How to Celebrate Australia
For those outside of the Southern Hemisphere who wish to
celebrate Australia Day, it can seem somewhat difficult to do so
in an authentic manner. As January 26th falls during the heat of
the Australian summer, people like to celebrate with outdoorsy
activities. But the chill of the winter for those of us north of
the equator can dampen this sun-loving spirit. No matter! You
too can celebrate Australia Day from the Northern Hemisphere!
For those interested in as authentic of an experience as
possible, check your local paper. Some large cities offer
organized activities for Australia Day, allowing both locals and
Australian ex-patriots to celebrate together. These activities
can be a great way to learn more about Australia Day, as well as
give you a place where you can have loads of fun with people
from all over the world.
If a large crowd doesn't appeal to you or you don't have any
organized Australia Day activities in your area, it's your turn
to throw an Australia Day party instead! The spirit of
Australia, after all, is known to be that of "mateship,"
friendly companionship with many different people. Your friends
and family will love the opportunity to gather and maybe learn
while still enjoying a winter barbeque.
Yes, a winter barbeque. Sounds like a complete oxymoron, but you
can make it a party they'll not soon forget! Decorate the
interior of your home with classic barbeque accessories like
party lanterns, tropical plants, and picnic areas. Use lots of
lights to come as close to a bright summer day as possible.
For food, find foods that can be prepared without a grill while
still lending an authentic barbeque flair. A great option would
be some form of a kabob - either meat-loving or vegetarian will
do. These can be baked in the oven, but still scream "Barbeque!"
To lend even more of an Australian flair, offer a variety of
sauces for your guests to try. Australia's culture is so diverse
that many different genres can be covered. Maybe a peanut sauce,
a mole sauce (pronounced mo-lay, combination of chocolate and
peanuts), a ginger sauce, a classic barbeque sauce...the
possibilities are limitless!
For dessert, think of the desserts that bring a barbeque to a
tasty close. If you can find fresh fruit of good quality,
combining that with angel food cake on a platter surrounded by
small chocolate wafers offers your guests a variety of sweets
from which to choose. Or maybe a great way to warm up the crowd
before they venture back out into the cold would be a bit less
traditional for barbeques - offer plates with several varieties
of biscotti and then create customized coffee drinks.
Regardless of where you are, you can celebrate Australia Day
with your family and friends. These celebrations are sure to
bring a bright spot of warmth and joy to your otherwise dreary
January chill.