey and mirrory for your - ummm - viewing enjoyment) ...

All sweaters, and scarves, and flannel PJs.

I'd be hospitalized for heat stroke if I wore one of those outfits.

This disparity actually made me a little bit sad, as I thought of Christmas. I feel like I can adjust to anything ... shrimp on the barbie, instead of Christmas turkey? OK. Sandy beaches instead of snow? Check. But to try to wistfully pretend that we're going to have a Winter Wonderland just because the Northern hemisphere is seems hard to take. Is our Christmas not going to be good enough because it does not fit the stereotype of a Bing Crosby film? Do I have to send out Christmas cards with snow-covered holly berries, even though we'll never in a million years see that here? I'm surprised that the image of Christmas Down Under has not been adjusted to fit a reasonable holiday fantasy that residents can actually associate with. 

As I start a new life here, as part of a brand new family, I have to look at creating new traditions. 

I'm going to have to stay far away from David Jones if I want to feel like my Australian Christmas is the right kind of Christmas, and not some poor impostor from a misbegotten land.