Brothers of the Vine
Forever Evermore
Women of W.A.R.
There are a few elements necessary for a fun Aussie Christmas party – and no, I’m not talking about the weird stereotype of ‘shrimp on a barbie’!
Good company is essential. Excellent food is a must. Naturally, anyone reading His Christmas Pearl and His Christmas Pride is going to want oysters to go with my oyster-farming brothers! Plenty of prawns (not shrimp, we aren’t American!), fresh fruit, salads, and maybe a ham or turkey if you are traditional, but it’s usually too hot for that.
And music. Every party needs music.
Early in the day, you need a few good children’s songs to set the flavour, and also to remind everyone of why we adults put ourselves through all this organisation to give the kids a fun day!
The best children’s Aussie Christmas song is ‘Aussie Jingle Bells’ by Bucko and Champs.
I also have a soft spot for the following versions of these songs
– ‘Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)’ by Gene Autry
– ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ by Bobby Helms
– ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ by Brenda Lee
– ‘Little Drummer Boy’ by Bing Crosby (I like singing the parum-pa-pum-pum bit!)
– ‘I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas’ by Gayla Peevey
Later in the afternoon, when everyone is full and it’s too hot to do anything, you could sit down and watch a movie. Growing up, my mother’s family always watched The Sound of Music, and when my own kids were little, we would watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. A few years ago, I watched Love Actually and reviewed it on this blog.
Some of my favourite versions of Christmas songs for a casual afternoon are:
– ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ by John Lennon & Yoko Ono
– ‘It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ by Andy Williams
– ‘Frosty the Snowman’ by Ella Fitzgerald (because her voice is sensational)
– ‘Christmas in New Orleans’ by Louis Armstrong and Benny Carter
– ‘Thank God it’s Christmas’ by Queen.
And two special treats to end:
Surprise all your guests with a Whamageddon by playing ‘Last Christmas’ by Wham. If you’ve never played this game, it starts on 1 December and as soon as you hear that song (the original, not any covers), then you are out. If anyone lasts until Christmas Eve, they have survived and are the winner of your friend group!
And perhaps the quirkiest Christmas song of all time is ‘Little Stars’ by The Bloody Beetroots. This is an electronica song where a kid teases a grumpy old man about the stars, and they end up singing ‘Jingle Bells’ together!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Renée Dahlia
Renee Dahlia is an unabashed romance reader who loves feisty women and strong, clever men. Her books reflect this, with a side-note of dark humour. Renee has a science degree in physics. When not distracted by the characters fighting for attention in her brain, she works in the horse racing industry doing data analysis. She writes for two racing publications, churning out feature articles, interviews and advertorials. When she isn’t reading or writing, Renee wrangles a partner, four children, and volunteers at the local cricket club committee.
Looking for a festive read? Don’t miss Rainbow Cove Christmas!
One gourmet party. Six potential couples. The taste of love? A collection of small-town Christmas romances by favourite Australian authors.
Every year, French chef Christophe Duval throws a lavish Christmas party at his country home in Marandowie. This year, the festivities bring together six potential couples. Will love be on the menu for everyone?
His Christmas Feast – Nora James
After his girlfriend runs off with another man, Christophe swears to stay away from women. That all changes when his sexy neighbour Emily turns up at the party. The trouble is, Emily is the queen of mixed signals and Christophe is along for a rollercoaster ride like no other.
Her Christmas Kisses – Susanne Bellamy
Flick is determined to find the money to buy her family’s restaurant after her parents’ divorce. Xander is a workaholic developer with a special needs sister, Jenny. When they meet through Jenny, it seems like the perfect solution to both their problems — or will their attraction cause more problems?
Her Christmas Homecoming – Shirley Wine
Marta has returned home to put her mother into care and clear out her family home, but the hardest challenge is seeing the man she left behind. Joe is grounded in the soil of this town, but Marta can’t see a future for herself here. Will they find their way back to each other?
His Christmas Pearl – Renee Dahlia
The last thing struggling oyster farmer Kiet wants to do on Christmas Day is deliver oysters to a fancy party. When Christmas-loving accountant Zoe spies Kiet shucking oysters, something about his competent hands draws her to him. Offering her business expertise seems like the perfect excuse to spend time together…
His Christmas Escape – Shona Husk
Nico has been doing his best to keep his family together and off the street since he was sixteen. Jade is travelling the world while studying law. Following Jade makes stepping off the path easy and soon freedom is within Nico’s grasp. But if he leaves, he can never come back…
His Christmas Pride – Renee Dahlia
When paramedic Mick discovers his online crush lives nearby and is just as gorgeous in real life, he’s hooked — but not ready to risk his heart. Sam loves chatting to the mysterious Velebit. When online friendship grows into something more, Sam knows it will never be serious. Velebit lives on the other side of the world…doesn’t he?