Hot holidays
‘Coming from New Zealand, Christmas for my family always fell in the middle of summer – something most
Brits can’t imagine! It’s very funny, now I come to think of it… We honoured all the British traditions the settlers brought with them – a hot roast dinner, a pine tree indoors, snowy decorations and Christmas carols – but we’d go to the beach or for a warm evening walk. As kids, my sister and I would wear summery clothing, such as shorts and T-shirts, but with winter Christmas scenes on the front! It may sound strange, but I wouldn’t change my childhood summer Christmases for the world.’ Rachel Cunningham, 27, editorial assistant