What is the history of Christmas in New Zealand

Ever wondered who were the first people to celebrate Christmas dinner in New Zealand?

Well, in 1642, Abel Tasman’s crew celebrated the first Christmas dinner in New Zealand, and they ate freshly killed pork from the ship’s menagerie washed down with ‘extra rations of wine’.

In 1769 James Cook’s crew marked the occasion by feasting on ‘Goose pye’ (made with gannet).

Thanks goodness gannets are protected native birds, I do not fancy a gannet on my Christmas table. So pleased we have moved on, and now enjoy ham, lamb, and salads!

Here in New Zealand, Christmas is less about snow and sleigh bells and more about sun, sand, beach, and barbecues! Having enjoyed both, they are special in their own way, and I would not say I enjoy one more than the other.

Our traditional Christmas trees

In 1833 the missionary Henry Williams described holding service under a ‘wide spreading Pohutukawa’. The first known published reference to the Pohutukawa as a Christmas tree came in 1857 when ‘flowers of the scarlet Pohutukawa, or “Christmas tree”’ formed part of table decorations at a feast put on by Ngāpuhi leader Eruera Patuone.

Now we see people purchasing Pohutukawa trees to decorate and have on their porches or in their homes over the Christmas period.

Santa Claus in department stores.

Over the years Generations of New Zealanders have experienced visiting Santa’s grotto at their local department store or mall at Christmas.

I remember as a child we had a store called Roaches and we would visit Santa in his grotto. While we were patiently waiting in line, we were able to watch these wonderful mechanical Christmas displays behind class windows. It was so magical when you were a small child.

Santa Claus made his commercial debut in New Zealand in 1894 when he took his place, complete with tree and toys, among the furniture in the Wellington DIC store on Lambton Quay. Santa appeared in Dunedin for the first time in 1902, also at the DIC. He arrived in Auckland in 1903 at the DSC store (later John Court Ltd).

Santa Claus still appears in shops and malls, but children today have the option of sending Santa an email with suggestions about preferred presents.

Christmas Today

With everyone having such a busy life, Christmas is a special time to spend with family to, just relax, eat some special fare, play games, and get in a spot of fishing or enjoy a nice wine!