Christmas may be looking a bit different this year, but where possible, we'll be upholding family traditions and enjoying our favourite festive foods. Here's how some of us will be celebrating, and what we'll be wishing for this Christmas (apart from the vaccine rollout, of course). 


Image via taste.com.au

Brycen, Operations Administration Assistant

What does Christmas Day look like for you?
We go to my Grandma's, eat too much, spend the day by the pool, get serenaded by my step-Grandad playing the ukulele, and end the day with a walk along the river. 

What foods will you be enjoying?
Every year without fail, my stepfather gets up at 5am to wait out the front of the local fish shop to get fresh prawns. We also have a ham with pineapple. 

What's on your wish list?
I have been dropping hints to Santa for some mancave accessories like the Blue Avoca 6 Seater Corner Sofa.


Image via Feasting at Home

Moe, Customer Care Team Leader

What does Christmas Day look like for you?
Every year, we have a gathering of about five to eight families (although I'm not sure this will be as big this year). We're all from the Sydney Sudanese community and we grew up together, so we consider each other family.

What foods will you be enjoying?
Every family brings a few dishes, mainly traditional Middle Eastern salads, dips and a lot of meat. My favourite would have to be Mum's roasted eggplant salad, Aunty Tey's lamb, and Sammy's Moroccan BBQ chicken.


Image via Recipe Tin Eats

What's on your wish list?
I have my eyes on the Nakula American Oak Entertainment Unit, but the Windale Wooden Playhouse would be a hit with Leila, my seven-year-old!

Are there any unique traditions?
We usually spend the whole day, from about 10am until sunset, at the park. For the last three years, we've also introduced a kids versus adults hide-and-seek, which is always good fun.



Aidan, Quality & Compliance Manager

What does Christmas Day look like for you?
We alternate lunch and dinner each year between my family and my partner's family. It's a healthy balance between eating, drinking, and napping.


Image via The Flavor Vendor

What foods will you be enjoying?
If Dad is up to, it he'll whip up his Sri Lankan crab curry, which is great for sweating out every drop of alcohol that's been consumed. 

Are there any unique traditions?
My partner's family build and decorate gingerbread houses in the lead up to Christmas. I think it's a Canadian thing. I've been told that the quality of your house is representative of the year that you're going to have. Let's hope there are super-impressive houses to make 2021 a better year!


Image via sugarandcharm.com

Bridgette, Editorial Assistant

What does Christmas Day look like for you?
It's a huge day with all of my mum's family, plus my uncle's Albanian family. We do presents after lunch and all my cousin's kids go crazy with their new toys, while the adults jump in the pool or lounge outside with scotch and Cokes.

What foods will you be enjoying?
Huge slabs of byrek, baklava and stuffed vine leaves, with lots of buttered rice, salads and meat on the barbecue.


Image via savingdessert.com

What's on your wish list?
I've had my eye on the Sage Pure French Flax Quilt Cover Set to give my bedroom a bit of a summer makeover.



Are there any unique traditions?
In the morning, my siblings and I jump into one of our beds together and open our Santa sacks (yes, we're all in our 20s and Santa still comes, thanks Mum), then we join Mum for prawns and Champagne to kick off the day.



Jonathan, Senior Engineer

What does Christmas Day look like for you?
It starts with mass, followed by lunch and exchanging gifts. 

What foods will you be enjoying?
Lots of Filipino favourites such as pancit (noodles), spaghetti, menudo (pork stew) and lechon kawali (crisp pork belly). For dessert, we have sapin sapin (layered glutinous rice and coconut, pictured below) and biko (rice cake). 


Image via Foxy Folksy

What's on your wish list?
A garden shed.

Are there any unique traditions?
When I was a kid, we would go to our nearby relatives in the Philippines and they would give us pamasko, which is usually money or a gift.


Image via The Upsider

Jessie, Head of Legal

What does Christmas Day look like for you?
We open presents in the morning, then get out on my uncle's boat, do some fishing, and play various games all afternoon. This year, we are throwing in a blind wine tasting, too!

What foods will you be enjoying?
It starts with sabraging Champagne (yes with a sabre) or having a refreshing Pimms cocktail with oysters and prawns, then we have a big feast of turkey, pork, ham and roast veggies, and finally, we set the pudding on fire for dessert!


Photography by Richard Pender

What's on your wish list?
The 4 Seater Costa Rica Acacia Outdoor Lounge Set.

Are there any unique traditions?
We're starting an Olympics-style competition where we engage in various silly games to get points during the day, and the winners take home a trophy which they must hold onto until next Christmas! 



Wishing you and your loved ones a safe, healthy and happy Christmas!