When my husband and I walked into the Lone Star restaurant, I noticed two ladies setting up a Christmas tree in the corner of the room. I wondered why they were setting up a Christmas tree in August. I asked the waiter, and she told me that they were doing it to celebrate mid-winter.
So, what is a mid-winter celebration?
Due to severe weather conditions in Christchurch, the festival, which is usually celebrated in July to mark the winter solstice, was postponed to August this year. Check out the blog for more details on the weather changes. Read more about Extreme weather change – Always Live Loud.
We know that New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons reverse, and the tradition is to celebrate Christmas during the summer. Christmas in July – Wikipedia.
Where did it all start?
The celebration began across Antarctica on the day of the southern winter solstice (June 20th or 21st). It’s a significant cultural holiday in Antarctica. The tradition is said to have started with Robert Falcon and his crew, who were navy officer explorers of the Antarctic region.
While on an expedition, they imitated the Christmas celebration by enjoying special meals. And decorating their quarters with Christmas trees and ornaments. Given the isolation and extreme cold of the Antarctic environment, it’s understandable that the crew found ways to celebrate Christmas to boost morale.
As we know, the ancestors of New Zealanders mostly came from England and other Northern Hemisphere countries, where they celebrate Christmas in cold weather.
So why not throw a Christmas party in the middle of winter?
“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.”
Agnes M. Pahro
