Christmas in New Zealand

Christmas in New Zealand is a very strange experience. As I've mentioned before, the whole shopping frenzy is nearly nonexistent. Christmas is not nearly as commercial and doesn't even really feel like it begins until about a week before. There is the occasional Tim Taylor-like decorated house but very few people put lights up. The Christmas sections in stores are very small and it doesn't start in October. "Merry Christmas" is not considered politically incorrect. In fact, you rarely even hear "Happy Holidays". Kaigan came back and brought with him Mikaylie's friend, Samantha. One night we went to the Festival of Lights in Pukekura Park where thousands of people sang Christmas carols, including those with "Jesus" in them without the squawking of the ACLU. Now don't be mislead. This is not a heavily Christian or religious country. Many people likely did not really know the Jesus of whom they sang, however, it was rather magical hearing the masses sing in unison. There was also an amazing fireworks show.

Christmas day was very low key. We were joined by our neighbor, Natalia, and her daughter, Jordan, for Christmas dinner and then we all went to the beach for a play and to watch the sunset. I love love loved having all my kiddies together and, much to some of their dismay, I made it a photo shoot.

I have to say, to me it really didn't feel like Christmas. We did have a lovely day. It just didn't feel like Christmas. Gazing at our Christmas tree, windows wide open with the sea breeze blowing in and the beautiful ocean in the background just does not bring on the chestnuts-roasting-on-an-open-fire kind of felling. In a way I suppose this was a good thing because I also didn't feel very sad for my family and friends or our "traditional Christmas". Of course I miss them but not any more than any other day. And spending the afternoon on the beach is lovely on any day! I don't think I could have handled my boy not being home, however.

Today was Boxing Day which is about as close as they come here to Black Friday, with lots of big sales. Stores, however have their regular business hours of 9 to 5 and NO ONE lines up at the door at the crack of dawn or earlier. Thursdays are "late days" and  many stores stay open to 9pm. And Sundays most stores close at 3. Grocery stores have longer hours but NONE are 24hour. So today, Mikaylie and I partook, though for only a little while, in the Boxing Day "madness". I have NEVER done Black Friday, but I'm fairly certain that hardcore Black Friday-ers would find Boxing Day quite lame. 

People in New Zealand really love and take advantage of their down time! Many businesses either shut down all together or drop down to minimal hours during the two weeks surrounding Christmas. Much will not pick up again until after the first of the year. This includes medical services. Billy basically has 2 weeks off with the exception of a couple of call days. No surgeries or clinics are scheduled and only emergencies and deliveries carry on as usual. And these 2 weeks do not count against his six weeks of vacation time that he gets per year!

On Christmas eve eve, we left Will and Graham with Natalia and the rest of us drove four and a half hours to Raglan where we went on a horse trek through bush and beach! (Don't worry, the boys were completely uninterested and had a lovely day with Natalia.) Nani got carsick on the curvy roads of NZ and had to sit up front. This put me in the "way back" with Brylie, knees under my chin! The horse ride was absolutely fantastic! We went to the same place Billy and I had gone last year. We frolicked in the surf and ran like the wind on the beach which was definitely the highlight of the day!

Now, not having gotten into the Christmas spirit in the first place, I'm quite ready to get my house back in order and get this tree out! It will have to wait a few more days, however, as I do not wish to waste any time in the last few days of Kaigan's stay on housekeeping. We may go spelunking tomorrow and if so, photos will follow...