Xmas falls during summer for those of us down this end of the world. In late November through December, our native pohutukawa trees bloom. When early missionaries visited New Zealand and saw the trees with their scarlet flowers, they dubbed them New Zealand’s Christmas trees.
Pohutukawa trees often grow along the coast, which makes for a pretty picture during the summer. We have pohutukawas in our garden.
For me, it’s not summer until the New Zealand Xmas trees bloom.
They are really pretty.
They are, especially if there is a big row of them or they line a street. Our street is planted with pohutukawa trees.
I first learnt about the Southern Hemisphere having Xmas in Summer when I was about five or six – it was in a story in a children’s annual showing children celebrating Xmas on a beach, and it just blew my mind :)
Those are beautiful trees.
Sophie
Sophie’s Thoughts & Fumbles – A to Z Ghosts
Fantasy Boys XXX – A to Z Drabblerotic
LOL – I’ve spent a few Christmases in London, but one year I’d love to see some snow for a change.
I think I’d enjoy celebrating Christmas during the summer at least once. I may have to travel to the southern hemisphere sometime!
Those trees are gorgeous!
-L.G. Keltner, minion in Captain Alex’s Ninja Army
http://lgkeltner.blogspot.com/
http://warpednerdiversity.blogspot.com/
I hope you get a chance to experience one. We usually wear shorts and T-shirts and have a BBQ.
I can’t imagine Xmas in summer. I just can’t. For me, Xmas is always snow, cold, thick socks and warm fires, snowball fights and sleighing. One day I’m gonna visit the southern hemisphere in December just for the heck of it, but I’m sure it will feel quite alien. :D
Pretty! They almost remind me of our crabapple trees.