Merry . . . what?

     The other day I was walking by a mall dressed in sandals, T-shirt, and shorts and complaining of the heat: about 30 C (90 F).  And I heard strange, inappropriate music.  No, I wasn’t delerious from the heat, I wasn’t high (damn!), and I wasn’t imagining it.  This music was . . . . Christmas carols!  Right now you’re wondering what’s so surprising; “’tis the season”.  But unless you live in Miami, this IS unusual. 

      How many of you are wearing shorts today as you shop for Christmas gifts, a tree, or just meeting friends for lunch?  Okay, I know some you might but you get the the idea.  Did you ever think how many of our Christmas traditions are based on snow, on cold weather, or visiting cold places?  And think of our carols:  GKW: “as the snow lay on the ground, deep and . . . ..”  Or “Sleigh Bells”, “Winter Wonderland”, and “White Christmas”.  And what the heck are the reindeer doing down here?  Pulling a sleigh thru sand?  Poor Rudolph will die of heat prostration.  And Santa in his fur-lined outfit (not to mention obesity)? 

      About twenty years ago I was in Miami for Christmas with my GF’s family.  It was about 80 that day and I remember thinking how strange that is.  So, what they did was turn the AC down to about 60 early in the morniing; by evening it quite chilly and so we started a fire in the fireplace and made it seem a bit more traditional as we opened gifts.  [Why do they even have fireplaces in Miami?]

                                                                                

     So, what DO the Aussies sing about during this season?  Glad you asked.  They do sing carols but they’re a bit different and include a few different animals, including our ‘Roos.  And, anticipating your unquenchable curiosity, I’ve transcribed several for you.  Some are based on our familiar carols, others are completely original.

1)  White boomers are special kangaroos that Santa uses in Australia instead of a traditional reindeer team.  Boomers are stronger than reindeer so Santa only needs six of them to pull his sleigh.

                              

Early on one Christmas Day a Joey Kangaroo,
Was far from home and lost in a great big zoo.
Mummy, where’s my mummy? They’ve taken her away.
We’ll help you find your mummy, son. Hop up on the sleigh.

Up beside the bag of toys little Joey hopped,
But they hadn’t gone far when Santa stopped.
Unharnessed all the reindeer and Joey wondered why,
Then he heard a far off booming in the sky.

Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun.
Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
On his Australian run.

Pretty soon old Santa began to feel the heat,
Took his fur-lined boots off to cool his feet,
Into one popped Joey, feeling quite okay,
While those old man Kangaroos kept pulling on the sleigh.

Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun.
Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
On his Australian run.

Joey said to Santa, Santa, what about the toys?
Aren’t you giving some to these girls and boys?’
They’ve got all their presents, son, we were here last night,
This trip is an extra trip, Joey’s special flight.

Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun.
Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
On his Australian run.

Soon the sleigh was flashing past right over Marble Bar,
Slow down there, cried Santa, it can’t be far,
Come up on my lap here, son, and have a look around.
There she is, that’s Mummy, bounding up and down.

Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun.
Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
On his Australian run.

Well that’s the bestest Christmas treat that Joey ever had,
Curled up in mother’s pouch feeling snug and glad.
The last they saw was Santa heading northwards from the sun,
The only year the boomers worked a double run.

Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun.
Six white boomers, snow white boomers,
On his Australian run.

 

2)    Want something more traditional?  Something you can actually sing?  Then this is for you:                       

                              

Dashing through the bush, in a rusty Holden Ute,
Kicking up the dust, esky in the boot,
Kelpie by my side, singing Christmas songs,
It’s Summer time and I am in my singlet, shorts and thongs

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

Engine’s getting hot; we dodge the kangaroos,
The swaggie climbs aboard, he is welcome too.
All the family’s there, sitting by the pool,
Christmas Day the Aussie way, by the barbecue.

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

Come the afternoon, Grandpa has a doze,
The kids and Uncle Bruce, are swimming in their clothes.
The time comes ’round to go, we take the family snap,
Pack the car and all shoot through, before the washing up.

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

3)  Okay, one more.  Now what song is more representative of this season than, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”?   

 

On the first day of Christmas
My true love sent to me,
An emu up a gum tree.

On the second day of Christmas
My true sent to me,
Two pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the third day of Christmas
My true love sent to me,
Three kookaburras laughing,
Two pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Four koalas cuddling,
Three kookaburras laughing
Two pink galahs
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Five kangaroos,
Four koalas cuddling,
Three kookaburras laughing,
Two pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Six brolgas dancing,
Five Kangaroos,
Four koalas cuddling,
Three kookaburras laughing,
Two pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Seven possums playing,
Six brolgas dancing,
Five Kangaroos,
Four koalas cuddling,
Three kookaburras laughing,
Two pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Eight dingoes digging,
Seven possums playing,
Six brolgas dancing,
Five Kangaroos,
Four koalas cuddling,
Three kookaburras laughing,
Two pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Nine wombats working,
Eight dingoes digging,
Seven possums playing,
Six brolgas dancing,
Five Kangaroos,
Four koalas cuddling,
Three kookaburras laughing,
Two pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Ten lizards leaping,
Nine wombats working,
Eight dingoes digging,
Seven possums playing,
Six brolgas dancing,
Five Kangaroos,
Four koalas cuddling,
Three kookaburras laughing,
Two pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Eleven numbats nagging,
Ten lizards leaping,
Nine wombats working,
Eight dingoes digging,
Seven possums playing,
Six brolgas dancing,
Five Kangaroos,
Four koalas cuddling,
Three kookaburras laughing,
Two pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Twelve parrots prattling,
Eleven numbats nagging,
Ten lizards leaping,
Nine wombats working,
Eight dingoes digging,
Seven possums playing,
Six brolgas dancing,
Five Kangaroos,
Four koalas cuddling,
Three kookaburras laughing,
Two pink galahs,
And an emu up a gum tree.

 

Yet another bored reader