Sure, most of you reading this right now have your heaters running, your cozy socks on to keep your toes warm, and you quite possibly had to scrape the ice/snow off your windshield at some point in the past few days.
But that’s not at all the case for our friends in the Southern Hemisphere. Today’s video was prepared by Mandy in New Zealand, and a group of Kiwi Scrapbookers (a New Zealander is referred to as a Kiwi). David and I had the wonderful opportunity to spend some time and meet many wonderful people in New Zealand back in 2004. Truly one of the most remarkable experiences of our lives. We owe that to David + Mary Roberts (Craft House), who invited us there so that I could do a teaching tour. We absolutely fell in love with New Zealand.
Back to the video. Mandy writes: I wanted to try and capture how we do Christmas down under. In New Zealand it happens during Summer so going to the beach on Christmas day is quite normal, and after this time we are on summer break. Before Christmas we wind up our school year too! (ha-ha, add that to the Christmas madness! No wonder we need a holiday!) I asked all my Kiwi Scrappers for some holiday/Christmas photos to add to mine, and put them together using Windows Movie Maker. The jumping pics were taken during our high tea event! Hope all your readers have a glance into our way of life … and next time you purchase a snowy Christmas embellishment … think of us sitting on the beach with our jandals, looking at our Pohutukawa trees!
I did a study abroad there in 2001 and love Kiwis and New Zealand!! So beautiful and such great people! I wish I had thought to take more photos when I was there but I wasn’t really into taking pics yet!
WOW – different – we here in Minnesota normally have snow but this year will be a brown Xmas
I would LOVE that it would be summer during Christmas! Not a fan of the cold! Lol
How wonderful! Hard to imagine Christmas during the summer. The red/white/blue sunday immediately brought July 4th to my head! :0) Great job! I loved it! I will be watching it several times today (my first day off school for Christmas break). It was so JOYFUL!
I’m pretty sure next Christmas Mandy is going to get a bunch of scrapbooking friends crashing her place!
They would all be MOST welcome – I am sure!
What a fun video and what gorgeous Pohutukawa trees! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for sharing this great collection of photos of our Capital! NZ Is a great place to live and we have been hanging out for summer. I live in the Hutt Valley (about 30 mins from Wellington) and am sitting in a patch of early morning sun as I type. Merry Christmas to you and yours, wherever you happen to be.
Gorgeous … thank you Mandy for sharing and thank you Becky for selecting Mandy’s video as one of the 12! I just put New Zealand on my bucket list!!!
Great video – thank you!
I can totally relate – I live in Sydney, Australia. As a neighbour of New Zealand, watching the video was just like watching our Christmas! I noticed you even had an Aussie pavlova (dessert)! I love how the school/work year ends in December. Then the Xmas holiday is so long and the new year means heat, the beach, and eventually the new school/work year – nice and ‘neat’!
And, I had an email last night from Mary at Craft House – my PL order is on its way from NZ to Australia – woo hoo!
Merry Christmas, all!
thanks all….i felt the HOT christmas needed to be explained!!!!
thanks for letting us make these videos becky….i had so much fun!!!!
*hi to all my kiwi and OZ friends*
and yes you are ALL welcome to come and stay of course!!!!!
Whoo hoo go Mandy – that was awesome. Still waiting for that hot summer weather to hit us here in Christchurch though but the jandals are on and the pavlova is baked. LOL
HA! – that’s me on the bouncy pillow, and my kids, and my cookies, and my tree and my sleepy husband! this looks even better than the first time i saw it mandy – well done u!!! and yes – all summer-time christmas gate crashers welcome here too!
That was an awesome video! Love seeing how other countries celebrate so thanks for sharing your traditions. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for that Mandy and scrappy ladies! I must admit.. I am having some issues with the heat and no snow for Christmas! Your video made me laugh and most importantly, remember that Christmas truly is not where you are, but who you are with… Christmas is in your heart
Thanks for the reminder 
Cheers,
Jan
Great work Mandy…… I think you summed it up nicely!
Oh,that’s WITH my family! I’m viewing this on my phone
Great video Mandy! I can’t wait to finish work tomorrow, to take off my shoes, and put my jandals on and to sit out in the glorious sun and let the holidays begin!! Thanks Becky for showing a slice of a kiwi xmas. I can see the great kiwi / ozzy debate over the pavlova has already begun above!!
We’re still waiting for the Summer weather to hit Sydney, AUS. It’s been cool weather and HEAPS of rain! Hopefully hit the beach…or at least the pool in the New Year!
P.s Pavlova…totally Aussie!! Hahaha
I cried because I’m so proud of our down under lifestyle. I love an Aussie Christmas. How awesome do we have it here down under? Loved this video. Had to laugh at the sleeping husband. There’s always one person asleep at every Aussie Christmas too.
And yes, pav is so an Aussie dessert.
hahaha loving this pav debate
here’s the link to what a pavlova is…. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlova_(food)
**note the part at the end of paragraph two!!!*
As I sit here in MN freezing my buns, I am a bit jealous of the warm weather in the video. Such a beautiful place..and can you send me some of those cherries? they look delish.
Like it, sometimes wish it would be warm for Christmas as I am a summer girl and love the beach and ocean…however I am sure it is hard for Santa to be bundled up in his red suit in summer. Hearing songs about snow and winter wonderland when you’re in summer and of course seeing snowmen!
I like how the school year ends with christmas and starts with the new year after summer. Sort of flows better with the calendar year versus being split up.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to those down under. Oh and I LOVE the picture at dusk of the beach cove with the trees in the background and all the lights. Would love to blow that one up and frame it! =-)
YAY Mandy!!!!!!!!
Hi from Newcastle, Australia … about 2 hours drive north of Sydney.
Loved your video Mandy … totally sums up Christmas in our part of the planet.
The “pavlova argument” will probably go on forever. LOL Either way, it’s just not Christmas without one on the menu … with fresh fruit and loads of whipped cream. Yummmmm!!
As a first time Project Lifer I, like Kate, was also very excited to receive an email from Mary at Craft House to say that my order was on it’s way … can’t wait to get started.
Have a magical Christmas everyone. xo
One word comes to mind – - – JEALOUS!!!
Well, I live in Orlando and our Christmas is very similar…Not the kiwi trees, but everything else. The weather forecast for this Christmas is a high of 81, with thunderstorms! We lived in Atlanta for 31 years and we never really had a real white Christmas there either! My kids, especially my DD, feel very deprived!
Thanks for sharing another great video! Well done, Mandy! I’ve never been to NZ but it looks amazing! I would love to celebrate Christmas during the summer! Merry Christmas!
Loved the clip Mandy. I’m in Melbourne Australia and Cathy our forecast for Xmas day is 90 with thunderstorms. I visited Orlando last Feb and have to say your weather was beautiful at that time of year. The Pavlova debate (what a crack up) and yes we have it on the menu for xmas lunch
why do you call them jandals??
not sure…think they were a brand name…..???? not sure
guess its the same in any country….
(eg why do you call them flip flops or thongs….thats different to me!!!! lol!!!)
funny names in all languages!!!/countries……
thanks!! you r right!!
I have just moved back to the UK after living in NZ for 8 years and its been great to experience such differences at xmas time xx