Christmas in July in Australia

We noticed that even though Christmas is in December, just like where you are (I assume), down here it's cold in July and in the mountains it snows (pictures in a bit).  So many Australians yearn for some Christmas while it's cold (meanwhile, the Washington DC metropolitan area is wilting under a heat wave) that this is a very popular type of event and you see all kinds of organizations having them.  Because Debbie is a member/news reader of the local public radio station for the visually impaired (RPH 1, Turning Print Into Sound, 1125 on your Australian AM dial) we were provided the opportunity to attend this annual dinner put on by the Australian National University.  It was a traditional dinner held in the Great Hall (think Harry Potter - I kept expecting a white owl to swoop in and deliver the mail).  The paintings on the walls are by a noted Australian painter, Leonard French, and portray some of the history of Australia.  I don't normally like art of this type, but for some reason I very much like his colors and shapes (and the fact that for once I can understand what the artist was painting).

Now in the States this is normally a charity event, but not down here (at least at this one).  It's simply a traditional dinner for folks who want to experience a sort of English Christmas.

We went with our friend Janet from up the street (you can see her standing in front of me as the boar's head is carried by - it was at her initiative that we attended).  She is originally from South Africa and used to live next door to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and has fascinating stories to tell.  Her husband, a scientist, is just coming out with a book and we'll be attending the book launch.  She also reads the news at RPH1.
 

The Great Hall at University House, ANU

Caroling in the Boar's Head (ewwww)! from Charles Ikins on Vimeo.

I don't know if anybody ate this or not.

Of course, they sang this crowd pleaser....

Christmas in July University House ANU July 2010 from Charles Ikins on Vimeo.

The food was soup, traditional roast turkey (roll), sweet potato, etc.  You would have thought it was December and in fact it made us a little homesick.  After dinner we sang traditional carols.  It really was a fun evening, and it was interesting watching the tables of foreign students taking this all in.

I guess at Christmas we'll be snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef...