Why on earth do we have Christmas-themed items covered in snow? Baby, it is NOT cold outside.

For Australians, Christmas falls in the middle of summer, with temperatures regularly soaring above 30°C. We're usually sweltering, fanning ourselves and swatting away flies while trying to enjoy a hot roast, all because we adopted a tradition from a country where it’s freezing cold at Christmas time.

Yet, walk into any shopping centre or home during the festive season, and you’ll find Christmas decorations plastered with fake snow, icy scenes, and winter imagery. So, why, pray tell, do we have snow-covered decorations in a place where a “white Christmas” is just a whimsical fantasy?

We can blame our colonial past. When British settlers arrived in the 19th century, they brought with them Christmas customs that were rooted in the winter season—because, of course in the Northern Hemisphere, Christmas happens in the cold, snowy months. These wintery traditions, including the idea of a “classic” Christmas covered in snow, became entrenched in the way the holiday was celebrated across the Empire.

Despite the glaring contrast to Australia’s hot, sun-drenched Christmases, these European customs stuck. Over time, snow-covered scenes became synonymous with "Christmas cheer" all around the world. Even today, a traditional Christmas is seen to have snow, thanks to Hollywood films, carols like White Christmas, and the endless flood of winter-themed holiday imagery pushed by global marketing.

But for me, this mismatch between snow-themed decorations and the reality of blistering summer weather is frustrating. The sight of fake snowflakes, frosty windows, and jolly, red-suited Santas feels completely out of place when most Aussies are more likely to be spending Christmas Day at the beach or in a pool, barbecuing with family and friends. We're celebrating a holiday that doesn't reflect our seasonal experience. It reinforces a form of cultural disconnect—a reminder that our version of Christmas is still tethered to a Northern Hemisphere ideal that doesn’t reflect the Southern Hemisphere reality.

And let’s be honest, we’re no strangers to ignoring our own cultural heritage. We’ve long imposed foreign ideals on this land and our First Nations communities. For centuries, Christmas was not a part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Instead, what was celebrated—whether for spiritual, cultural, or social reasons—was a coming together as a mob, a time of unity, identity, and kinship. These gatherings were about strengthening ties to family and community, not the snow-covered traditions of a faraway winter. (Source: Wingaru)

Maybe that’s what annoys me so much about these snow-themed decorations: they feel like a reminder that Australia, despite its unique identity, still isn’t quite sure how to embrace itself at this time of year. It’s as if we’re not strong enough to create a Christmas celebration that is truly ours. Sure, we’re slowly starting to see a shift. More products with an Aussie, summer, or even Indigenous flavour are popping up, offering a welcome alternative to the winter-dominated themes that have ruled the Christmas season for far too long.

In my search for some local alternatives, I found a range of beautiful, Australian-inspired decorations. I don’t want koalas on surfboards, or Santas wearing board shorts and thongs. We have so much beauty in this country and a long, incredible indigenous history to celebrate the coming together of families and friends. So, to balance out my rant, I’m sharing them with you. Let’s embrace a Christmas that feels more like our Christmas.