A Kiwi Christmas: Tradition, Sunshine, and Surprises

As part of a series, That's Christmas is looking at how Christmas is celebrated in different part of the world. Today we are looking at Christmas in New Zealand.

Christmas is a time for joy, celebration, and togetherness, and it's celebrated in diverse ways all around the world. In the land down under, New Zealand, Christmas is a unique and delightful affair that combines traditional elements with the beauty of a Southern Hemisphere summer. 

Let's dive into the fascinating world of a Kiwi Christmas and explore the customs and traditions that make it so special.

Summer Down Under

One of the most striking differences between Christmas in New Zealand and many other parts of the world is the season. Christmas in New Zealand falls during the Southern Hemisphere summer, meaning December 25th is a day of sunshine and warmth. While the Northern Hemisphere often experiences a white Christmas, Kiwis enjoy long, sunny days, and average temperatures between 20-30°C (68-86°F). This allows for unique Christmas traditions that revolve around outdoor activities, barbecues, and trips to the beach.

The Pohutukawa Tree

While Christmas trees are common worldwide, New Zealand has its own special version - the Pohutukawa tree. Often referred to as the New Zealand Christmas tree, it's known for its brilliant crimson flowers that bloom in December. These vibrant blooms are a vivid symbol of the festive season in the country, and you'll find them decorating homes and streets.

Outdoor Celebrations

Given the beautiful summer weather, it's no surprise that Kiwis love to celebrate Christmas outdoors. Picnics, barbecues, and gatherings at the beach or in local parks are common. Families and friends often come together for a relaxed and sun-soaked feast, complete with New Zealand's famous barbecue specialties like lamb, seafood, and sausages. Pohutukawa blossoms and native ferns are used for decoration, enhancing the natural beauty of the surroundings.

A Christmas Dip

Christmas Day is often accompanied by a refreshing swim. Many New Zealanders take the opportunity to visit the beach or local swimming spots to cool off. It's a tradition that celebrates the spirit of summer and the joy of the ocean. Children build sandcastles and play in the waves, and families relax on the sandy shores, making cherished memories together.

Santa's Mode of Transport

In New Zealand, Santa's traditional sleigh and reindeer take on a unique twist. To accommodate the warmer weather and lack of snow, Santa is often depicted arriving on the shores in a surfboard or a waka (a traditional Māori canoe). This charming Kiwi adaptation adds a touch of humour and showcases the Kiwi spirit of innovation.

Māori and Pacific Influences

New Zealand's cultural diversity is reflected in its Christmas celebrations. Māori and Pacific Island communities have their own unique customs and add their rich traditions to the festive season. Māori waiata (songs) and Pacific Island dances often make appearances at Christmas events, providing a multicultural blend that truly defines the Kiwi way of life.

Gift-Giving and Family Time

Like in many parts of the world, gift-giving is a cherished tradition in New Zealand. Families come together to exchange presents and celebrate the joy of giving. While traditional Christmas dinners are common, a laid-back approach to the day prevails, with the emphasis being on spending time with loved ones and enjoying the outdoors.

New Zealand's Christmas celebrations are a harmonious blend of tradition, natural beauty, and a unique Southern Hemisphere twist. Whether you're picnicking on the beach, decorating a Pohutukawa tree, or enjoying a barbecue, a Kiwi Christmas is a memorable experience. It's a time to embrace the spirit of the season while appreciating the stunning landscapes and vibrant culture that make New Zealand's Christmas truly one of a kind.

(Image of a New Zealand church courtesy of ApplesPC from Pixabay)

Party-Perfect Christmas Gift Guide with Double Dutch Drinks

As the Christmas and New Year party season approaches, Double Dutch, the producers of award-winning premium tonics and mixers, has two beautiful gift sets that elevate any day of the Christmas season, bringing everything you need to create the perfect party.

The gift sets boast two delicious flavours that bring elegance, vibrancy, and exceptional taste to every Christmassy occasion. It's not just a gift; it's a complete experience that promises to illuminate any festivities!

The Party in a Box

The Double Dutch Party in a Box is the perfect stocking filler or secret Santa gift for party animals, hostesses-with-the-mostesses, or drink-enthusiasts – a delightful way to give the gift of Christmas party spirit!

It includes Double Dutch Cucumber & Watermelon, Pink Grapefruit Soda, 5cl El Rayo Tequila, 5cl Masons Original Gin, biodegradable glitter and a confetti cannon. The Party in a Box is priced at £19.99 and is available on the Double Dutch website here.

The Ultimate Party Starter Pack

Double Dutch has curated the Ultimate Party Starter Pack, a party-perfect Christmas hamper that gifts both sophistication and taste. This pack is an absolute essential for your Christmas gatherings and a fabulous gift for the friend who is ALWAYS the host. 

Designed for groups of up to 24 people, the Ultimate Party Starter Pack contains all the essential ingredients for a Christmas Party to remember. It features full-sized bottles of El Rayo Tequila and Masons Original Gin, along with a case of Double Dutch Cucumber & Watermelon and Pink Grapefruit Soda. Additionally, the pack includes cups, cocktail garnishes, recipe cards, biodegradable face glitter, and confetti cannons. Valued at over £150, this pack is currently on sale for £94.99, available from the Double Dutch website here.

These elegant and stylish hampers not only make for impressive gifts but also promote sustainable gift-giving. All the items within these packs are naturally vegan and gluten-free, and even the face glitter and confetti cannons are designed to be biodegradable. As part of the twin founders' commitment to conducting business ethically, the brand proudly boasts its Carbon Neutral status and is actively working towards achieving B-Corp certification.

https://doubledutchdrinks.com

Unwrap the Magic of Winter at Butser's Alternative Christmas Event: ‘Midwinter's Magical Quest’

We at That's Christmas were wondering what the Butser Ancient Farm were doing for the Christmas period... and now we know!

Families can join them for under £35 and leave with a deeper understanding of Winter folklore, delightful crafts, and magical memories.

Butser Ancient Farm in the South Downs is opening to the public this Winter and inviting families to embark on an enchanting festive adventure to escape commercial Christmas, honour nature and bring ancient traditions to life in a very special way.

As an alternative to the Father Christmas experience, Midwinter’s Magical Quest honours the balance of the feminine and masculine energies as the season turns. The majestic Deer Queen and jolly Holly King are back in Butser’s ancient dwellings and need your help to complete their quest and help celebrate the turning of the year.

The Holly King will greet all questers in their Saxon House, which is beautifully recreated from foundations excavated close to the neighbouring village of Chalton. This Winter it will be transformed into the Holly King’s Evergreen Hall, where visitors can make evergreen crowns and decorations to put a Spring in their step ready for the adventure. 

The Holly King is the personification of Winter in folklore and his power peaks in Midwinter before he hands the crown over to his brother The Oak King of Summer. The everlasting cycle of the Oak and Holly brothers reflects the seasonal cycles of solar light and dark, renewal and growth.

As you follow the trail of folklore and lost traditions, you’ll come to Little Woodbury, their great Iron Age roundhouse. 

The roundhouse will become the Realm of Winter Wishes where families who are visiting can cast their hopes and dreams into the wishing tree and learn the ancient craft of corn dolly making to find a hidden message for the Deer Queen.

Once questers have pieced together the magic throughout the trail, they will find the Deer Queen’s Grotto in Butser’s reconstructed Neolithic Horton House, which originally stood around 3800-3600 BC. Visitors will be able to share the knowledge they have collected to give Mother Deer what she needs to make the journey to return the Sun to the land safely on the Winter Solstice.

The Deer Queen is an important part of Butser’s event, bringing a female presence to this Wintery time of year. The character has been inspired by an ancient folktale from Northern Europe that tells of the brave Mother Deer who must journey South to bring the sun goddess back to warm the lands again. It has been said that this ancient story is the origin of Rudolph. Unlike other deer, both female and male reindeers have antlers.

The difference is, after the Autumn rutting season the males lose their antlers while the females keep theirs to protect their precious growing fawns. Throughout the years and even today the deer and her antlers are drawn as the tree of life, carrying everything from small animals to celestial bodies within them. So, when you see antlered reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh in Midwinter you can be sure that Rudolph and her gang are unmistakably girls!

They are aware that ancient sites in Britain have clear evidence of celebration at this time of year, with sites like Newgrange in Ireland and Stonehenge aligned with Winter sun. They also have evidence that ever since the Stone Age people around the world have revered the deer, with her image painted on cave walls, etched in stone and tattooed on skin.

Kristin Devey, Events Coordinator at Butser Ancient Farm, shared her excitement about the upcoming event: “We are really thrilled to open the farm to the public once again this winter, offering a chance for more people to experience the wonder of Butser during this special time of year. 

Families can join us for under £35 and leave with a deeper understanding of Winter folklore, delightful crafts, and magical memories. Whether you're celebrating Solstice, Yule, or simply seeking a unique family Christmas day out, 'Midwinter's Magical Quest' offers an inclusive and non-denominational celebration that appeals to all. We invite local families to join us for a memorable and magical experience that honours the wonders of the season and its ancient traditions.”

Event Details and Ticket Information

The Midwinter's Magical Quest trail runs from 10am to 3:30pm on Saturday December 2nd, Sunday December 3rd, Saturday December 9th, and Sunday December 10th, 2023. Butser Ancient Farm also features a full schedule of festive events, including Tales of Winter Magic, Festive Fireside Storytelling, and a Winter Solstice Celtic Celebration complete with drumming, poetry, and prose.

Tickets for Midwinter's Magical Quest are available on the Butser Ancient Farm website at https://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/christmas-yule-winter-events.

Butser Ancient Farm is a living history museum nestled in the picturesque Hampshire countryside. The farm offers visitors a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the lives of our ancient ancestors through reconstructed buildings, authentic crafts, and immersive events.

Despite its humble beginnings as a research site 50 years ago, Butser Ancient Farm has become one of the South East’s top visitor attractions welcoming visitors throughout the year including some 35,000 schoolchildren who learn about the lives of our ancient ancestors from the Stone Age through to the Anglo-Saxon periods. As a not-for-profit, independently run community interest company (CIC) they rely on the support of many organisations and individuals, as well as their own fundraising events, to make their research and education work possible. More about the farm can be found at www.butserancientfarm.co.uk

Huge festive recruitment drive launched by Tesco as it looks to fill 30,000 jobs

Even more opportunities for employment over the Christmas season as a huge festive recruitment drive has been launched by Tesco ahead of the busy holiday period this year.

And that should be good news for job-hunting students and families looking to offset increasing bills or anyone wanting to return to the workforce.

This year Tesco is recruiting 30,000 temporary Colleagues across the UK to help customers during the busy Christmas period.    

The jobs will mainly involve working in Tesco’s Superstores and Extra stores for either early morning, day or evening shifts, so that prospective applicants can find an opportunity that fits around them.

James Goodman, Tesco People Director said: “This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to boost their earnings over the festive period or who needs to find a route back into the workplace. 

“We’re looking for people who enjoy working as part of a team and are prepared to go that extra mile in order to help our customers.  

“Our festive roles are a fantastic way to become part of the Tesco team, with roles working on checkouts to picking orders for home delivery or replenishing the store. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to meet great people, learn new skills and be part of a diverse team where everyone is welcome. 

“We had a great response for festive roles last year and we would love to hear from anyone who worked with us then.  

“With part-time, temporary roles available across the UK, there are a variety of different shift patterns on offer, making sure these roles fit around different individual needs and lifestyles.”  

The new colleagues will help the supermarket meet high demand as customers look to make Christmas savings – especially as Tesco has just locked low prices on more than 1000 products until 2024 – as well as helping shoppers get exclusive deals on Clubcard Prices at the checkout.

Once the seasonal period comes to an end, there may be opportunities for Christmas colleagues to apply for any permanent roles available in Tesco stores.   

One person who did that last year is Kenzy Talbot, 28, who joined Tesco last November as a festive colleague and worked in the fresh food sales area.

Kenzy said: “I'm a working mum with a young child, as you can imagine trying to fit work around school times in the past was very difficult.

“Tesco has been amazing and with their flexibility this has meant that I have been able to fit my working hours around my family commitments.

“I was delighted to become a permanent member of the team in January 2023. I have progressed and learnt other areas of the store, currently working most of my hours on groceries along with picking up extra shifts on other areas such as checkouts and fresh areas.”

Anyone interested in a festive job at Tesco should apply to: www.tesco-careers.com/festive    

'Tis the time for seasonal recruitment: 22,000 jobs now available at Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s is creating 22,000 extra seasonal roles nationwide, including 2,000 at Argos, to help deliver an exceptional Christmas for customers this year. 

With stores and warehouses beginning to prepare themselves for the festive season, Sainsbury’s will welcome temporary colleagues earlier than usual this year, starting as early as this week. 

This will ensure there are plenty of colleagues ready to help and serve customers, whether they like to plan ahead or leave their Christmas shopping to the very last minute. (My wife likes to do that!)

New colleagues will support Sainsbury’s and Argos in serving customers, restocking shelves and fulfilling online orders by picking, packing and delivering. In their depots and fulfilment centres, colleagues will work in warehouses, ensuring products reach homes and stores nationally and are ready for customers to enjoy.

To further support and reward colleagues with festive season expenses, Sainsbury’s has improved its 10% colleague discount offer, increasing it to 15% at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday plus 15% off at Argos every payday Friday. Moreover, temporary colleagues can now receive a second discount card for a family member or friend at the same address and free food during shifts.

Prerana Issar, Chief People Officer at Sainsbury’s, said “⁠With Christmas just round the corner, we're gearing up to serve our customers brilliantly this festive season. This is the busiest time in the retail calendar, and we are looking for people with a passion for good food who can thrive in a fast-paced environment and are committed to providing brilliant customer service. 

This is a perfect opportunity to kickstart a career with Sainsbury's, and we can't wait to welcome new and returning faces this Christmas.”

Temporary colleagues will be employed on fixed-term contracts ranging from three to 12 weeks. To join the Sainsbury’s or Argos team this Christmas, visit sainsburys.jobs/christmas/ or your nearby store for more information. 

Incidentally, Sainsbury’s pays its colleagues above the National Living Wage. Temporary colleagues can expect pay rates of:

In-store Jobs: £11 – £11.95 p/h

Fulfilment Warehouse Jobs: £11 – £11.95/hr

Driver Jobs: £12 – £13.45/hr

Temporary colleagues will have access to these benefits after just four weeks of service

Varies by location, please check.

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Morrisons Christmas delivery slots will be released soon

Morrisons delivery slots will be released on October 18, giving customers the chance to plan ahead for the busy festive period. 

Customers with a Morrisons Delivery Pass can then secure their preferred Christmas delivery slot between the 20th and 24th December with a minimum spend of just £25. This exclusive early access opportunity allows Delivery Pass customers the guarantee of a seamless, stress-free online shopping experience during the year's busiest season.

The Morrisons Delivery Pass provides shoppers with the flexibility to shop online as frequently as they like, without incurring any delivery charges on every order. Delivery passes can be purchased on the Morrisons website and customers can choose from two options:

The anytime (seven-day) pass

or the midweek (Tuesday-Thursday) pass

Subscriptions are available for one month (£5 midweek / £8 anytime), six months (£25 midweek / £45 anytime), or a full year (£40 midweek / £70 anytime) and by signing up  to a Delivery Pass, customers can not only secure their Christmas delivery slots but also unlock year-round convenience.

Customers without a Morrisons Delivery Pass will be able to book their Christmas slots from October 25th. 

Joseph Sutton, the Online & Convenience Director at Morrisons, said: "We're delighted to announce our Christmas delivery slots, providing our customers with an early opportunity to plan and prepare for the festive season. At Morrisons, we understand the importance of convenience during this special time of year and our Delivery Pass options ensure that shoppers have the flexibility to choose a plan that suits their needs.”

morrisons.com

Asda has a nice, crisp plan for your Christmas season eating!

Elevating an affordable night in with a luxury offering and taking snacking to a new level, Asda has put together the ultimate crisp and wine pairing guide - from Pigs in Blankets and Pinot to Salt & Vinegar Sticks and Vouvray Chenin Blanc.

Hand cooked for the perfect crunch; the Extra Special Sea Salt & Black Pepper Hand Cooked Crisps (£1.35) should be paired with Asda’s Extra Special Dao (£7.50). The earthy, pepper flavours in the crisps match well with the herbal and black fruit notes of the wine.

Onion Rings (£1) but not as you may know them, these crisps are best paired with Asda’s Extra Special Malbec (£7.75); its strawberry and black cherry flavours are elevated by the pickled tang of the crisps.

Salt & Vinegar Sticks (£1) are a classic, and the slight sweetness Extra Special Vouvray Chenin Blanc (£8.00) balances the salty and tangy flavours.

Like a bit of spice? The fizz and freshness of the Extra Special Prosecco Brut (£8.00) cuts through the sweet, spicy and salty flavours of the Extra Special Korean Gochujang Hand Cooked Crisps (£1.35), creating a taste sensation.

As it gets closer to Christmas, Asda’s limited edition seasonal crisps are the perfect snack to enjoy alongside a winter tipple.

Hand cooked and seasoned with a rich and smoky flavour, the Extra Special Pigs in Blankets Hand Cooked Crisps (£1.35) should be paired with Asda’s Extra Special Pinot Noir (£8.00), as the delicate plum notes of the wine balance out the pork flavour.

The zesty acidity and minerality of the Extra Special Rueda (£6.00) compliments beautifully the stuffing flavour in the Extra Special Turkey & Stuffing Hand Cooked Crisps (£1.35), which are seasoned to give a hearty and herby flavour.

With smoky cherry fruits and a hint of cedar, Asda’s Extra Special Plan De Dieu Côtes Du Rhône Villages (£.8.75) is perfect with meatiness of the Extra Special Beef in Red Wine Gravy Hand Cooked Crisps (£1.35).

Ideal for the Christmas party table, the Asda Turkey Curry Crisps (£1.10) are a mix of snack shapes and seasoned with a mild turkey curry flavour. The Extra Special South African Chardonnay (£7.25) is the one to enjoy these with, with the creamy mild spices of the curry flavours balancing out the pairing.

www.asda.com

Morrisons launches search for 3,500 extra Christmas colleagues

Morrisons is looking for 3,500 extra colleagues to work in its stores, food manufacturing sites and logistics operations nationally to help meet increased demand over the busy Christmas period.

The wide range of roles available offer plenty of flexibility and with no prior experience necessary, there should be something for everyone. 

Morrisons is seeking applicants who are friendly and willing to help and all new colleagues will benefit from a 15% staff discount card as well as a 10% discount card for a friend or family member. 

As Morrisons gears up for the festive rush, it's seeking out people to join the business in temporary jobs ranging from customer assistants to home delivery drivers and production and warehouse operatives.  In previous years, many of the colleagues who joined in temporary roles have gone on to find permanent positions within Morrisons.

Clare Grainger, People Director at Morrisons, said: “Christmas is one of our busiest periods and we’re looking for an additional 3,500 people to join our talented teams.  These new colleagues will play a crucial role in creating and delivering the products our customers need to help make their celebrations special.  There are lots of great opportunities on offer across the UK with both temporary and permanent roles in our stores, manufacturing and logistics sites.”

To apply please visit: https://www.morrisons.jobs/christmas-at-morrisons

Incidentally, my parents both worked at Morisons in full time staff positions and were very happy working there.