Carols by Candlelight

We saw a banner mounted above the entrance to St. David's Park one day: Carols by Candlelight … 15 and 16 December...Free tickets. Didn't that just make my heart stop? I googled to find out more and sure enough, they were handing out free entry tickets at the info booth on Elizabeth Street Mall.

Reading up a bit on this Australian Christmas tradition, I learned that it seems to have originated in southeastern Australia in the 19th century. According to Wiki, one of the earliest origins of this tradition began in the 19th century, when Cornish miners in Moonta, South Australia would gather on Christmas Eve to sing carols, their mining hats aglow with candles stuck to the brims. It's popular throughout Australia now, but especially so in Melbourne where it's even televised on Christmas Eve. The tradition, which has since spread around the world, gathers people together at the holidays in public venues to sing carols by candlelight. We saw it as an opportunity to congregate with the community and enjoy some Christmas spirit.

We read that there had been quite an issue concerning this year's Candlelight celebration in Hobart. The City Council had cut the budget substantially and moved the venue from Sandy Bay. St. David's Park could only accommodate half the number of people who had attended last year. I can understand the frustration of those who had worked hard to insure a big turnout in previous years, only to have their efforts thwarted by diminished budgets and a significantly smaller venue. We felt a bit guilty about using two tickets that might have been more appropriately given to locals who wanted to attend. We waited till near the end of the doling out of tickets, reasoning if people really wanted to attend, they'd snatch up the tickets early.

This year's Carols by Candlelight in Hobart was in its 63rd year, first occurring on 24 December 1949. The on-line information told us we could bring blankets and cushions, small amounts of wine/alcohol, a raincoat (if you bring it, you won't need it) and, of course, our best singing voices and Christmas spirit. The spirit wouldn't be hard, the voices? I didn't think they'd throw us out, but perhaps we wouldn't sing as loudly as we do when we're singing karaoke on the boat. We were advised not to bring pets, tents, eskies (coolers), large umbrellas or fireworks. Good, we had none of these things. No worries.

The day was windy, raw and rainy and we wondered how wet and uncomfortable it would be sitting on the cold ground to watch the festivities. We had planned to take a bottle of wine to share, but it was so chilly, we took a thermos of hot chocolate instead. It may be summer here, but it's still Tasmania. We found a good place to lay our plastic tarp and a blanket on top. I brought an extra blanket to snuggle up in. We bought candles and I couldn't help but think of the candlelight vigils being held all around the US now, not in celebration of Christmas, but rather in remembrance of the children and adults recently slain in Newtown, Connecticut. Sad thoughts don't mingle well with Christmas cheer.

The 90 minute program was small-townish and fun. The Lord Mayor of Hobart welcomed us. Local entertainers led us in song accompanied by the Hobart City Band and the Ogilvie High Concert Choir. Midst a sea of red Santa hats and reindeer antlers, we waited for the sky to darken to light our candles. It doesn't get dark here till well after 9pm now.

We knew most of the lyrics, but the tunes were significantly different for some songs. I know two versions of Away in a Manger, but the version they played wasn't close to either of them. We sang traditonal carols like Deck the Halls and more modern songs like Rudolph and White Christmas. It didn't seem to bother anyone that a “white Christmas” is neither expected nor dreamed of here. I looked around; everyone seemed to know all the lyrics.

Santa showed up. He was a bit frazzled being so close to Christmas with lots of work still to be done. His reindeer were “having a feed on the Domain lawns”, he said. He also explained that the hot Australian weather (farther north, for sure) was tough on the reindeer. When he makes his Australia run, he uses white boomers...big white kangaroos, the subject of a uniquely Aussie Christmas song.

We sipped our hot chocolate, snuggled up and enjoyed the evening. We were hoarse from singing when we left St. David's Park in good spirits and ready for Christmas.

Christmas Shopping

It's mid-December. Is your Christmas shopping done yet? Just a few more stocking stuffers to buy? Or are you a last minute shopper waiting till Christmas Eve to get the deed done (this describes David). I bought candy canes today and some proper English Christmas crackers...the kind that explode and cascade with trinkets and a silly crepe paper crown when you pull the tabs on the ends.

I haven't done Christmas shopping in over a decade. It's odd that while other people are running around crazy, spending big bucks and getting all verklempt, we're oblivious to it all. We send checks to the kids and grandkids and gift cards to the moms. That's it … all done in 10 minutes.

Truth be told though, sometimes I miss the Christmas shopping frenzy. Anyone reading this and stressing out is probably ready to brain me. I miss the hustle, bustle and hurry-scurry associated with the holidays. I like wandering around admiring all the store windows and ducking into the stores to see all the holiday displays and novelties even if I'm not buying. I do not miss the Visa bills afterward.

I especially miss finding that particularly clever and appropriate gift for someone, knowing that they'll be overtly pleased and I'll feel great inside for having chosen it. For sure, the shopping experience seems more frenzied in the US where Christmas seems to be all about the gift giving and receiving. In Australia, there's not half the hoopla we see in the US. Christmas is a summer holiday here...everyone goes to the beach for a barbie.

I miss meticulously wrapping each gift with special paper and ribbon and decorations so that the recipient says “It's too pretty to unwrap”. My sister and I would sit on the floor in the living room with wrapping paper, ribbon and decorating doodads all around us … and glasses of wine. We'd swap the tape and scissors back and forth and inevitably lose both under the piles of paper and scraps. We'd wrap all day making decorated masterpieces to be placed under the tree. Giggling, enjoying each others company and getting into the spirit of the giving season.

David and I don't exchange gifts. Sometimes we find a little something inexpensive for each other to wrap just to have something to unwrap on Christmas morning. Old traditions die hard. Last year David bought me a new tea mug with a distinctive Aboriginal design which I use every day now. Can't remember what I got him although I'm sure it was fabulous … and inexpensive. David's asking Santa for a new outboard engine this year (hard to wrap and not generally in the inexpensive category).

We'll stay in Hobart for the Christmas season. Unfortunately, they boot us out on Boxing Day in time for the arrival of the Sydney-Hobart Race participants. No worries. We'll find a close anchorage, so that we can walk back into town to see the race arrivals, all the New Year's fireworks and celebrations and do some sampling at the Taste of Tassie Fest on the waterfront.

I've wrapped the below deck portion of the mast in a faux-evergreen garland and hung nautical Christmas decorations throughout the salon. We've collected some sort of an ornament from most every place we've visited and hauling them out once a year gives rise to lots of reminiscing and good memories. The candy canes and crackers are placed strategically around the saloon. Christmas spirit is on the rise.

By the way, watching frustrated people shop reminded me that today is Cat Herder's Day. Folks trying to do the impossible … like buying the perfect holiday gift for everyone on their list without going over budget. For an hilarious video clip, try Cowboys Herding Cats. It'll cheer you right up.

http://youtu.be/Pk7yqlTMvp8

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just another Thursday here in Tasmania... and everywhere else, I guess, except the US. We almost missed it this year. I always thought it was the LAST Thursday in November, but it's actually the FOURTH Thursday in November. This does not usually present a problem except when there are five Thursdays in the month...like this month, for instance. Our Australian calendar certainly doesn't show it as a holiday. Good thing Lin mentioned it in her email or we would have missed a major American celebration. Having just recuperated from my birthday, gearing up to eat another large meal with special treats was probably unwise, but you gotta do what you gotta do. We have a one-day advantage time-wise over the States, so I can report Thanksgiving before you even lift your fork for that first bite of turkey swimming in gravy. We usually go to the supermarket, find a turkey and measure it to make sure it'll fit in our little oven (that always elicits some stares from the locals). We've had problems the last couple years finding turkeys, but we managed to find a large breast and two turkey shanks aka drumsticks to roast up this year. Buying a turkey in Australia requires taking out a small mortgage. They're very expensive, but it's Thanksgiving. What are you going to do?

One of the challenges on the boat includes finding enough space in the fridge to store everything in advance. While we had the marina's van we bought everything we needed and our tiny fridge was crammed to bursting with holiday food. Finding enough pots and pans to cook everything qualifies as a challenge as does finding enough room to prepare everything. And then there's also sitting six people around our saloon table; and most importantly, figuring out the logistics for getting everything cooked and ready for serving simultaneously with a small oven and only two working burners on the propane stove. We always manage. It just takes some forethought.

It was a gray November day which sounds just like Thanksgiving in New England when I was a kid. Kind of raw, but no threat of snow here. There's always an air of expectancy, a childlike thrill on a holiday morning. We had our list going...clean the boat, make the stuffing, don't forget to chill the wine, don't forget to cook the turkey. As we get older, even the more obvious things go on the list.

David made a pumpkin pie and fresh dinner rolls. I was preparing the rest of the menu. We whistled and sang as we worked, bumping into each other and constantly trading places in our little galley. It was a most enjoyable morning. We had the whole day to prepare since some of our guests had to work today and dinner was planned for around 7pm.

We like celebrating Thanksgiving with friends. Everyone enjoys a good celebration and a good meal. Sharing it with non-Americans is a good cultural exchange. We invited Aussie friends Craig (of raptor and reptile fame) and his partner, Jody, as well as our boat-watching friends, Ian and Wendy. Definitely a full table for Nine of Cups. Neither couple knew much about our US Thanksgiving (why would they?), so we gave them the romanticized Pilgrim and Indians spiel. We did not, however, sing the Gobble, Gobble Turkey Thanksgiving song...too much American culture.

The menu included the usual turkey with stuffing and gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans almondine, squash, cranberry sauce. I searched and searched for either fresh or frozen cranberries to make our traditional Cranberry Pudding for dessert, but to no avail. Instead for dessert, we settled on a freshly made pumpkin pie a la David and blueberry crisp a la Marcie with freshly whipped cream. Nobody complained and no one left the table hungry.

We do count our many blessings on this day. To have each other and Cups and to live the life we lead goes beyond the usual “blessings” category. We're blessedly fortunate.

One other thing about Thanksgiving...it signals the start of the Christmas season. That means, Christmas music is allowed on Nine of Cups from now till Christmas Day … yet another thing to be thankful for. The Captain does not agree. Fa la la la, la la la la