Melbourne Celebrates Christmas!

Christmas is celebrated in a lot of different ways around the world. This year I decided to check out some of these in Melbourne to share them with you.

Melbourne - lights, camera, action! (Photo copyright Maria Ngo)

In Melbourne, light plays a big part - to be more specific, light projections onto landmark buildings in the city and other light displays.

Melbourne Town Hall under light projection (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Closer view of Melbourne Town Hall under light projection (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Victoria State Library under light projection (Photo copyright Maria Ngo)

Toy soldier drummer boy in Bourke Street Mall at night (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Around Federation Square in the city (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

In the suburbs, many people like to decorate their homes with all kinds of light displays. Some homes even synchronise their light displays with music. Many people turn up to see these decorations. Common themes you can see are usually associated with Santa or the Nativity.

One very famous street is 'The Boulevard'. Here one side of the street is closed off for pedestrian use and only one lane of the two lanes road is used by cars. Thousands of people arrive from far and wide to view the decorations in this street. This is such a busy event that there are even pedestrian crossing supervisors directing traffic. There are food trucks in a nearby field as well as free water refill stations and porta-loos for the public. There are also paramedics on standby in case of medical emergencies.

Photos from The Boulevard  (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

From the grand to the sublime - The Boulevard (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Another street that is like a scaled down version is Empress Street. There is much less traffic here but you should still park your car and walk down the street to enjoy the displays. Every year there are published lists of where you can see Christmas lights decorated homes in the suburbs.

Some large churches also put on special performances that can attract thousands of people. Churches usually hold special Christmas services as well during this time on Christmas Eve and or Christmas Day.

Mary and Joseph arrive at the stable (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Shepherds in the field, Roman soldiers, people in the market, wise women looking for Jesus (Photo copyright Maria Ngo)  

Crossway Baptist Church - The Christmas Story cast and crew with camels
(Photo copyright Crossway Baptist Church) 

Photos with Santa and letters to Santa are also very popular at shopping centres. Chadstone Shopping Centre had a really good display of Santa's workshop where parents could walk through and take photos with Santa and his reindeer.

Santa's reindeer says Hello (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Welcome to Santa's workshop (Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

The Christmas theme decorations is pretty much every where - from retail premises, offices to the city's street.

Bourke Street Mall by day - floral displays to mach the season
(Photo copyright Maria Ngo)

Myer in Bourke Street Mall in the city has an iconic Christmas Window display. Melbourne children often associate Christmas with a visit to this display. Each year, a different theme is chosen. This year it was based on May Gibb's gumnut people.

May Gibb's gumnut babies in Myer's Bourke Street Mall Christmas Window display
(Photo copyright Maria Ngo)  

Gumnut babies go adventuring
(Photo copyright Maria Ngo) 

Another special thing that happens in Melbourne is the Carols by Candlelight service. This happens on Christmas Eve at 8 pm. It is held at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in the open in Kings Domain Gardens. Families arrive early for a picnic before the performance by celebrities. I have to confess that I've never attended it live but only watched it on TV as live telecast or repeat on Christmas Day.

The Road to Bethlehem is another very popular outdoor interactive theatrical performance where thousands participate in each year.

So if you are ever in Melbourne in the lead up to Christmas, there will be plenty to see and do here for sure. How does your city celebrate Christmas? How does your family do it?