I know Christmas is done and dusted and if you’re extremely efficient, you’ve already packed up your tree and are ready for the New Year.
However, personally Christmas is like birthdays. Why not stretch it out as long as possible and fully embrace the Spirit of Christmas? After all, Christmas comes but once a year.
So, let me encourage you to pop over to Solveig Werner’s blog to savour her Advent Calendar. It will take you on an incredible Christmas journey around the world including Australia, USA, France, the UK and Italy http://solveigwerner.com/2015/12/28/advent-calendar-overview/
I loved it and felt my Christmas was so much richer for it.
That said, thank goodness we weren’t eating all the way or the sleigh would have been well and truly grounded.
Our son posing at the beach for his paparazzi Mum back in 2004.
Here’s a link to my contribution: A Stinking Hot Australian Christmas:http://solveigwerner.com/2015/12/17/advent-calendar-day-17-a-stinking-hot-australian-christmas-by-rowena-newton/
Love and Best wishes,
Rowena
Beyond the Flow 
Great Post. Wishing you a Very Happy New Year 2016.
I loved this. I could NEVER put our tree away until after New Years Day. It is usually up until January 6Th. The Manger Scene is out till then. I HATE it when I have to put the Christmas Tree up. I love the lights. They calm me. Happy New Year, My friend.
It is Stinkin’ Hot here in Florida as well. Love Sarah
Aw people should stop seeing Christmas as something that’s only on the 25th of December, where did the 12 days of Christmas go?
Thank you for pointing your readers in the direction of the advent calendar.
I don’t know what happened to the Twelve Days of Christmas. All my life, the song has been a mystery to me but it makes sense to my Mum and she talks about a day in January when you’re supposed to take down your tree. I’ve never really been sure when it is and as I’ve mentioned before, a few years ago our tree was still up at the end of January and it was a battle to get it down before school went back. Not good! I really do at least try to start the school year organised.
Hope you have a great NYE. Any plans? Traditions? I’ve posted photos of the Sydney Fireworks which I took from the TV and turned out surprisingly well.
Happy New Year!
xx Rowena
I did see on Wikipedia that there are traditions where the tree is taken down in February. In recent weeks I did a lot of reading regarding Christmas and Epiphany etc. and learnt that there is Advent then Christmas then Epiphany (which last till Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday), then lent, then easter etc. we could be celebrating all year, but never do.
I was never much a NYE person, so tonight we are having Spagetti Bolognese as my daughter loves pasta, tomato sauce and has discovered that she likes mincemeat… Happy New Year to you too! You’ll be there soon right?
Speaking of traditions, if you can think of a tradition (family, local, religious, Australian) that you would like to share on my blog in 2016 do let me know 🙂 I will put up a call for participation soon.
Happy New Year!
We’re still eating Christmas cookies, and I just baked a flourless chocolate cake for tonight. 🙂
Keep enjoying!
Flourless chocolate cake. That’s a great idea. I’ve never made one of those and I love them. I am intending to make German Spritz cookies. A friend of mine had a dog who was a German Spitz so I keep getting the name mixed up.
If you’ve read my NYE posts, you’ll see that we kept it simple too. Hope you had a wonderful NYE and wish you and the family a Happy New Year.
In terms of Australian traditions, we have Australia Day. This is concentrated on Sydney Harbour and includes a ferry race. Some Aboriginal people call it “Invasion Day” because it marks when the first European settlers came to the Australian East Coast to live. I will keep an eye open for your call for participants. See you for coffee soon xx Rowena
Hahaha. The flourless chocolate cake I make is super easy. I think the recipe might be in a post somewhere.
I’ll have to check it out. I jumped on my desktop computer today and found your blueberry crumb bar recipe. I haven’t been n here for awhile. Must give that a go too xx Ro