5 Things I Didn't Expect to be Different: Christmas Carols
My first Christmas shock in New Zealand came when I received the program for my kids’ preschool Christmas concert. All of the lyrics were printed so we could know what the small army of three to five year olds were singing. There were standards like Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and Santa Clause is Coming to Town. And there were some new ones, the most prominent of which was Santa Wear Your Shorts. In the northern hemisphere, Santa does not wear shorts. It is cold, but here in New Zealand? All of the Santa’s are hoping they can wear shorts so they don’t bake in a red polyester suit.
Here are five Christmas carols I had never heard of before moving to New Zealand. Different Christmas songs was something I never contemplated before the move and something that feels very strange every time I hear them:
Santa Wear Your Shorts (BTW Hi-5 is a very popular Australian kids group that has a loyal New Zealand following.)
Red Red Coat
The Reindeer Dance
Christmas on the Beach
Aotearoa Christmas
Fun fact: the pohutukawa tree mentioned in these songs in New Zealand’s Christmas tree not in the sense that it is a tree you cut down and decorate, but in the sense that it is an evergreen tree that produces fabulous red flowers right around Christmas time. The contrast of dark green and red are very festive and try to compensate for the lack of other decorations that you might see out and about in the States.
Have you heard any other Christmas songs that make you scratch your head? Have you heard of any of these songs outside of New Zealand?
