Christmas Comes to Sydney

Tuesday November 25, 2008

With the lighting of the giant Christmas tree at Sydney's Martin Place this week, it seems Christmas has finally come to the city.

Of course, the shops have already had their Christmas decorations up for quite some time, and you can spot Santa in many of his familiar haunts.

The lighting of the Martin Place tree occurs during the city's Christmas concert, capped by fireworks, on November 27. The evening is also marked in Hyde Park with Christmas on the Green.

Christmas in Sydney continues its distinctive Australian flavor with nightly light projections on Sydney Town Hall and 1600 street banners featuring cockatoos, the Southern Cross, native flora, and this year's new addition, the ringtail possum.

Of course, it won't be a white Christmas with sleighs and snow as Christmas in Australia occurs in the summer.

Photo: Giant Christmas tree at Sydney's Martin Place, courtesy City of Sydney