Miss Sis
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,888
Smithy said:Christmas is the big one here and back home in NZ.
There was absolutely no Halloween when I was a kid, but we celebrate Guy Fawkes a few days later on the 5th November (actually I think only the UK and NZ observe Guy Fawkes, I know the Aussies don't).
Over the last few years there's been the odd kid going out and doing that trick or treat thingie but it's hardly widespread. Generally it's considered an American tradition so (like Thanksgiving) there is little reason for NZers to follow it.
Christmas is a laid back affair back home
Ah, my fellow Kiwi Smithy explains holidays NZ style.
When I was a child we did dress up for Halloween and the local kids would go trick or treating, but it was very low key. We always had fireworks for Guy Fawkes or Bonfire Night as the Brits call it. I don't remember the two events being so close together though! Halloween was a chance to dress up but Guy Fawkes was all firecrackers, sparklers and skyrockets and I used to love it. My brothers and I would mess about and sometimes join my friend's family for making a 'Guy' (a model of Guy Fawkes who tried to blow up parliament that you burn) and having the bonfire.
For those who have never experienced it, Christmas in Summer is great. Usually it's sunny and you can get outside and enjoy the weather. In NZ it's really the start of the summer holidays. I'm happy to have a holiday here in England to break the tedium of Winter. We don't have any public holidays in NZ from Easter until Labour Day which is the end of October. With Winter in the middle, it is one long, boring stretch to get through.
Quite a few people go out for a dinner with work mates for a 'Mid Winter Christmas' in NZ, which must sound strange to those who are used to Christmas being in Winter anyway, but it's an odd concept to us!
On a small side note, the whole man in a red suit delivering presents comes from the St Nicholas story. His Saint's day is 5 December and it is celebrated in Holland as a day to give each other gifts and remember acts of kindness towards each other. My family there don't really give presents on Christmas. It is a day to go to church and be together as a family. St Nick's day is just another thing that has been appropriated and added to the whole Christmas shebang, even though it is associated with a saint.