Aussie Christmas Carols

I thought it might be fun to share my Aussie Christmas playlist in case there were others out there who love the irreverent and sometimes sentimental charm of Christmas music that reflects the season we celebrate Christmas here in Australia - Summer.

I’ve curated this playlist to include classic and jazzy Christmas songs that don’t mention anything about cold weather or snow, songs that celebrate summery Christmases, typically Australian and fun Christmas songs, sentimental Australian Christmas songs, Christmas songs for Australian children, and Aussie songs that don’t have anything to do with Christmas but which are much loved.

My family is not religious so we don’t have traditional Christian carols or songs that are too heavy on the religious references in our playlist, though a little bit here and is fine.

Here’s the link to my Celebrations - Aussie Christmas playlist on Spotify if you are interested.

Classic and Jazzy Christmas Songs

Many of these are traditionally played in the Northern Hemisphere and I’m so glad I could include them in the Aussie Christmas playlist as they don’t mention the weather or religion, or they are about summery Christmases.

• Christmas Island by Ella Fitzgerald

• Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters

• Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town by Ella Fitzgerald

• Here Comes Santa Claus by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters

• A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives

• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra

• Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer by Bing Crosby

• It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Perry Commo and the Fontane Sisters

• Twelve Days of Christmas by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters

• Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee

• Little Red Riding Hood’s Christmas Tree by Ali McGregor

• I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by Gayla Peevey

• Summer Wonderland by Ronan Keating - an excellent riff on the classic ‘Winter Wonderland’

Occa and Fun Christmas Songs

For those who aren’t familiar with Australian slang, here’s an entry from the Urban Dictionary, to help explain the term Occa:

Calling something occa is analogous to calling something Aussie. It's used to describe something or someone that's Australian in some sense. Someone that has typical Australian characteristics like a thick

Aussie accent, eats Vegemite, plays footy, grew up in the country, and whose name can be affixed with an O, or azza (DamO, SteveO, Dazza etc..).

NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH BOGAN. Bogans are more anti immigrant (ironically) amongst other things, whereas someone that's occa is more likely to have a buy you a VB [beer] and welcome you to Australia. Urban Dictionary

• Aussie Jingle Bells by Bucko and Champs

• Deck the Shed with Bits of Wattle by Bucko and Champs

• We Wish You a Ripper Christmas by Bucko and Champs

• 12 Days of Aussie Christmas by Bucko and Champs

• Six White Boomers by Rolf Harris - this one is difficult because it’s a favourite for many children (and adults) but Rolf Harris is a very problematic person

• Dinky Di Christmas by Barry Crocker

• Christmas Where the Gum Trees Grow by Greg Doolan, Susan McRae, and Ross Bogart

• Christmas Photo by John Williamson

Aussie Kids Christmas Songs

These aren’t necessarily popular with adults but children love them, and because they inspire Christmas joy in children, I love them too.

• Santa Claus is Coming by Hi-5 - perhaps the most well-known for Aussie children, frequently performed in primary schools around Australia at the end-of-year assemblies

• December Down Under by the Tiptoe Giants

• All Around the World It’s Christmas by Petite Music Box

• ‘Zat You Santa Claus by Jimmy Giggle and Justine Clark

• Christmas by Bananas in Pyjamas

• Christmas Eve by Bananas in Pyjamas

• Christmas on the Station by ABC Kids (originally by Australian country music singer Slim Dusty)

• The Golden Kangaroo by John Williamson

• A Very Merry Aussie Christmas by Ticklish Allsorts

• Christmas Kindness by Amber Lawrence

• It Doesn’t Snow Here by Amber Lawrence

Sentimental Aussie Christmas Songs

Some of these songs bring tears to the eyes, especially Tim Minchin’s White Wine in the Sun and it’s nice to be a bit sentimental about Christmas in this beautiful country.

• White Wine in the Sun by Tim Minchin

• Maybe this Christmas by Katie Noonan

• Down in the South Lullaby by Peter Combe

• It’s Not a Silent Night by Claudia Robin Gunn

• O Christmas Bush by Colin Buchanan

• Island Christmas by Christine Anu

• One Little Christmas Tree by John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John

• Carol of the Birds by Greg Doolan, Susan McRae, and Ross Bogart

Not Christmassy but Very Aussie Songs

Although these songs have nothing to do with Christmas, I love them as they are quintessentially Australian and I wouldn’t otherwise listen to them in my day-to-day life.

• Home Among the Gumtrees by John Williamson

• Old Man Emu by John Williamson

• Raining on the Rock by John Williamson

• The Aussie Barbeque by The Wayfarers

What are your favourite Christmas songs? Do any of my Aussie friends have recommendations from their Aussie Christmas playlist?

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This is our last article for the Aussie Christmas series but fear not there are still some interesting articles coming up before we break for Christmas. Next week we will explore the fascinating and ‘not so nice’ history of Santa’s elves, followed the week after by an article all about Santa Claus.

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