I'm Dreaming of an Off-White Christmas (Haiku for an Aussie Xmas)

Such a lovely collection John. A Christmas so different yet familiar in certain aspects. Enjoyed the read.

Lovely haiku describing Christmas in Australia enjoyed reading.

Beautiful words celebrating the festive spirit!

I love everything in this article John especially the Aussie 12 Days of Christmas and I only need a translator for about 20 per cent of it! How bout the flies? I believe I have learned many things from you including the fact that if I had enough money, I could have an endless summer by spending half a year in Australia and the remainder in New England! I am pretty sure I'm in - just as soon as I make a few thousand extra from Hubpages or somewhere.

We had an Off-White Christmas in Orlando...a beautiful day filled with warm sunshine. Some Floridians complain about the weather not being cold enough for Christmas, but not me! :)

I certainly do live out your Christmas here in South Florida. The only snowmen are made of sand. Hope your Christmas was a good one (we had turkey also!).

I love that Christmas tree! I'm so happy to live in S. Florida where we can go to the beach on Christmas day instead of making snowmen!!

Australia is on my bucket list for sure!

beautiful pictures, fitted well with the words

I used to enjoy Christmas in winter but having a Barbie for Christmas is great. Though it does take some getting used to

Well John, last winter in my little hometown, we had over 220 inches of snow, and we're off to a good start already this year. Thanks for showing us what it's like in your part of the world. I can't even imagine a summer Christmas, but I'm sure it's just right for you. Happy holidays.

John, I got to know about Summer Christmas first time here in this beautiful hub. I loved reading all haiku poems. Photos are just wonderful. Enjoyed reading this fantastic hub, vibrating with great spirit of Christmas. Voted up and shared.

The pohutukawa tree (a kiwi native) is special at Christmas. It had it's own candles built in! great hub.

Great fun Jodah. I love the idea of Holiday Haiku. I may give it a try myself.. Jamie

Beautiful and colorful hub: Living in California I never had a white Christmas. I had a rainy Christmas or a cold Christmas but never a white one. That is my dream though it looks so beautiful on t.v... and cold.

I loved the title…”an off-white Christmas.” Your words and photos pull us into your world with such a vivid, joyous feel. I bookmarked this so that I could journey back – not to Australia in 3-D, but with the mind and imagination with which you have gifted us. (Especially as the temps continue to drop and bitter snow promises to visit us soon.) Thank you for this delightful page out of time and place. This is cool!

Throw some "skrimps on the barbie" - that's pretty much what Christmas is like every year in Atlanta. #NoSnow :-(

One of my best Christmas Days ever was in the Caribbean. We lit a massive bonfire on the beach on Christmas eve, with steel drums playing carols in the background. Christmas day was spent between home and the beach, later we took a friend's sailing boat to the keys. However, in the four years we spent in the islands, I really missed the traditional Christmas and the snow. Loved the haiku poems, great hub as always, sandy Santa.... priceless.

Can't wait for the Christmas day to come at the doorsteps..

Very nice hub! So delightful indeed! Come here up north. We have plenty of snow already and it's only November.

Enjoyed the video too and the images are great.

Up and sharing.

John - I'm learning to never say, 'never', following several days of below-freezing temps in my Deep South city. I can't recall such cold weather in central Mississippi during November before--at least, during the times (yes, plural) I've lived here. I haven't checked the weather records, though. Perhaps I should sneak a peek at the Farmers' Almanac, the book my farming grandfather studied religiously. Who knows what lies in store for this usually-mild-winters area in 2014-15? (Yes, I believe climate change is a reality and is already affecting our weather.)

If it should snow in Mississippi for Christmas, it will be such an unusual event that I'll record it in photos for posterity!

Jaye

No snow white Christmas for me either--have a good one anyway

Would be more than happy to share mine. It is snowing as I write this response. I do not mind the snow as much as the wind. I would love to go on an Aussie holiday. Excellent hub and lots of fun. V/H/P

Looking forward to visiting down under--someday,

Kim

These are lovely Haikus, Jodah, with beautiful photos to match. Love the turkey one, y'know. And the clever video. Thanks for the chuckles.

I'm fine with no snow. It's pretty but such a hassle to shovel, drive in, etc. I enjoyed your haikus.

In the Land Down Under

It is a Summer Christmas

No snowmen in sight.

Loved this hub especially the above Haiku. Great work my friend and voted up.

Eddy.

I never really thought about how Christmas would be in Australia. When living in southern California, we had no snow, either, but there was family. I love decorating the Christmas tree, hanging stockings, and wrapping Christmas presents (someone else can handle the outdoor lights).

A few nights before Christmas eve, I enjoy riding through the neighborhoods and seeing all the Christmas lights.

As a child, midnight mass was always special. The priest would turn off the lights near the end of the mass so the parishioners could enjoy the full effect of the tree lights.

My mother would always make wonderful baked goods at Christmas. She called one "nutsovniki." Ground, spiced nuts were baked into sweet dough. Another favorite of mine were the prune buns, again spicy and sweet. The prune buns usually had a light, vanilla glaze on them. She, of course, made pies, too. Mince meat pie was traditional--and the fruit cake, oh, the fruit cake! Delicious!

My elder sister often saw to it that everyone had about five gifts to open Christmas morning. There were five children in the family, plus Mom and Dad, of course. Stockings were not a big tradition, though.

Some of the gifts became traditional: a book from Grandma and Grandpa, a sweater from my sister, a scarf and mittens from Mom and Dad, a jigsaw puzzle (100-1,000 pieces), a board game (shared by all the children), and a surprise (some other kind of toy, such as a Chinese wooden puzzle, a weaving set, or a model kit).

Christmas as a child was such fun. My Mickey Mouse watch didn't keep time, though! ***

Love your photos on this one Jodah..we sure are one lucky nation here aren't we with our beautiful beaches and fresh seafood at Christmas time..we are with our daughter at Kingscliff this Christmas & while the humidity up there at times tends to make me dream of a cool white one I love that part of the world..thanks for a refreshing enjoyable hub..

Cheers

Thoroughly enjoyable, majesty in simplicity.

EWF

Hmm. I hadn't considered that! Maybe you should move Christmas to the 4th of July?

Voted up!

picturesque expression , lovely

One Christmas when my son and daughter were in grade school we had moved south but there was a rare snowstorm so my husband and kids built a snowman and the next morning when we got up it was gone; it had been stolen! Though the kids cried at first we explained how much more special it was to those who had never seen a snow man and they were told by friends later that everyone took some and stuck it in their freezer to go admire now and then. Made no sense.... but to each his own! lol

Nice poem of Christmas between beautiful pictures. Thanks for writing an sharing. Have a nice day!

Jodah, I'm sharing your summer Christmas. There's a calypso here with a line that goes, "The only time I see snow is when I buy snow cone down the street." I can relate to many of your verses. All good as usual.

Enjoyed this hub, Jodah, but you can't talk about dreaming of a (White) Christmas without mentioning Bing Crosby!

I enjoyed your verses and photos, John. While the temperatures of Christmas where I live (southern USA) vary widely, we never have snow. Sometimes there's sun, but it's more likely to rain. I even suggested that 'I'm Dreaming of a Rainy Christmas' should be the holiday song in Mississippi.

Have fun on the beach and at the backyard barbie, John. Enjoy your upcoming holidays!

Voted Up++

Jaye

Delightful haiku poetry here. I tend to forgot that other countries are in different seasons than we are here. It is just starting to get a bit cold here in the deep South in the US. The leaves are starting to change color too. We rarely get snow here, but last year, we did have that freak snowstorm.

Enjoy your barbeque.

Greetings John, enjoyed these haiku and, of course, connected. I recall so many Christmas mornings where I cooked a traditional lunch for around 20 people. Phew! No matter what the temperature it had to be turkey and all the trimmings. Love the photos...

John, it sounds like Christmas in Florida. Although Christmas falls in the dead of winter, you can still go to the beach (if it's not too cold out) or dress up in your best shorts ensemble for the holiday dinner.

I've lived in snow-bound states and I'll never forget my first Florida Christmas. It felt weird to be dressed in summer wear on Christmas day. That's about the only day I want to see (but not feel the cold of) snow. Now, 38 years later, Christmas feels like Christmas. The houses are brightly decorated, towns put out their Christmas displays and Santa Claus comes riding down our street on his sleigh with the help of the local fire department.

Greetings of the season, Jodah. I love that 'sandman' - great substitute for a snowman. Your haiku poems are great and photos, too. The video is funny, very entertaining.

I've spent Christmas in all kinds of climates over the years. I love living near the warm regions of the USA, but always enjoy snow ONLY on Christmas Eve through to the end of Christmas Day.

I sometimes wished for a button to push to make it disappear before the day after Christmas arrived, because after it falls and people and vehicles trample it up, it isn't pretty anymore.

We BBQ year round when we live in warm climate regions.

It is only then I miss Christmas snow.

For about 5 minutes, then I get over it. lol

Loved your haikus, great imagery. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season with tolerable weather :)

That kind of Christmas is looking pretty darned good right now, John. Damn cold here. Thanks for the fun look at heaven on earth.

Do you ever get snow? It might be fun to be on the beach for Christmas, I can't imagine it! It is cold here 29 degrees. Love your haiku's..

Well done friend. You write my favorite Haiku's. Around here we just pray for rain everyday. Merry Christmas John.

I love all your haikus. This is an interesting and amusing hub. A Christmas barbeque - I love it. I miss Christmas without snow. I spent two Christmases in Naples, Fl. and it sure is different. Downtown Naples makes snow (out of soap bubbles) and that is a hoot to experience. But, I miss the good old snow and cold around Christmas. Now, I spend Christmas in Ohio because I miss the snow and cold. I love your photo of Santa on the beach and the sandman instead of a snow man. Does it snow in Australia during your winter months or are you too close to the equator for snow? Just enjoy the Christmas season no matter what the season and no matter what you will be doing!

I like snow on Christmas. You have such a lovely image here for the festive season.

shrimp on the barbie.. and star on the tree.. an off white Christmas? LOL love the little collection of Haikis... :) Frank