There are some weird holiday traditions that take place all over the world, but one of the most notable is Santa Surfing at Sydney, Australia’s Bondi Beach. Since Christmas is in the middle of the summer in Australia, people lounge on the beach rather than hitting the slopes for the holidays.
“Christmas stereotypically is snowmen and sledding, but I’m used to waking up and it being sunny and wearing T-shirts, having a barbecue and eating seafood,” senior Lewis McLeod said. “It’s a completely different feel, but you get used to it.”
Although Bondi Beach is populated by people wearing Santa hats on Christmas day, there are a few people who dress in complete Santa regalia and head out into the water for the enjoyment of all the spectators—Bondi Beach veterans and tourists alike. Some people dress up as the world's most famous white-bearded man, grab their surf boards and head out to hit the waves. The surfing Santas are well known symbols of Christmas and indicators that the Holiday season is upon Australia.
"It's the complete opposite of a New York Christmas," McLeod said.
No one knows officially when the tradition started, but more and more people have begun to participate. Some people view the tradition as a way to show that Christmas does not always have to be a snow covered affair to be fun. Santa Surfing is a notable and remarkable way to commemorate the holiday in a fashion that is uniquely Australian.
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