Brisbane is in sub tropical Queensland, so while my friends in Bagni di Lucca are sitting by the fire we are sunning ourselves by a pool ( except that it is raining).
The Christmas tree in King George Square in the city has lights powered by a solar panel in the star on top.
It may seem strange to those in the northern hemisphere to have a hot Christmas, but that is normal for us. This hasn’t stopped us adopting traditional decorations and songs about snow.
Here are a few Christmas things I found on a wander around Brisbane.
Can you spot the jewels in the snow in Tiffany’s window?
Nativity things in the window of Margot McKinney’s beautiful shop.
Christmas heads at Camargue at Emporium.
A Christmas table setting at Magnolia, which is full of the most gorgeous gifts.
While those in cold climates will be tucking into roast turkey with all the trimmings, we will be eating lovely seafood and delicious fruit.
Prawns are popular for Christmas lunch, followed by mangoes and heavenly stone fruit. I’ll head to James St markets today and pick up some fresh supplies.
I hope all of our readers have a wonderful Christmas and that all your wishes comes true.
Merry Christmas from Brisbane.
Merry Christmas from a cold and starry sky in Bagni di Lucca Debra!
Big warm hug! Rose
By: Rosaly Palma Torvnes on December 23, 2011
at 8:41 pm
Merry Christmas Rosaly from a warm, rainy Brisbane.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 23, 2011
at 8:46 pm
That looks a lot different then here in Bagni di Lucca! Original ideas! Merry Christmas Debra
By: Anonymous on December 23, 2011
at 8:42 pm
Merry Christmas to you and Adriano. Perhaps there will be some snow.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 23, 2011
at 8:48 pm
OK that fruit made my mouth water and I have only just begun the winter here! excellent that the tree is powered by the sun.. what a great idea! c
By: ceciliag on December 23, 2011
at 8:51 pm
I like our solar powered tree too, no that there is much sun today, just more rain.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 23, 2011
at 9:21 pm
Merry Christmas to you and yours Debra and wishing you a Happy New Year. No snow here in Ohio – USA. It is a green Christmas again..
Pam Proctor
By: Anonymous on December 23, 2011
at 8:51 pm
You could come here for some summer rain.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 23, 2011
at 9:22 pm
Merry Christmas to you from Kentucky. Hope you have a lovely holiday in the sun!
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on December 23, 2011
at 9:02 pm
Hopefully there will be some sun soon. It is raining again today.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 23, 2011
at 9:22 pm
It’s a seafood lunch for our family too! Merry Christmas from warm and sunny Perth
By: jenny@atasteoftravel on December 23, 2011
at 9:19 pm
Lucky you having sun! Perhaps tomorrow will be better here.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 23, 2011
at 9:23 pm
Have a happy Christmas, the decorations are sparse down here and you would hardly know it is Christmas except for the crowds in St Helens trying to get the best parking spaces, well it is all free so no complaints really. Have lobsters so it will be an Australian type of Christmas. Our best to you and Jim, Roz & John
By: Roz on December 23, 2011
at 9:53 pm
Having lobsters sounds good.Did you catch them yourself? Have a great Christmas!
By: Debra Kolkka on December 23, 2011
at 10:05 pm
have a safe and happy festive season Deb with your friends and family. we should try and catch up before you go back to italy. ever so envious as i didn’t spend enough time in italy – actually only had 3 days in rome but did get to florence. from your posts i think we were at rome airport at the same time i flew out on the 5th dec
chris
By: chris toy on December 23, 2011
at 10:31 pm
I did fly out of Rome on 5th December, isn’t that funny!!! I flew to Helsinki so I guess we were at different terminals. I’ll be around for all January so we have time for a coffee.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 23, 2011
at 11:02 pm
Merry Christmas! As someone who loves the warmth, Christmas in Brisbane looks glorious. I have always thought it curious that even those celebrating Christmas during their summer months still use the same snow motifs. It must be because the snow alludes more to the environment Santa Claus is from?
By: nod 'n' smile on December 23, 2011
at 11:56 pm
It does seem a bit silly to be using all the wintery themes for Christmas when it is hot here, but we have so many people who originally came from the northern hemisphere that I suppose those traditions followed them to Australia.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 24, 2011
at 2:52 am
Merry Christmas from Bristol. Have a good one, it must be great to be somewhere with long days and lots of light at this time of year 🙂
By: Joanna on December 24, 2011
at 12:39 am
I love winter in Europe but I must admit the short days can be a bit trying. Have a lovely Christmas in Bristol!
By: Debra Kolkka on December 24, 2011
at 2:53 am
Have a wonderful Christmas¡¡¡¡¡¡
By: Mulino Dominillo on December 24, 2011
at 1:31 am
Have a lovely Christmas in San Francisco!
By: Debra Kolkka on December 24, 2011
at 2:54 am
May you have a wonderful time.
Thanks for all the nice details you share… the nativity is pretty nice.
Take care
By: maru on December 24, 2011
at 1:38 am
I hope you have a wonderful holiday!
By: Debra Kolkka on December 24, 2011
at 2:54 am
I’m enjoying looking at your photos this Christmas Eve – this will be the first year in 8 years that I will not be spending Christmas in Brisbane. Enjoy that beautiful looking weather and delicious mangoes!
By: sheof108names on December 24, 2011
at 3:49 am
I will have a mango for you.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 24, 2011
at 6:56 am
Buon Natale a tutti Vito Lorenzelli dalla Scozia.XXhttp://bagnidilucca.wordpress.com/2011/12/23/merry-christmas-from-brisbane/#comment-form-wordpress
By: Anonymous on December 24, 2011
at 7:08 am
Merry Christmas to you too Vito. See you next year in BdL.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 24, 2011
at 7:54 am
That’s a very big Christmas tree! Merry Christmas from down in Melbourne. 😀
By: Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake on December 24, 2011
at 11:18 am
The kangaroo seems impressed.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 24, 2011
at 11:26 am
Merry Christmas Debra, I do hope the sun shines for you soon.
Its Mango Daiquiris tonight , waiting for Santa !!!
Merry Merry Christmas to all your readers x
By: Lorraine Wagner on December 24, 2011
at 11:40 am
Let’s hope Santa is kind to all of us. Enjoy that mango daiquiri!
By: Debra Kolkka on December 24, 2011
at 12:02 pm
So beautiful…. Thank you dear Debra, Happy New year and Merry Christmas, with my love, nia
By: niasunset on December 24, 2011
at 12:16 pm
Merry Christmas Nia, I hope you have a lovely day.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 24, 2011
at 8:45 pm
How wonderful Christmas photos. I love them.
Merry Christmas to You and Yours!
By: sartenada on December 24, 2011
at 12:18 pm
Have a lovely Finnish Christmas.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 24, 2011
at 8:46 pm
Merry Christmas to you!!
Hope you have a fantastic and festive holiday 🙂
By: Lu on December 24, 2011
at 12:41 pm
Have a great Christmas.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 24, 2011
at 8:46 pm
Great photos! Merry Christmas from America’s Deep South, home of the glorious “Rainy Christmas.”
By: overwroughtmusings on December 24, 2011
at 2:04 pm
We have some sun this morning, but will it last?
By: Debra Kolkka on December 24, 2011
at 8:47 pm
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Debra. I look forward to another year of your lovely blog. It’s wet and windy here today in Edinburgh, so no snow for us.
By: Paula on December 24, 2011
at 4:01 pm
What a pity there is no white Christmas. Have a great day anyway
By: Debra Kolkka on December 24, 2011
at 8:48 pm
Merry Christmas Debra! Nothing says Australian Christmas to me more than prawns and mango! 😀
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on December 24, 2011
at 9:31 pm
Exactly! The mangoes will find their way to the top of a pavlova.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 24, 2011
at 9:33 pm
Merry Christmas and have a wonderful warm Christmas.
By: Karen on December 25, 2011
at 3:28 pm
Christmas day was hot and sunny. The rain stayed away.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 25, 2011
at 11:16 pm
A very Merry Christmas to you and your family! I can’t wait until May when we can meet once again in Lucca!
By: paninigirl on December 25, 2011
at 3:44 pm
I hope you had a great Christmas day. See you in May.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 25, 2011
at 11:15 pm
Merry Christmas Debra from Ontario, Candada! 🙂
By: Lesley on December 26, 2011
at 11:09 pm
and from Canada too! lol
By: Lesley on December 26, 2011
at 11:09 pm