Christmas Special: Christmas traditions are much different 'Down Under'

Rebecca Brown is not your ordinary high school student in Banner County.

Brown is an exchange student from Australia who is staying with the Grubbs family. She will stay in Banner County for a year. Brown said she has really enjoyed herself thus far. It is not hard to get homesick during the holidays, but Brown said she is doing just fine.

"I'm not really missing home too much right now, I'm doing okay," she said.

However, back at her home in Australia, Brown would be enjoying a day by the pool and barbecues since this is summer in her home country. The fact that it is summer in Australia during Christmas time allows for quite a few differences in the way the holiday is celebrated.

"We have barbecues and spend time with the family that way. We're usually at the pool or something like that," Brown said.

Brown also explained that Christmas is a much bigger deal in the U.S. than in Australia. She said that much more goes into both the promotion of and the celebration here for Christmas.

"We don't have things like ugly sweater parties or, white elephant parties, I had never even heard of that," Brown said.

In addition to all of America's additional traditions during Christmas that Brown was unfamiliar with, she also made a comment about the airing of Christmas programming.

"You have a lot of Christmas stuff on TV. Pretty much everything is Christmas (in the U.S.), and back home we really only have Christmas movies shown on Christmas," Brown said.

Of course having Christmas during summer presents its very own issues. For instance, Santa, who is usually portrayed wearing a thick winter outfit, would not be wearing that in Australia during the summer.

"We usually have Santa on a surf board, during Christmas that's what you find everywhere," Brown said.

In addition to the change in Santa to reflect the climate, a very notable carol also received a makeover in order to be more appropriate for both the season and region.

The beloved tune 'Jingle Bells' also experienced a change. It not only has a summer flair to it but also is distinctly Australian in the alternate version.

"Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey! Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!, Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute," the chorus of Australian Jingle Bells says.

The rest of the song references things that are very notably Australian. It speaks of dodging Kangaroos and riding through the 'bush,' with a Kelpie (Australian breed of dog), at the driver's side.

One more thing that Australians do that Americans do not, is observe Boxing Day. Boxing Day is popular in both Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as Australia. Boxing Day is a day where people can go shopping and many will spend it watching sports, such as cricket. Many sales are going on and a lot of people have the day off of work.

"Boxing Day is like another day off for everyone and they can go shopping or spend the day watching sports or whatever," Brown said.

While America's holiday traditions do differ from Australia's, Brown is still enjoying her time here.

"I like it, it's been fun here and very nice. I'm enjoying myself," Brown said.

Jingle Bells - The Australian Version

Dashing through the bush,

in a rusty Holden Ute,

Kicking up the dust,

esky in the boot,

Kelpie by my side,

singing Christmas songs,

It's Summer time and I am in

my singlet, shorts and thongs

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,

Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut !,

Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

Engine's getting hot;

we dodge the kangaroos,

The swaggie climbs aboard,

he is welcome too.

All the family's there,

sitting by the pool,

Christmas Day the Aussie way,

by the barbecue.

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,

Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,

Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

Come the afternoon,

Grandpa has a doze,

The kids and Uncle Bruce,

are swimming in their clothes.

The time comes 'round to go,

we take the family snap,

Pack the car and all shoot through,

before the washing up.

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,

Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,

Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute