Christmas Lunch in New Zealand
By Val
@valmnz (17097)
New Zealand
December 25, 2019 12:22pm CST
I know many of you struggle with the idea of a summer Christmas here in the southern hemisphere. But as it's the only type of Christmas I know I wouldn't have it any other way.
Christmas in New Zealand is all about summer, a time when a large percentage of the population take their annual holdays. It's a time for beaches, swimming, outdoor activities and,of course, barbecues.
That's how I spent Christmas yesterday, two small barbecues here at my place. The first, and most important one, was Christmas lunch. We're very much a seafood family at Christmas time, starting with a fresh seafood platter on Christmas Eve - this year oysters and prawns.
Then Christmas lunch was a simple affair, a bag of fresh mussels cooked on the barbecue, drizzled with garlic butter, eaten with bread rolls and washed down with wine and beer. Neither of us was in a Christmas mood, but this turned out to be perfect.
Nothing could be more simple, more inexpensive nor more enjoyable. My son cooked the mussels and we sat outside and ate them, talking about happier past Chritmases when my husband was with us. The sun shone, but not too brightly, there was no wind, it was a perfect day.
And I now vote this simple Christmas lunch as one of the best Christmas Day meals ever. It is certainly one I will repeat.
14 people like this
18 responses
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
26 Dec 19
This greeting may be late but I'm greeting you a merry Christmas, Ms. Val, and I'm glad you did have a nice celebration of Christmas. We also had a Christmas picnic lunch at a park with the friend of my daughters.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
31 Dec 19
@sunrisefan glad to hear you are okay. So many terrible things happening at the moment. Happy New Year.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
27 Dec 19
I’m okay Ms. Val, thanks. Yes that Typhoon Ursula did great damage to the Central part of the country. I’m thankful that it did not do any damage to our city and my home city as the typhoon’s path moved higher.
1 person likes this
@msdivkar (23359)
• India
27 Dec 19
Mussels cooked on a barbecue seems to be a perfect christmas lunch. We in this part of the world, where such mussels are in abundance, just love them, fried with 'rawa' and embedded in pepper ginger and garlic. First time seeing them on barbecue.
1 person likes this
@choijungeun (2629)
• Hangzhou, China
26 Dec 19
Oysters and prawns are my favorite sea food,i wish i can barbecue these delicious food in Christmas Day too
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@Tampa_girl7 (50591)
• United States
27 Dec 19
I have experienced hot weather Christmases in Tampa
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
29 Dec 19
i think such's brilliant, bein' y'alls warm months'n a time when folks can take the time off. here'n the u.s., 'tis diff'cult to find a job where such's possible.
yer lunch sounds wonderful, hon. so glad y'all got to start a new tradition 'n got to spend the day together recallin' those happy memories. 
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@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
25 Dec 19
A different kind of Christmas than we are used to.
1 person likes this
@Behindtheguitarbar (2831)
• Guangdong, China
26 Dec 19
well, it is the same cooking method here too. Usually we have it as midnight snack with bear. Enjoyable.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108478)
• Marion, Ohio
25 Dec 19
Glad you had a good Christmas. As good as it could be.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13188)
• Ireland
25 Dec 19
@valmnz The less fuss the better. Glad it turned out perfect for you even if mixed in with sadness. I’m not a seafood lover myself other than calamari, salmon and sea bass. Calamari and a well-chilled NZ Sauvignon on a summer day on the west coast of Ireland - can’t beat it.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (117177)
• Anniston, Alabama
25 Dec 19
Merry Christmas! This year I am alone for the most part, I am enjoying a nice hot Christmas, its unseasonably warm here. I love it.
1 person likes this
