Doing Christmas Differently

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Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary – great place to visit at Christmas

We are so lucky to live in Australia with so many cultural and religious festivals to celebrate and enjoy. So, why does the thought of Christmas (the national holiday, not the religious observance) fill me with dread? Christmas is about being with friends, exchanging gifts and eating wonderful food, isn’t it? So, where’s the stress?

Let’s unpack the days that, traditionally, have made up my “Christmas”.

Trying hopelessly to think of presents that will be appreciated by people I don’t know well, or people I know too well so I know they have everything I can think of.
Day after day, driving round and round waiting for a parking space to open up, then giving up and parking miles from the door.
Searching for obscure ingredients for recipes I’m not sure how to make.
Remembering what’s not on my list while I’m unpacking my trolley at the till, dashing back into the aisles for those things I forgot.
Scrabbling through my regifting drawer for “standby” presents in case I forgot someone.
Staying up all night decorating the tree and stringing up lights and getting creative with (not new) tea towels because I forgot to buy wrapping paper.
Waking up early and cooking for hours but not quite what I planned because I forgot some essential ingredients.
Being with friends, exchanging gifts and eating wonderful food.
Being embarrassed because I regifted someone a gift they gave me 3 years ago.
Cleaning up before crawling exhausted into bed and watching YouTube videos all night because my brain won’t turn off!

Photo Michael Williams

Friends and gifts and wonderful food are fun. The lead up and clean-up are horrible.
So, for me, it’s time for new traditions. This is what my Christmas is going to look like.

A day out with animals at a place where I know that everything I spend on tickets will, in turn, be spent on the animals.
An empty Santa-bag to which each person adds just one gift costing less than (pick the lowest amount that can comfortably be afforded by my poorest friend, then halve it) so everyone gets one thoughtful present.
No decorations and, especially, no balloons or tinsel or anything animals might accidentally eat or get tangled up in.
A magnificent picnic of foods that I didn’t have to cook and we can eat with our fingers.

I’m going back to a Christmas that is ONLY about friends, gifts and food, with none of the horrible stuff, and with added animals.
Start your new Christmas tradition at Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary. We are always open, even on Christmas Day.
https://walkaboutpark.com.au