Guest Post by Penny Gale of Fabriculture
Maybe it’s a Green Christmas in the lush rainforest smacking away mossies, or a Blue Christmas on the beach belting cricket balls into the ocean. Maybe a Red Christmas kicking your boots up in the dust.
Forget about dreaming of a White Christmas… we are here to help you celebrate your Australian Christmas in style.
Hosting Christmas can be an overwhelming job any year. However, with international flights closed, border closures and so much uncertainty around the big day this year, makes it even more stressful.
I’ve hosted more than my fair share of Christmases. Decorating and putting on a big show takes a lot of time and planning. Being mindful of what is important can sometimes get away from us, creating waste that cannot be re-purposed or recycled.
Whilst guests can all play their part – it is the host [or hostess] that arrives at the theme and ensures everyone has a welcoming, relaxing day. If you are looking for an authentic Australian Christmas, here are some ideas.
Get outdoors!
Weather permitting, location is always an important consideration when organising Christmas. Most of the country is warm, so an outdoor setting makes sense so everyone can enjoy the landscape. Whether out in the bush, by the beach or in the forest – alfresco style, the outdoor environment does most of the Christmas ‘decorating’ for you.
Decorate with Australian natives!
We are all about Australian natives at my house. The dining table is an important feature when hosting Christmas. How will it look and how can you create an elegant setting, without spending a fortune on Christmas décor that will only be put on display for one day? Native Australian plants can add a festive and refreshingly elegant touch to your dining table. What do you have in your area?
If you don’t have a nice table, use a white table cloth base and layer the middle with branches of melaleuca and eucalyptus trees. Green sprigs can be tied to white napkins, and red bottle brushes can be displayed in vases or straight onto the table. The contrast of green and red against white takes advantage of a traditional festive colour scheme.
Replace the fake tree with something real.
Replace that artificial tree with an Aussie native. The smell alone will exude a Christmas to remember. Think pine or lilly pillies that can be pruned to shape.
Wrap Christmas gifts in recycled, Australian made paper.
We’ve become a little obsessed over the years with the presentation of Christmas wrapping. I like to use fabric bags, tea towels and recycled wrapping, like the recycled gift wrap from Fabriculture. Mix and match these with recycled brown paper and adorn them with wool, ribbons or raffia that can be reused again and again, and composted at end of life.
Serve the best Australian produce you can find
No matter what you serve – if it’s local, quality produce it will be authentically Australian and delicious! We like to cook Australian lamb backstrap on the barbie with cold ham and plenty of salads from local growers. This is our own tradition as a backlash to being forced to eat a hot roast in 40-degree heat as kids! Dessert is just as important as the main meal and my husband insists on a trifle [which I hate] but Pavlova is always a must, with ice cream and fruit salad.
Give Australian made, Australian inspired gifts.
Our local artisans and businesses have had a very rough few years. Support local where you can and buy authentic, Australian made gifts.
Raising the awareness of Australia’s threatened and unusual native species, Fabriculture provides a range of beautifully designed, Australian made paper and textile goods for the whole family.
Penny Gale is the Creative Director of Fabriculture, a design studio committed to highlighting Australia’s threatened and unusual species.
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