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New Zealand like Australia had a geogrraphic problem in celebrating Christmas. Much of the imagery associated with Christmas depicts snowy, wintry images from Europe and North America in the Northern Hemisphere so very different than Oceania in the South Pacific. Not only is there little or no snow in Oceania, but while its winter in the Northern Hemisphere, its summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Now New Zealand is the extrene south of Oceania, but even in New Zealand there is only snow on a few mountain peaks or an occsssionsl flurry on South Island. Initially the imagery was understandably that of an English winter. Most families have a Christmas tree of some type. Over time local imagery and native plants have become mixed in with the inherited English traditions. Kiwis are rather split on Christmas traditions. Of course, Santa is today the centerpiece of Christmas for the children. And this is especially the the case in modern, increasingly secular New Zealand. And since World War II, New Zealand has become more diverse as immigration is no longer limited to England or even Europeans. This has introduced new, more varied traditions. The major Christmas tradition after the presents are opened is a huge Christmas dinner. So we see some having a traditional hearty British roast dinner (turkey, ham, lamb or beef, roast vegetables, kumara/sweet potato, and trimmings). Other Kiwi, like Australian families, are influenced by the warm weather more than tradition instead chose an outdoor barbecue or beach side picnic. We see fresh seafood and local fare rather than the traditional English roast more in tune with the northern hemisphere winter. And Maori families might have hangi menu. This is underground cooking where fish and chicken, vegetables and kumara are wrapped. The food is cooked by hot stones at the bottom of a pit and the food buried there. This produces tender meat. Hangi is a style of cooking prevalence throughout Oceania. A major Christmas issue is a quarrel with their Australian neighbors over a Christmas desert--the pavlova. It is a baked meringue pastry topped with whipped cream and fresh summer fruit. There are also traditional English deserts.
New Zealand like Australia had a geogrraphic problem in celebrating Christmas. Much of the imagery associated with Christmas depicts snowy, wintry images from Europe and North America in the Northern Hemisphere so very different than Oceania in the South Pacific. Unlike muvh of Oceania, there are seasonal chsnges in New Zealanmd. Temperatures are cooler during the New Zealand winter, but not anything like northern Europe or North America. Not only is there little or no snow in Oceania, but while its winter in the Northern Hemisphere, its summer in the Southern Hemisphere. So Kiwis celebrate their Christmas during the summer which can be quite warm. Now New Zealand is the extrene south of Oceania, but even in New Zealand there is only snow on a few mountin peaks or an occsssionsl flurry on South Island. Initially the imagery was understandably that of an English winter, but this has gradually changed--to a degree. .
Most families have a Christmas tree of some type. Over time local imagery and native plants have become mixed in with the inherited English traditions.
Kiwis are rather split on Christmas traditions. Of course, Santa is today the centerpiece of Christmas for the children. And this is especially the the case in modern, increasingly secular New Zealand. And since World War II, New Zealand has become more diverse as immigration is no longer limited to England or even Europeans. This has introduced new, more varied traditions.
The major Christmas tradition after the presents are opened is a huge Christmas dinner. So we see some having a traditional hearty British roast dinner (turkey, ham, lamb or beef, roast vegetables, kumara/sweet potato, and trimmings). Other Kiwi, like Australian families, are influenced by the warm weather more than tradition instead chose an outdoor barbecue or beach side picnic. We see fresh seafood and local fare rather than the traditional English roast more in tune with the northern hemisphere winter. And Maori families might have hangi menu. This is underground cooking where fish and chicken, vegetables and kumara are wrapped. The food is cooked by hot stones at the bottom of a pit and the food buried there. This produces tender meat. Hangi is a style of cooking prevalence throughout Oceania. A major Christmas issue is a quarrel with their Australian neighbors over a Christmas desert--the pavlova. It is a baked meringue pastry topped with whipped cream and fresh summer fruit. There are also traditional English deserts.
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