Christmas – and summer – has well and truly arrived in Melbourne, although feeling festive in 30-plus degree heat while listening to songs about a winter wonderland is certainly something to get used to.
For many younger Irish people who have moved to Australia, it will be a case of getting used to their first Christmas away from home comforts and traditions this year. So how are they feeling?
“I’m definitely embracing the change of scenery and feel very lucky to experience the festive period in Australia,” says Elaine Freeman (34) from Co Clare. “There is such a festive buzz around Melbourne as well as summer excitement, it’s such an exciting time to experience Melbourne and Australia,” she says.
Instead of celebrating in Melbourne, though, Freeman will travel up the east coast to Byron Bay and Noosa for the holidays, located in the states of New South Wales and Queensland respectively. “I’m excited for the quintessential Australian beach Christmas,” she says.
“I’ll be with my sister, her fiance and a group of friends. Between work, travelling, living in different countries and Covid, this will be the first time since 2016 that my sister and I will be in the same room for Christmas. This makes my first Christmas in Australia even more special,” says Freeman.
Also embracing new surroundings is Dale Galway (30) from Co Wexford. “Enjoying the weather, a barbecue and a sea dip is something I am really looking forward to. There is an amazing, vibrant Irish culture here, so hearing accents or seeing familiar faces is really great,” he says.
“I will be spending [the day] with my housemates, friends and friends of friends. Being here and being open to new people is pretty important and thus far I have met some really amazing people.”
As much as he is excited for a sun-filled, outdoor Christmas, Galway says he will “miss the craic” at home with friends and family. “Seeing people from years back in the local pub, catching up and reminiscing about times gone past was always a highlight at home,” he says.
Galway has noticed a “laid-back” approach to Christmas in Melbourne and feels the festivities begin a lot earlier in Ireland. He says: “I haven’t been asked: ‘Are you all set for Christmas?’ yet.”
“There are amazing lights and decorations all over the city centre, but nothing compares to the old street lights hanging up across the small towns of Ireland with Christmas songs playing on the streets.”
He says: “The sun feels weird at this time of year, but if your only complaint is the weather, you really have nothing to complain about.”
Maria O’Dowd (28), from Co Galway, who now lives in Perth, says spending her first Christmas on the other side of the world will be “challenging”. With her friends in Perth heading home for the holiday season, O’Dowd will spend Christmas in Melbourne with her Irish friends who live here.
She says: “Being away from home for Christmas this year will be really challenging, but I am excited about it because it is something I have never done before. Friends who have lived in Australia for a few years have always told me that it’s crucial to enjoy Christmas as best I can here and avoid making it feel like Christmas at home as it would be hard to meet the expectations.”
On Christmas Day, O’Dowd plans to hit the beach with friends followed by dinner, drinks and games in the evening (her contribution to dinner will be Brussels sprouts and dessert ). “There will be a lot of people on Christmas Day, some people I know from home and some people from Ireland I have never met before … It will be easier to be away from home knowing there are other Irish people celebrating Christmas with me as they are also separated from friends, family and loved ones during this time,” she says.
In keeping with Irish traditions, O’Dowd says her GAA team in Perth organised the 12 pubs of Christmas. “That was very enjoyable, especially in the sun,” she says.
Even though spending Christmas away from family will be a difficult time for O’Dowd, she says: “I’m going to embrace it this year and do it in Aussie-style. I’ll be thinking positively and telling myself that not everyone has the opportunity to experience what it’s like to live in a different country, with new traditions and among new people, and for that I am very grateful.”
Seamus O’Dwyer (24) from Co Kilkenny agrees that Christmas this year will be “strange” but is welcoming the new experience. He will be celebrating his first Aussie Christmas in Melbourne with his partner and friends, “ideally at the beach”, he says.
“Christmas will certainly be different this year – the heat being the main factor, I’m still not used to it … The Christmas swim is definitely going to be a lot nicer, though.”
Having only arrived in Australia earlier this year, O’Dwyer says he’s not feeling homesick but being away from home for Christmas is “definitely sinking in”.
He says: “I will be calling home and friends that we would normally visit before Christmas, other than that I would say everything is going to be completely different – new country, amazing weather, new friends. It’s a lot to take in suddenly, it feels like time is flying past.”
Although having a slight craving for a typical home-made Christmas dinner, O’Dwyer is looking forward to Aussie barbecues on the beach, but “I can’t leave out the 12 pubs, something from home to embrace”, he says.
“As much as I’d love to get my jacket on and head out on a cold evening back home, I’m happy sticking with the sunshine here for now.”
Yasmin Green (31) from Co Leitrim is a nurse in Melbourne and says she will be working a lot over the festive season but is “fortunate to be rostered off Christmas Day, so I am having a very Australian barbecue, [doing] Secret Santa with my housemates and going to the beach”.
Green says celebrating Christmas in Australia has always been on her bucket list. She says: “I feel excited and privileged for a once in a lifetime Christmas experience. However, I have lived overseas previously … so I am used to spending it away from home and family.”
Reflecting on Christmas at home in Leitrim, Green says: “I will miss the tradition of meeting up and attending midnight Mass on Christmas Eve with my extended family and meeting up to celebrate with my friends on Stephen’s Day. Most of my Christmas will be completely different to any other year this year.”
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