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Barbara DeLeo | “A Different Sort of Christmas” how we celebrate Downunder
December 10, 2013
Lots of things really are upside down, “downunder”. The water does go the
opposite way down the plughole, the group of stars known as “the pot” is upside
down and back to front, and the best thing to wear to Christmas dinner is often
a bikini Although we have a strong English tradition in New Zealand, and have to suffer
the joys of roast turkey and Christmas pudding in ninety degree heat, we also
have our own summer Christmas traditions. Since it’s so warm we’ll often cook on the barbecue and start with a long,
leisurely breakfast outside. My husband is a winemaker and loved his time
working in Italy so we start with panettone and champagne for breakfast in the
garden, closely followed by scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and salmon caviar.
Santa Claus will have come and filled the kids’ stockings on Christmas Eve so
they’ll head out into the garden to play with their new toys straight after
breakfast. My mum takes over for the Christmas lunch and as she has English heritage the
usual suspects of roast turkey, hot ham and cranberry sauce are in abundance,
but we have a few unique twists. My mother-in-law is Cypriot and she makes an
amazing stuffing with bacon, rice, sweet potatoes, pine nuts and other goodies.
For dessert we have the traditional New Zealand Christmas speciality – pavlova.
This is like an enormous meringue but it’s got marshmallow on the inside and
whipped cream topped with sliced kiwifruit covering it. There will always be
bowls of fresh picked strawberries and big fat cherries and the granddads shell
the new peas on Christmas Eve. As most of us take two weeks break over Christmas we’re often camping or staying
at holiday houses by the beach on Christmas day. We’ll all go do down to the
beach after lunch and play cricket with all our neighbours while the grandmas
and granddads sleep in the shade of the New Zealand Christmas tree – the
pohutukawa. My latest book, Last Chance
Proposal is set in Rata Cove, a beach just like this at Christmas time in
New Zealand. Here’s the blurb. A wife he needs. The woman he desires. Cy Hathaway needs a wife, fast, to win custody of his son, Jonty. He returns
home to discover the childhood sweetheart he left behind has become a vibrant,
beautiful woman. Even though wanting to sweep her off her feet wasn't part of
the plan... For Ellie, Cy's sudden reappearance awakens a flood of memories—and resentments
for the way he’d abandoned her all those years ago. But she has a life now, a
career. She can't simply drop everything and get hitched, even if the sight of
him still makes her heart race. But after Ellie meets his little boy, she can't refuse. Certain she has a grip
on her old feelings for Cy, she agrees to marry her first love until he gains
custody. But when did helping out a friend become something with the capacity to
hijack her heart? Have you ever had an “upside down” Christmas or do you have a special family
tradition that you couldn’t do without? I’m giving away two ebooks “Contract for
Marriage” and “Dishing up Desire” to one lucky commenter!
Comments
24 comments posted.
Re: Barbara DeLeo | “A Different Sort of Christmas” how we celebrate Downunder
sounds really good cant wait to read this
(Denise Smith 12:34pm December 10, 2013)
I really want to visit New Zealand, but since I cannot, I love to visit through books just like this one.
(Debra Guyette 7:00am December 10, 2013)
We've always wanted to travel "downunder" but never got the chance. But reading about it is the next best thing! Thanks
(Bonnie Capuano 8:30am December 10, 2013)
We celebrate Christmas Eve with a Scandinavian dinner for my
husband and Christmas Day with a turkey dinner for me. All
the family is there for Christmas Eve and some for Christmas
Day.
I love New Zealand and have been there two times.
Appreciate the giveaway.
(Leona Olson 9:29am December 10, 2013)
Never been below the equator! It's on my bucket list!
(Melissa Romine 10:25am December 10, 2013)
No, I traveled to Down Under a few times and it's always been during Autumn or
Winter. New Zealand has been in my To Travel list. Hope to fulfill that in the near
future.
(Jeannie Lim 10:44am December 10, 2013)
I wish! But my family does have a tradition I couldn't do
without. Everyone is home for Christmas! We open presents at
a ridiculously early hour, eat waffles, eggs, etc for
breakfast and just spend the entire day together. It is
really nice.
(Karin Anderson 10:51am December 10, 2013)
I've never had an upside down Christmas, but we do have a
tradition that some friends and family think is strange. On
the day after Christmas, we have a movie marathon at our
house. It's just me, the husband, and our 2 kids. We watch
the Lord of the Rings trilogy because it's our favorite
movie series AND the only time we all manage to be home
together to watch them back to back. We spend the entire day
cuddled up on the sofas and it's perfect! No visiting anyone
& no one allowed over. It's OUR time. My son, who will be
leaving in a couple of years for college, told me the other
day, "Mom, I promise to NEVER miss Movie Marathon day!" Made
me feel good that it's just as important to the kids as it
is to us.
(Michelle Harlan 12:29pm December 10, 2013)
I have never had an upside Christmas but something I couldn't do without is putting up a real Christmas tree. We always go and cut one down. This year's is about 11 feet tall. It takes about 2 days to decorate with all the ornaments I have but I love it!
(Sue Galuska 1:31pm December 10, 2013)
We had an upside down Christmas one year. Right after supper the electricity went out for a few hours. We had to do dishes by candle light, melt snow for water, and as young kids this took forever without any electronic distractions. We wandered around making up games and being told to "mind the candles." Just as they finished washing all the good dishes and large pots the electricity finally came on.
(Laura Gullickson 1:54pm December 10, 2013)
Dreaming of going down under one day. Maybe, if I hit the lottery!
(Michelle Schafer 2:26pm December 10, 2013)
Never had an upside down Christmas, to but it would be nice to give it a try. Out of all the things at Christmas, I think a Christmas tree is what I could not do without. I love it too much to give it up.
(Sandy Kenny 2:52pm December 10, 2013)
Thanks so much for all your fantastic comments. Keep them coming! I'm LOVING
hearing about all the things you do at Christmas.
(Barbara DeLeo 3:11pm December 10, 2013)
Christmas Eve has always been the big day for our family.
Play Chinese auction and have lots of food! Fun for all.
Love the picture of the beach!
(Barbara Wells 5:34pm December 10, 2013)
I've never had a upside down Christmas and the tradition I couldn't live without is visiting family and having a big meal together on Christmas Eve.
I've never read anything by this author but both of these books sound great!
(Carolyn Rhodes 7:17pm December 10, 2013)
That was a nice treat hearing about how you spend your Christmas day and your traditions. My favorite holiday tradition is taking my sisters as a teenager and now as an adult my children and grand children to look at Christmas lights on Christmas eve. We spend hours driving around looking and oohing and aahing at all the beautiful displays.
(Denise Austin 9:03pm December 10, 2013)
When I was in 4th grade, we moved to Florida. We all though that it was remarkable that we got bikes for Christmas and could RIDE them the same day! This was a brief move and by the next year, we were back up north. But I will always remember that year.
(Marcia Berbeza 9:47pm December 10, 2013)
We always do the big family Christmas on Christmas Eve -
usually at my in-laws since my mother-in-law loves to do the
big huge feast thing. Christmas day is much more laid back and
relaxed with sandwiches and visiting other family members to
see what Santa brought the kids.
(Glenda Martillotti 11:12pm December 10, 2013)
I've never had an upside down Christmas. LOL And in our family we couldn't do without our stockings.
(Marcy Shuler 12:06pm December 11, 2013)
Really enjoyed the information about the holidays down under. It is one country
I have yet to visit and really want to.
Would love to read your book.
(Joy Isley 3:29pm December 11, 2013)
I like the idea of an upside down Christmas. We have our
own version. I no longer go crazy decorating... instead I
go crazy enjoying the decorations and shows at the local
theme parks! It works for me as I no longer have to store
all the decorations or spend days putting them up and taking
them down.
(Linda Townsend 6:41pm December 11, 2013)
We go to church on Christmas Eve then come home eating snacks and
watch holiday movies. Quite time after the busy flurry of getting ready for
the holidays ,
(Shari Bartholomew 6:42pm December 11, 2013)
I have never had Christmas down under. I love to see what on down under one of these days.
(Kai Wong 12:18pm December 12, 2013)
Since I am in Australia. A white Christmas would be upside
down. I'd like to experience it at least once I think.
(Mary Preston 9:34pm December 12, 2013)
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