Midwinter Christmas celebrations aren’t typically all the rage these days - the concept of it is, I admit, a little silly. Still, today is the 25^th day of the sixth month of the year, meaning half a year since the last yuletide holiday celebration, and half a year until the next.

I never really though of midwinter Christmas being a uniquely New Zealand or Australian celebration (if you can call it a celebration), but after giving the concept a little thought it seems appropriately so. We are brought up on the notion that Christmas is a wintery, magical time filled with warm egg nog and snow sledding - when in fact a Kiwi Christmas is more commonly set amongst a BBQ and sweltering 30 degree heat.

So in the depths of the Kiwi winter, when the temperatures are in the single digits and in many parts of the country you are surrounded by actual snow, why not have a little fun and let your childhood fantasies of a white Christmas become a reality? Several websites have also suggested that a midwinter Christmas down under is a way for Northern Hemisphere immigrants to rejoice their most celebrated day amongst home comforts, which also seems quite appropriate. Either way, it’s a good excuse for a hearty home cooked meal with friends or family.

The yams are in season, and there’s never a bad time to roast a ham - so have a little fun and get yourself out of the winter blues and into the Christmas spirit for the rest of the week!

Image from Flickr.