# Southern Hemisphere Dopers and Christmas carols **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 10, 2008, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475 "2008-12-10T00:17:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/1 "2008-12-10T00:17:50Z")
Okay, I’m sure this is a really stupid question. But for all you Southern Hemisphere Dopers, where Christmas comes in the summer time, do you have any seasonally appropriate Christmas songs? After all, _Let it Snow, White Christmas, Jingle Bells_, and _Winter Wonderland_ don’t really work in Australia and New Zealand and such. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/2 "2008-12-10T01:18:47Z")
Well, they don’t work so hot in most of the US, either - once you take out the deserts and the South, even most regularly snowy places don’t usually get a white Christmas, right? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/3 "2008-12-10T01:19:38Z")
There are quite a few Australian ones that are popular, many by the composer William James. We give some of them a run each year at midnight mass: - The Three Drovers (one of my favourites) - Carol of the Birds - Christmas Day - Christmas Bush for his Adorning - The Silver Stars are in the Sky Here’s a [link](http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/w/96186/William_Garnet_James_Christmas_Bush_for_His_Adorning) to a CD including many of them. The specifically snowy/winter ones occasionally get heard too, usually on cheesy American recordings played in shops. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/4 "2008-12-10T05:08:13Z")
Waltzing Matilda Roasting on an Open Fire? d&r ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/5 "2008-12-10T05:32:42Z")
[Pukeko in a Ponga Tree](http://folksong.org.nz/nzchristmas/pukeko.html) gets a fair bash around here. So does [this.](http://folksong.org.nz/nzchristmas/one_on_a_tractor.html) The links can also link to other carols, but these are the two we sing. Otherwise, eh, xmas is a time of elves, magic and unseasonal singing about snow. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/6 "2008-12-10T06:50:26Z")
The only Australian carol I’ve heard with any regularity (other than myself) is [Six White Boomers by Rolf Harris](http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=hlSsffF2xhA). ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/7 "2008-12-10T07:09:18Z")
It would be cool for a change to hear songs like: \*I’m Dreaming of a Breezy Christmas Surfin’ Santa Summer Wonderland Holy Beach \* ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/8 "2008-12-10T07:23:25Z")
> [@maggenpye](#): > > [Pukeko in a Ponga Tree](http://folksong.org.nz/nzchristmas/pukeko.html) gets a fair bash around here. > > So does [this.](http://folksong.org.nz/nzchristmas/one_on_a_tractor.html) > > The links can also link to other carols, but these are the two we sing. Otherwise, eh, xmas is a time of elves, magic and unseasonal singing about snow. I was forced to sing [Te Harinui](http://folksong.org.nz/nzchristmas/te_harinui.html) in primary school, and I’ve heard it a few times elsewhere too. As far as I can recall, it’s the only “serious” NZ-oriented Christmas carol I’ve ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/9 "2008-12-10T07:26:10Z")
I quite like these guys: [http://www.gumtreemusic.com.au/music/colin-buchanan-and-greg-champion/aussie-christmas-with-bucko-and-champs-1-and-2.aspx](http://www.gumtreemusic.com.au/music/colin-buchanan-and-greg-champion/aussie-christmas-with-bucko-and-champs-1-and-2.aspx) I particularly like “Good old Wally King” and “Christmas bush” as they have a traditional carol feel but with Australian imagery. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/10 "2008-12-10T07:45:28Z")
I was in Malaysia last weekend and all the malls had the traditional Xmas songs playing, this in a majority Muslim country with nary a snow flake in sight. ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/11 "2008-12-10T07:54:36Z")
> [@Mbossa](#): > > I was forced to sing [Te Harinui](http://folksong.org.nz/nzchristmas/te_harinui.html) in primary school, and I’ve heard it a few times elsewhere too. As far as I can recall, it’s the only “serious” NZ-oriented Christmas carol I’ve ever heard. I don’t think I’ve ever heard that one. Where’s the love for the Aussie\* “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer”\*? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/12 "2008-12-10T08:06:38Z")
Costa Rica isn’t in the Southern hemisphere, but snow is something they’ve only seen in movies. Spanish carols tend to mention snow less than English ones: still, there were reindeers and snow-decorated Nativities all over the place (in Puebla (Mexico) and Miami as well). ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/13 "2008-12-10T10:06:49Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Okay, I’m sure this is a really stupid question. But for all you Southern Hemisphere Dopers, where Christmas comes in the summer time, do you have any seasonally appropriate Christmas songs? After all, _Let it Snow, White Christmas, Jingle Bells_, and _Winter Wonderland_ don’t really work in Australia and New Zealand and such. We play them all here and enjoy them. All the Xmas traditions are still celebrated even though it is summer. I am surprised that Hawaiian one does not get played more often… ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/14 "2008-12-10T10:11:44Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDQr-Pav7-k) Mele Kalikimaka ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/15 "2008-12-10T14:05:54Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Well, they don’t work so hot in most of the US, either - once you take out the deserts and the South, even most regularly snowy places don’t usually get a white Christmas, right? You’re right, but the season is still winter. I mean, this week it got down to 62 degrees in Orlando(ish)! :eek:😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/16 "2008-12-10T14:34:16Z")
The point of\* White Christmas \*is that the singer is someplace that doesn’t get snow. He’s _dreaming_ of a \*White Christmas. \* The sun is shining, the grass is green The orange and palm trees sway There’s never been such a day In Beverly Hills, LA But it’s December the 24th And I’m longing to be up north I’m dreaming of a white Christmas . . . ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/17 "2008-12-10T20:26:42Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > The point of\* White Christmas \*is that the singer is someplace that doesn’t get snow. He’s _dreaming_ of a \*White Christmas. \* > > The sun is shining, the grass is green > The orange and palm trees sway > There’s never been such a day > In Beverly Hills, LA > But it’s December the 24th > And I’m longing to be up north > > I’m dreaming of a white Christmas . . . Yes. This point is lost on most people, since the intro is usually left out. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/18 "2008-12-10T20:29:20Z")
> [@blinkingblinking](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDQr-Pav7-k](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDQr-Pav7-k) > > Mele Kalikimaka There’s also \*The Reindeer Hula, \*which my chorus has performed (with dance), but I can’t find a video. ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/19 "2008-12-10T20:30:27Z")
Pukeko in a Ponga Tree is the only 1 I know. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475/20 "2008-12-10T20:33:11Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > The point of\* White Christmas \*is that the singer is someplace that doesn’t get snow. He’s _dreaming_ of a \*White Christmas. \* > > The sun is shining, the grass is green > The orange and palm trees sway > There’s never been such a day > In Beverly Hills, LA > But it’s December the 24th > And I’m longing to be up north > > I’m dreaming of a white Christmas . . . Yeah, but he “used to know” white Christmasses. Most people have never seen such a thing. I’d probably pee myself if I saw one - we’d have to wait it out bunkered in with the last can of Spam and hope to God we got enough warning to go out and buy bread and milk. (That’s what we buy when it’s about to snow. I don’t know why either.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-hemisphere-dopers-and-christmas-carols/476475.md?page=2)